towns near worcester (Boston, Shrewsbury, Hudson: house, travel, lease)

[countrygirl69]

Anybody have any experience with the following: Berlin, Boylston, West Boylston?

We are looking for something nearer to 495 that is not hugely expensive. Right now we are in the western part of worcester county and it's very remote. We travel to Boston a lot and it's getting prohibitive. We work in Holden and that's a long commute too. We are late 30's, no kids, prefer the country, and not afraid to do a little fixer-uppering. Price range is low to mid $300's.

Thanks!

[Steve W]

I haven't seen the prices up there since we left last year, but Berlin may be more difficult to find property in your price range, as they have a large minimum lot size (or at least they did).
Also think Northborough (where I grew up), Westborough, Bolton, Hudson (around Lake Boon is more rural than the downtown area). The commute on 495 is getting worse with the passage of time; I will assume that you want convenience to Boston for spare-time pursuits. I know that Northborough is about 20 miles from Holden, and you can do a fair amount of that distance on 290 from any of the towns I've mentioned (with a brief run down 495).
Clinton is also a possibility, as is Lancaster (closer to 190).

[scarletfire]

My in-laws lived in Berlin for several years and we loved it there. Very quiet, small town yet easy access to 495/290. There's not much for services in town but it's near enough to the mall for shopping. I'm not really sure where they went grocery shopping, probably Clinton, which I think is a rather depressing place but I love Berlin. It's nice to see places where there are still open fields and horses, though I'm sure they will have some new developments there like everywhere else.

A few weeks ago I saw a cute little Cape there for sale around $300K. Please PM if you'd like the #. It looked like it might need a bit of work but it's on a huge lot 1.5 acres I believe). Boylston is also a nice place to live, pretty neighborhoods and such.

[2KidsforMe]

Have you considered Shrewsbury or Westborough?

[scarletfire]

Both Shrewsbury & Westboro are lovely towns but neither of them really have a country feel. Sadly, Westboro has become incredibly overcrowded and will only become moreso once the new development goes in near downtown.

[2KidsforMe]

Oops, I missed the part where the OP said they like the country. So that would rule out Shrewsbury & Westborough. Parts of Northborough may work, and maybe Berlin or Bolton?

[Micah Girl]

Originally Posted by countrygirl69

Anybody have any experience with the following: Berlin, Boylston, West Boylston?

We are looking for something nearer to 495 that is not hugely expensive. Right now we are in the western part of worcester county and it's very remote. We travel to Boston a lot and it's getting prohibitive. We work in Holden and that's a long commute too. We are late 30's, no kids, prefer the country, and not afraid to do a little fixer-uppering. Price range is low to mid $300's.

Thanks!

What about Grafton? It's not too far from the Mass Pike and then you can pick up 495?

[countrygirl69]

Thanks all --

Grafton's nice but a little too far from work (Holden). Shrewsbury and points east are really built up so that's not for us. Clinton and Lancaster I have looked at but as someone else said they're kinda depressing. I really like either the Boylstons or Berlin; however you don't get much house for your money in any of those places! We have an 8-room, 2-story colonial w/2 full baths and 1.5 acres that we paid $275K for out in the sticks here, so trading that for a little cape would really feel like a bad deal. Personally I would like to get a nice old Victorian and fix it up, somewhere out nearer 190/290. I have thought of Princeton and Sterling too, any thoughts on those?