New job in Brockton -- Where to live with a family (on a budget!)? (Boston: apartments, rentals)

[tivaclare]

My husband has just taken a job in Brockton. We will be moving to the area sometime between now and November 1. He will be out there house hunting in a week. We are moving from Illinois.

We are a family of 4. I work from home, so we would like at least a 3 bedroom. At least until our income increases, I'd like our rent to be $1500 or less. I know this is going to sound totally shocking, but we'd also like a house , or a duplex. 99% of the properties I've seen remotely in my price range are apartments. I have a 2 and 4 year old and I don't think our neighbors would want them overhead stoping around in an apartment.

My daughter is in early intervention for a language delay, so I need an area with good schools. Brockon is OUT. I've looked at their schools and there is no way I can send her there.

Any recommendations? My husband doesn't mind a longer commute if it can land us something resembling a house . Overall I think he'd like to be within 45 minute of Brockton (driving) and an hour of Boston. He is very excited to be moving to the area and would like to have easy access to the city.

I've kind of been looking all over and it is making my head spin. I've mentioned places like Attleboro to my husband, and he's not sure if that is too far or not. It seems kind of affordable there, however. He said Mansfield could be ok. (picky, picky!)

Basic Needs:
3 bedroom
$1500 or less
Good Schools
Would prefer a non-apartment

[lrfox]

Well, that's going to be tough to do in Eastern MA given your budget. It MIGHT even be impossible.

Brockton gets a tough rap, but you may want to look in some of the outer neighborhoods in town. Housing will be cheaper due to the zip code (again, just look what people have to say about Brockton on these forums). The downside of that is, well, you're in Brockton. I've been told schools are getting better, but they're not great. Safety is a concern in some neighborhoods (mostly the urban ones close to the city center).

I'd look at Randolph nearby. I know homes are a bit more affordable but I know nothing about schools there.

After that, I'd turn my attention to the Route 24 Corridor south of Brockton because as you head north (toward Boston) the prices rise.

Easton is beautiful, but probably too expensive given the budget provided. Same goes for Mansfield.

Bridgewater may be an option. It has good schools and is an attractive, safe town (with a college and train station to Boston). As with other smaller towns, rentals may be hard to find, but they would be in the form of single family homes mostly.

Raynham is another option. It's a bit more affordable and schools are pretty good (shares a high school with Bridgewater). Rentals are going to be tough to find.

Freetown or Lakeville would work too. Lakeville is a bit more expensive than B-water, Raynham or Freetown but you may get lucky. Freetown is more affordable. Both are attractive, safe, semi-suburban communities. They share a school district (intermediate, middle and high schools are attended by both towns while each has its own elementary school) which is pretty good.

Berkley may also be an option but the schools are a bit of an issue. K-8 is good, but 9-12 is bused out to Somerset which isn't a wonderful high school. Like the others, rentals may be hard to find.

if you use craigslist, search both the "South Shore" and "South Coast" listings. Places like Westport, Dartmouth and Fairhaven will be a bit difficult to commute from, but Freetown, Lakeville and Berkley will be most likely listed there as well.

[gf2020]

It's tough moving to Eastern MA from the Midwest. Housing prices are so much higher here that people just don't fathom what they have to pay. I hope your husband's new job is paying him at least 50% more than he was making in IL because the increase in housing costs will eat up most of that.

lrfox has summed things up pretty well. Abington would be my first recommendation, but I doubt you can get in there for $1500. I would look at Weymouth and Pembroke and then also Berkley, Dighton and Freetown.

[massnative71]

Do yourself a favor and avoid Randolph like a plague. And the schools are no better than Brockton, if not worse.

In addition to the other towns suggested, consider Plymouth and also Somerset/ Swansea. The latter 2 should be within 45 minutes of Brockton but could be a tad over an hour to Boston if that is really a concern.

Attleboro may work as well, but stay away from Taunton.

[Beachcomber4]

Check out Whitman.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

With your budget, it's going to be tough finding a rental anywhere in eastern MA with those requirements As other posters have said, looking further south toward RI on the Rte. 24 corridor might be your best bet. Or even perhaps over the line into RI -- that's what a friend ended up doing.

But yeah, avoid Randolph like the plague. Its schools have gone downhill in the past few years.

[bobrainman]

Check Stoughton.
Right next door.

[southshorelady]

Abington is right next door and the schools performed fairly decently on the MCAS this year (far better than Brockton anyway). A lot of houses and townhomes are available for rent within the town. I'm not sure that you could find one for 1500 but maybe 1600. Good luck.

Originally Posted by tivaclare

My husband has just taken a job in Brockton. We will be moving to the area sometime between now and November 1. He will be out there house hunting in a week. We are moving from Illinois.

We are a family of 4. I work from home, so we would like at least a 3 bedroom. At least until our income increases, I'd like our rent to be $1500 or less. I know this is going to sound totally shocking, but we'd also like a house , or a duplex. 99% of the properties I've seen remotely in my price range are apartments. I have a 2 and 4 year old and I don't think our neighbors would want them overhead stoping around in an apartment.

My daughter is in early intervention for a language delay, so I need an area with good schools. Brockon is OUT. I've looked at their schools and there is no way I can send her there.

Any recommendations? My husband doesn't mind a longer commute if it can land us something resembling a house . Overall I think he'd like to be within 45 minute of Brockton (driving) and an hour of Boston. He is very excited to be moving to the area and would like to have easy access to the city.

I've kind of been looking all over and it is making my head spin. I've mentioned places like Attleboro to my husband, and he's not sure if that is too far or not. It seems kind of affordable there, however. He said Mansfield could be ok. (picky, picky!)

Basic Needs:
3 bedroom
$1500 or less
Good Schools
Would prefer a non-apartment

[Beachcomber4]

I would avoid Abington. Well publicized drug problems, budget cuts that have forced the closure of a school, failed overrides and the town missing the opportunity for reimbursement to update the old, outdated high school are taking their toll. It's too bad it was always a town known for decent schools, excellent sports and great hometown pride.

[NEOhioBound]

What about live in Fall River and send kids to school in Somerset?