Where to live? (Boston, Quincy, Newton: sale, real estate, for rent)

[AandAplus3]

I need to find a good community outside of Boston that meets these criteria-

1. Less than 45 minute commute via train to Back Bay/Arlington station area in Boston- preferably in the 30 minute arena
2. Good, safe walking community that is family friendly
3. Easy to meet new friends and neighbors- especially families
4. Has organizations for stay at home moms (preferably)

Good schools not necessary.

We are totally new to the area so I have no idea about anything. We are set to visit for the first time this month so we'd like to know where to go look.
Thanks!

[goyguy]

In no particular order:
Norwood
Wellesley
Dedham
Back Bay, Brighton, Beacon Hill, and the South End (city neighborhoods)
Quincy
Needham
Newton
Parts of Jamaica Plain and Dorchester (city neighborhoods)
Brookline
Walpole
Natick

IMHO, out of all these communities Norwood is probably the "friendliest" and Brookline is the most likely to have "organizations for stay-at-home parents." If money is no object for renting or purchasing a home, Beacon Hill and Back Bay in the city and Newton and "Swellsley" in suburbia are where to look.

[AandAplus3]

Thanks!

[DreamworksSKG]

I would highly recommend Winchester or Wakefield. Winchester because I live here and its a great community.

It has a lot of community organizations, great schools, and a commuter rail right in town to North Station where you could connect with the Orange Line to Back Bay.

or you could park in Oak Grove or Wellington Station or Sullivan Square (10-20 min drive from Winchester) and then take the Orange line from there to Back Bay. - Either way it'd work

We have great community spirit, lots of youth sports organizations, and other activities like a kidstock youth theater, a kids tv program at our community tv station, a great community tv station, garden clubs, a great senior center, the Enka Fair, the annual rummage sale at the Jenks parking lot, the Town Day Festivities and fireworks, the Middlesex fells reservation right in town with miles of hiking trails, lots of neat boutiques downtown, pet friendly area, nice neighbors and easy to get to know people in town etc.

Its a great place and although some parts are pricey you can use zillow.com and the local real estate agents in town to help you find an affordable house in Winchester. Condos are available as well.

Check out Winchester and see what our town has to offer =) You'll love it

Wakefield or Melrose would be another option

Sincerely,
Jeff Dearman
Email me at jdearman77@gmail.com if you'd like to know more or reply privately here.