Culture shock - More modern burbs (Boston, Cambridge: rental, Home Depot, purchase)

[Surf123]

Thanks all.

I have driven through both Burlington and lynnfield. Will stop and spend more time in each. I've had Burlington mentioned a few times so maybe that's the fit.

King George - things such as safety, price and commute are definitely things we have on our mind while trying to find the right place.

[chicagoliz]

Hummm. Chicago is #1 in my heart, and even though I liked many of the Chicago burbs, I've always had to admit that the East Coast suburbs were actually nicer/prettier, and, dare I say it, more quaint. Especially New England towns, with their commons and downtowns. The suburb I'm in now has no real downtown. In fact, just a few years ago, there was a brand new shopping center development built that I'm in almost every day. The name actually includes "Towne Center" as the shopping center. I'm there practically every day. (There's one of those grocery stores called Wegmans, plus a few other big box stores, and restaurants (mostly chains -- Panera, Red Robin, PF Changs, etc), but a few locally owned businesses like a cupcake bakery and some accessory shops, a local toy store, an independent bookstore, and a shop that sells sports paraphernalia for the local and college teams. It's all new and nice, but I can't help but think about how it's all so fake. It's an approximation of what a "Town Center" should actually be. I'd much prefer a real town center, where these stores existed, with a mix of national chains and local independent businesses.

Is that what you might prefer? It is new and clean and nice, although everybody has to drive to this shopping center, and even though it is supposed to mimic a town center, you can't actually even walk from one end to the other. You can walk around the stores in the middle, but there is no sidewalk or pathway where you can reach one area with big box stores from the center shops or the other area with big box shops.

In terms of Chicago -- I guess there's Skokie with Old Orchard Mall, and every big box under the sun, and there's Evanston, which has many more independent shops and more of an 'old-town' kind of feel (and it has the university influence, as well.) So, I'm guessing you'd prefer Skokie to Evanston? (Or if you know the west side, Oak Brook to Oak Park?) (Just trying to get a sense of what it is you like.)

[gf2020]

Let's not forget, the Chicago metropolitan area has a population of 9.5 million people, more than double the 4.5 million people in Greater Boston. 2.7 million people live within the city of Chicago, compared to just 650,000 people in Boston. It's not an apples to apples comparison. This is an older and smaller region.

[chicagoliz]

I was just trying to figure out what the OP likes/wants.

Many of the towns outside Boston have a lot more history on their own than many of the towns outside Chicago. My current town is on the East Coast but it's in a suburb that has seen significant development over the last 25 years or so. I find it, honestly, kind of boring and it's very car-dependent. Many of the houses and shopping centers are fairly new, but they're pretty standard fare. I don't know if that makes it more 'modern,' like OP wants.

[Surf123]

Chicagoliz,

What town are you in now?

I actually like both Skokie and Evanston. I probably like Evanston more. It doesn't feel so "old fashioned" imo even though it's old. I'd be happy finding something similar to either of those burbs. However, I understand I may have to just change my mindset and understand things are just very different

[kingeorge]

Do you work? Will you and your spouse commute to work?
If, yes, compatible commute to work should be your #1 concern. Although Eastern MA looks very small and manageable on the map. it is far from that, sadly.

You will quickly learn that we have huge traffic/public transportation issues, and being on the right side of the city is essential for your sanity. Please keep that in mind.

Again, good luck.

[CaseyB]

Other than maybe Burlington, I can't think of anything in the Boston area that fits your requirements.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Surf123

Chicagoliz,

What town are you in now?

I actually like both Skokie and Evanston. I probably like Evanston more. It doesn't feel so "old fashioned" imo even though it's old. I'd be happy finding something similar to either of those burbs. However, I understand I may have to just change my mindset and understand things are just very different

I'm in Pennsylvania right now. We're moving up to Boston in a few months, and we lived there back in the 90s as students. So we have some friends and relatives in various towns and are looking at Lexington, Newton, and a few other towns. When we were in Boston, we pretty much stuck to Boston/Cambridge/Brookline and sometimes Newton.

The suburbs in both cities are quite different. I think the one that comes closest to Evanston is Newton, although Newton is large, and I understand has some variances in the different neighborhoods. Brookline also has some comparability to Evanston, although it's even more expensive than Newton. I lived at one point close to Coolidge Corner, and I loved that area, although I understand it's much more built up and has a lot more stuff than it did when I was there (although there was plenty of stuff there when I lived there.) I don't think I could afford anything even remotely close to what I need in that area now.

Have you tried Somerville? I haven't spent much time there, but it might have an Evanston-ish vibe?

[Boston_Burbs]

Saugus?

[massnative71]

It's far, but Pine Hills in Plymouth is really all I can think of for a newish planned community type place.