Communities west/northwest of Boston- What are they really like?

[donewithpretty]

Reading would be perfect for you, based on your description. (My sister lives there and loves the town and the schools.) Reading has a ton of amenities, plus it's next to big box stores, close to the Burlington Mall, the North Shore, New Hampshire, etc. Reading has great family neighborhoods -- the kind where you see kids running between each other's yards and playing hockey in the streets. A lot of successful contractors live in that area, so it isn't just executive families, unlike most Boston area towns with great schools.

Your husband would have the choice of commuter rail to Orange line, I-93, or Rte. 28 (and its offshoots) to Somerville. The problem with coming from the west is that your husband would have to drive across Somerville, and there are no good routes to do that.

As for grandparent visits, Reading is right off of 95, so the difference in time would be minimal between living there or in Metrowest. If you can, aim to live fairly close to the 93/95 interchange so you have easy access to either.