Young family moving to Metrowest / Central Mass (Boston, Marlborough: house, established neighborhood)

[DesertRat5150]

Greetings! We're a young family moving from Salt Lake City to some undetermined town in the Metrowest / Central Mass region. My job will be based in Marlborough and we'd like to live 20 to 30 minutes from my job---unfortanately---that has cast a very large net--- and I don't even know how to start narrowing down the list to something more manageable. I'm willing to have a longer commute for "more" home, but there may be some great towns pretty close to Marlborugh. Here's some info about us.

Young family w/ 2 kids (ages 8 and 3). Our 2 most important criteria are a good, public elementary school and living in a town/neighborhood with younger families. My wife would like to live somewhere with decent access (10 to 15 min?) to grocery stores, pre-school and activities for kids (sports programs, parks, outdoor life, library).

We could spend $350 to $500K on a home. We're hoping to come out and visit these areas in a couple of weeks. Thanks so much for your input--. I hope it brings you some good karma!

[kmann-sherborn]

There are several good options within a short drive of Marlboro. I'd start with Sudbury, which has very highly rated schools, tons of community activities, sports programs, parks, a nice library, good shops, and more. You can definately get a home in that price range there but it depends what type/size/age/amenities you're looking for. Southboro is also similar but also has good train & highway access, although it has fewer shops right in town.

Other towns with similar attributes where you can get more house for your money include Northboro as well as Holliston & Hopkinton.

[kmann-sherborn]

Shrewsbury might also be worth a look as well.

[NY'er lost in MA]

Sudbury and Southborough have the least amount of options in your price range.

I'd start with Northborough and Hopkinton.

The entire area is great for families, preschools, outdoor activities, and stuff for children. Shopping and access to groceries/shopping is fantastic.

You really can't go wrong.

[gf2020]

Shrewsbury offers the most "bang for the buck".

[DesertRat5150]

Thanks for the suggestions. I feel like I have a pretty good feel for Shrewsbury, the North/South/Westburo's, Hopkinton, etc.

2 more followup questions: What is Holliston like as a town (size, feel, etc)? We've also heard Grafton mentioned a few times. I don't hear much about them on the boards here. Thanks for the advice.

[ogre]

Holliston is low-density leafy suburban with a town center that has some small basic kinds of stores. Nice town, with good schools. The only reason I can think of that Holliston and neighboring Hopkinton don't have higher housing prices than they do is that they are not in the best locations for access to main roads into Boston, though Hopkinton is well located for a commute along 495.

Grafton I don't know so well. From what I've heard here and there, it's another nice town, also a low-density, woodsy kind of town, which has seen a lot of growth in the past ten years or so from yuppies moving to McMansions in the suburbs. It's my understanding that this does mean that there are some new McMansion subdivisions, but outside of these the town in general has a nice established character.

[DiJay]

People move to Hudson MA specifically for the schools- that is per the realtor who sold my home there...
In fact, that neighborhood was just as you described- lots of young families, walkable, close drive to shopping and activities. Also close to major routes like 495, Rtes 2 and 9, and the Mass Pike. Mass General and the Science Museum are about an hour give or take due to the traffic...

It is also a town where your specific budget will go a lot further!

[brent s]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Shrewsbury offers the most "bang for the buck".

I agree with this.

Also, the taxes in Shrewsbury are a bit lower than the surrounding towns like Westboro, Northboro, etc...

[kmann-sherborn]

Ogre's right about Grafton in that there are some established neighborhoods plus a lot of big new developments. There's a new high school being built and there's a commuter rail station in town. It's a real mix - parts feel very quaint and rural and parts are more developed.

Re: Holliston, it's a lovely town with an award-winning school system, a French immersion program in the elementary schools, and a quaint town center that now has a small selection of boutiques, a general store, cafe, tennis courts, playground, etc. I live near there and really like Holliston. It's a bit more of a pain to get to the Mass Pike or Rt 495 from there than from Hopkinton or Westboro.