Moving to Mass (Boston, Cambridge, Newton: apartment, for rent, condos)

[Anjilmist]

I want to move to Boston area next year, as I have a son who lives in Southboro and a sister who lives in Salem, Mass. I hope I'll be able to get a job thats NOT in Boston proper, but in the outlying areas. I'm a legal secretary. I'll probably just be renting an apartment. Any suggestions as to good areas? How far is it between Salem, MA and Southborough?

[brightdoglover]

I'd say about an hour's drive in normal (not rush hour) traffic. There's no direct route. I think you'd have to get onto I-95 down to the Pike or Rt. 9 and then to Southborough.
There's certainly no need to consider working in town if you don't want to. There are suburban office parks all up and down those highways, and town centers. You should be able to do really well in job-hunting- lots of options.
If you want rent somewhere in-between, let's see... Sudbury? Acton? Boxboro? (Not BoxFORD). There are many nice towns/suburbs in between, about 30 miles west of Boston/Cambridge, if you did want to go into town.
Salem is a real city, albeit small. Southboro is much more of an outlying town/suburb. There are nice condos in downtown Salem over the harbor for rent.
Good luck with your move. It should go well.

[NY'er lost in MA]

Hi Anji-

We used to live in Salem, and now live right down the road from Southborough. My wife is also a legal secretary and works downtown at one of the big firms.

The best way to get between the two towns is to take 128/95 all the way to the Pike and then out to exit 12. Brightdoggy is right- about an hour if there is relatively no traffic.

North Shore will generally have less opportunities in your field. Boston of course will have many with much higher average salaries. There are some significant corporate complexes and office parks out in metrowest as well- some with mid-sized law firms.

My first thought would be the West Newton/Waltham areas. You would have access to both towns for visits being inbetween and also be near major roads so you could head out easily no matter where your job was.

It also depends on what type of town/atmosphere YOU want and what your salary requirements are.

Hope that helps a little...