Towns in Mass? (Boston, Framingham, Weymouth: cul-de-sac, for sale, real estate)

[Eastcoaster2]

Am looking to make my way back to the East Coast, and possibly have a job lined up that will relocate me to Mass for a while. Will not have a need to commute into any specific city on a daily basis for work, but rather working from home and traveling to service clients around Mass & Boston/Southern NH & Maine, and North CT - Mass seems like a central point to call a home base.

Not too familiar with the communities, looking for suggestions for a town to call home. Grew up on Long Island, spent a number of years in North. NJ...have been in California last few years but look forward to getting back to the East Coast: culture, seasons, wit, green/trees and good food.

Some criteria my wife and I would consider important:
1. not urban but not too rural....having been in Long Island and North NJ you get the idea. the suburbs. we are in our late 30s with 2 small children.
2. good schools, safe neighborgood, sense of community
3. somewhat central location in Mass, since do not need to commute into Boston something probably west...still have family in LI and NJ and want to stay within 4 hrs or so drive distance, so probably not North Mass or NH either. Easy access to highways, hopefully within 1 hr of an airport.
4. close to shopping
5. looking in $500k-$525k range for house.

Thoughts? Any suggestions are appreciated.

[skytrekker]

I like the south shore, Weymouth and Hingham- near the Ocean, close to Boston, and a wee milder weather wise compared to west of the city. Scituate and N. Scituate are also sublimely pleasant. Cohasset is easily elegant coastal New England with excellent schools but homes can be $$$. These towns all have a pleasant town center, fine restaurants, a great sense of community, lots of history and more.

Bedford, Concord, Lexington, are west of Boston and offer too much to list- but would suit all the criteria you expressed.

[Eastcoaster2]

Thanks...am sure these are nice towns.

Was also thinking we probably want a little more house for our $, more sq ft and newer then maybe some of these towns can offer in our price range. I am wailling to trade being further outside the city for more house. Since I don't have a need to commute to Boston everyday...any other suggestions for nice towns further west? west of 495? We are ok with a small-er town as long as is close to shopping, good schools, is safe, etc.

[CaseyB]

How about Hopkinton? Off 495. close to the Mass. turnpike, good schools.

[Eastcoaster2]

CaseyB...I will check it out. what else can you tell me...safe? is there shopping near by?

[MovingForward]

You should easily be able to find something nice in your price range west of Boston or in Central Massachusetts.

West of Boston:

Look in Stow, Littleton or Bolton (all a bit more rural, but just lovely), Acton (GREAT school system, beautiful town), or Westford.

Central MA (within one hour of Boston):

Clinton, West Boylston, Lancaster: not as nice as above towns, but very decent places to live.

ACTON:

Dutch Colonial / True Americana / Heart of Acton (broken link)

3br, 3 ba, mint, waterview! (broken link)

LITTLETON:

4 BR house near Littleton Common (http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/rfs/409114014.html - broken link)

WESTFORD:

JUST LISTED! 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths Colonial on Cul-de-sac! (broken link)

Westford 4 beds 2.5 baths colonial for sale (broken link)

BOLTON (more upscale, like Acton, but more rural). This house is really cheap for Bolton (who knows what it looks like inside--lol--but you never know. . . )

Great Cape - Truly Great Schools! Quick Close Available (broken link)

Lovely 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in Bolton on 3.5 acres (broken link)

CLINTON (further out, more rural):

Clinton, MA Real Estate MLS # 70494874 (broken link)

LANCASTER (further out, more rural):

Lancaster MA Real Estate MLS # 70576725 (broken link)

Also, this house recently came on the market in CONCORD (a VERY upscale town, next to Acton) and is a GREAT deal:

Great Opportunity to Own a Home in Concord, MA (broken link)

Finally, seriously consider Sudbury (also a lovely, upscale town with great school system):

NEWLY UPDATED!! 4 BED/2BATH COLONIAL (broken link)

[MovingForward]

P.S. By "upscale," I mean: pricey, overall, yes--but as someone with children, you would probably want towns with excellent schools--and that requires "upscale."

[CaseyB]

Yes, very safe and close enough to the Framingham/Natick area on Rte. 9 that has any kind of shopping you could want, lol. I'd describe the town as suburban/rural.

In the interest of full disclosure, there was a murder that occured in the town about 18 months ago, which received and still receives national attention:

wbztv.com - Timeline Of Entwistle Murder Mystery (broken link)

It has nothing to do with the safety of the town, however. The only reason I mention it is that you might stumble upon it if you were looking for information. I understand the house has recently been sold. I don't live in the town myself, but we have friends who do and they love it.

[Eastcoaster2]

Great info, thanks to you both

[ogre]

How about Hopkinton? Off 495. close to the Mass. turnpike, good schools. [quote, CaseyB]

Originally Posted by Eastcoaster2

CaseyB...I will check it out. what else can you tell me...safe? is there shopping near by?

Holliston is next door to Hopkinton, and a similar town, another one you might consider. Both have some small businesses right in town, and are about a 15-20-min. drive from large malls in Framingham and Natick. Nice towns. Suburban with some rural look to them.