Lexington (Boston, Arlington, Chelsea: renting, house, buying)

[EGRAB]

If I am looking for a family-friendly, liberal, outdoorsy, young (30-40s) place with stay at home moms, would Lexington be the place to live? We are in the process of planning a move and both job opportunities would be in commuting distance from Lexington. Other towns we are considering are Concord, Needham, Winchester and Sudbury.
Any information would be great. Thank you!

[MagicTouch]

Where would you be working?? There are numerous towns that can give you that in MA that may be within commuting distance. Also what would your budget range be, would you be renting or buying? Lexington, Bedford, Concord are all towns next to each other, and others in MA state that these are expensive areas to live in, but have good schools. I'm from CA and live in Bedford, to me the price is equal to or a little less than I was paying in CA, so to me it's not expensive but to those who have lived and currently live here they state it's expensive. I'm sure if you can give a little more information you will get a lot of response.

[airedaly]

I see that one of your requirements is 'liberal' and since I live in Lexington and consider myself a liberal, I think it would be a great place for you. Lots of stay at home parents who volunteer in the schools, plus a very active social and political environment. The bike path is a great resource for families - for biking, roller blading, walking, running. It's a great town for people of all ages. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email me.

[TheWereRabbit]

All the towns you named seem perfect for you! I'm from Winchester and its a great town with lots of young families and I'm sure you would love it. There are lots of outdoorsy opportunities in Winchester since it is right next to the Middlesex Fells Reservation which is bigger than the entire town itself. There are also many smaller parks so you can easily walk to one no matter where you live and the town is speckled with many scenic ponds. One great thing about the town is the 2 commuter rail stations to Boston and the downtown which maintains quaint charm while also providing a decent array of shops.

Obviously I know Winchester the best but all the towns you named would be exactly what you are looking for. Lexington has a great downtown too and offers many natural and historic park areas. I know Needham the least of the towns you named but I know some people who grew up there who have good things to say. Concord and Sudbury are a little more rural than the other 3 but are absolutely beautiful towns. The Sudbury and Concord rivers (creative naming, huh?) run through the towns and are great places to canoe/kayak or just go for a walk (If you settle down in Winchester or Lexington these opportunities are still just a 20 minute drive away and the same can be said the other way around). Concord and Sudbury are also full of rich history and although this will seem a lot more interesting now then when you get used to it, it's still a nice resource to have.

You definitely have done some work looking because all the towns you named are right on target. We'd love to have you in Winchester but any choice will be a good one.

[scarletfire]

I thought you might find this article entertaining:
The Best Places to Live - Boston Magazine

ps. Regardless of the # of Democats in Chelsea, it's not a place I'd add to my search. It's a pit compared with the places you're looking. Lincoln is quite lovely though. Pricey but very nice. :-)

[lightblue]

LEXINGTON is my first choice of those. The LPPTA is extremely well attended and active, big, etc with all kinds of events for moms at home with kids. it's a great supportive group and there is also a newcomers club. there's a lot to do with the kids in town and a lot of other families like yours doing them there

I think it offers the most support as well as all the other great amenities of these more upscale affluent towns.

good luck with your move!

[MovingForward]

It all depends on the kind of environment you prefer. Of the towns you listed, Concord or Winchester would be on the top of my list. Needham is a little far out and has more of a suburban feel, and Sudbury is more rural. Concord is upscale, but in an "old money" kind of way: the people are super friendly, the Center is charming and welcoming, and the historical/pastoral environment is relaxing--and it's a straight shot from Concord (on Rt. 2) to Lexington. Winchester borders Arlington--where I live--but I don't know much about it except that I have a friend who moved from Arlington to Winchester and she loves it. She was very reluctant to leave Arlington, but wanted a bigger (but not huge) house with a somewhat larger yard, so she selected Winchester and couldn't be happier. According to her, the people are very friendly and neighborly, and the schools are excellent. She avoided Lexington because, well, Lexington--while a very "nice" upscale town with excellent schools, as well--is full of super class-conscious people--the kind Barbara Ehrenreich writes about in "Fear of Falling." As I said, it depends on your own needs/preferences. Just drive around the towns, have a coffee in the Center of each town, talk to folks--follow your intuition on the "feel" of the place. Who knows? You may prefer Lexington's "feel" over Concord's. It's a really personal decision. Overall, in terms of resale value and school systems, you couldn't go wrong with any of these towns.

[commandingspirit]

Lexington is a wonderful place to live. WONDERFUL. My son is in a class at Hastings School that has about a 5-1 student/teacher ratio. Lexington is clean and well kept. Charming and historic. There are lots of young children and the atmosphere here is wholesome and welcoming. My mom lives in a gorgeous new subdivision called Pine Meadows Farm - large, beautiful homes that overlook a golf course and conservation land. You really can't go wrong with this town.

[puffle]

For what the original poster described I would say Sudbury or Lexington which are both fairly youngish with a good portion of stay at home mom's that can be found at the local Starbucks and parks.