Moving Chicago > Boston Area in 8 weeks, need quick advice

[KatieZ]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Driving from any of those towns is no picnic either and you get the privilege of paying tolls on the Mass Pike.

Why would you drive when there's the commuter rail? It takes me an hour door to door to south station. If you are driving to back bay parking is easily $400/mo and driving anywhere in ma is no picnic.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by KatieZ

Why would you drive when there's the commuter rail? It takes me an hour door to door to south station. If you are driving to back bay parking is easily $400/mo and driving anywhere in ma is no picnic.

Correct. My point is telling someone not to live on the South Shore because of traffic driving to Boston and then pitching Metrowest as a better alternative makes no sense.

[gokav13]

Hi,
I live in Stoughton and take the commuter rail to Back Bay Station, a couple blocks from the Pru. We just moved there last June and they have beautiful neighorhoods. I am very happy with our choice.
Stoughton is a 20 min drive (no traffic) to Boston, 35-40 min train ride.
It is within a 5 mile radius of every store that you can think of (Mall, Marshalls, Home Depot, Costco, Market Basket, TJ Maxx - literally every commercial store.)
We are getting a new High School
We neighbor two wealthier towns that can offer a lot as well.

A lot of the houses in neighborhoods have very decent property.
The center of town is not as desireable but i *hear* that is something that groups are working hard to beautify and bring more business to.

I notice that the main streets of Stoughton are off putting, but then you take a turn onto residential streets and the houses and neighborhoods are beautiful. It's weird.

[Nobodybody]

You can sometimes get into a small 2 bedroom condo in Natick for < or about $300k. Check out what is listed in Natick Village (its a conglomerate of various apartments and condos - PM me if you would like help locating it). It's small, and very much apartment like, but its certainly very feasible with young children I would think.


The reasons I suggest this are: 1) It is very close to a commuter rail that would have a stop at Back Bay station (short walk to the Pru from there). There is a cost factor (passes are about $260 per month), but will get you there in 25-40 minutes depending on what time you catch the train. 2) Natick offers a wide range of housing prices to upgrade into as you move forward, and 3) Natick is an excellent school district, so even if you don't move by the time your oldest begins school, you are in a good district, and can move within the district to a larger home.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Nobodybody

You can sometimes get into a small 2 bedroom condo in Natick for < or about $300k. Check out what is listed in Natick Village (its a conglomerate of various apartments and condos - PM me if you would like help locating it). It's small, and very much apartment like, but its certainly very feasible with young children I would think.

It's actually 3 separate condo associations. One is Natick Village. The other two are Natick Green and Deerfield Forest. There's also an apartment complex back there, but the name escapes me.

[495neighbor]

I think they could still get into something small in Dedham. That's where I'd go with their criteria.

[Chacha15151515]

Hingam is nice, Weymouth is ok some parts nicer than others. Commuter rail now goes right through too. Kind of a commute. Quincy is super close but you would need to research locations as some areas are much nicer than others. Braintree is nicer and both have quick access to the trains or would be the best car commute. Framingham is awful. Stoughton is nice but further than the rest.