Looking for an affordable cultural walkable town in New England (Boston: find a job, living)

[wxjay]

I would second Maynard for your budget and proximity to Waltham. The downside is that it is not really a 'hip' area and the downtown isn't terribly cultural. The upside, however, is that you can drive to, say, Waltham for that feeling.

Salem is a nice city for that downtown feel and lots to do, but to be honest, the commute to and from Waltham will be quite difficult. 128 N/S is probably the most congested highway for rush hour traffic in the state, perhaps outside the immediate Expressway in and south of Boston. An hour commute will likely be the average, meaning that you are looking at days with much longer ones, especially with bad weather.

If you don't mind going south, then Providence, East Providence, and Attleboro should be on your list. Rents are cheaper down there also. If you are interested in the Providence area in particular, PM me. I grew up in East Providence, and I can alert you to neighborhoods to avoid. The downside is that the commute might be longer, but if you can arrange the schedule to go on off-peak hours, it is quite easy.

[brightdoglover]

I second Maynard. There is no real town that is centered as OP hopes that is convenient to Waltham and that isn't Lowell or Salem (city). The culture is scattered. There are very good restaurants, here and there, not in a walkable downtown but in different towns. There's the Bull Run in Shirley for both music and great dinners. Acton Jazz Cafe. Indian Hill Music School for classical in Littleton with special concerts in Groton.
There are some good restaurants in Maynard and a little movie house, too. No hip vibe, just a decent smallish town. I would also prefer Concord or West Concord for the walkable quaint feel, but also would never be able to afford it.

[Kramerica]

Thank you for your suggestion. We used to live in Boxboro and felt really isolated but probably Maynard is different so that's an option.

[Kramerica]

What about Andover,MA?

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by professeurpablo

I'm not sure on the price point, but Maynard may be a good alternative for you. It is quite small and doesn't have a ton of culture, but it is emerging as an interesting sort of alternative for city folks looking to spread out a bit. The downtown was redeveloped when Digital Equipment Company was there and has continued to attract eateries and amenities that make it more fun than you might expect for a small town 20+ miles west of Boston. There is a small arts community in Maynard, a community orchestra and chorus next door in Stow, and lots more in nearby Concord. I wouldn't say that you'd have everything you'd want culturally-speaking, but there's a lot nearby. Your commute would be relatively manageable via route 117 and you'd save quite a bit compared to immediate Boston-area prices. You would also probably end up saving a lot on commuting costs. Most importantly, you'd have some of that small-town feeling you crave. I know a young family that moved out to Maynard from Jamaica Plain for more space and reasonable costs, and they are very happy and have never looked back.

Good luck!

I second Maynard. If you like Salem and West Concord you would probably love it. It has something of a young, alternative artsy vibe, a good wifi café, farmer's markets and some decent little pubs and eating places.

And as other posters have said, if you like Salem, I would look at nearby towns like Beverly. People don't have to stay in the town they sleep in for all their fun.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by Kramerica

What about Andover,MA?

Andover is a vibrant town similar to Lexington. Like Lexington, more family focused and more high end than the towns you have been looking at.

[Kramerica]

I like what you're saying about both Maynard and Andover, thank you. We love Lexington! We definitly have to check them out.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by Kramerica

Thank you for your suggestion. We used to live in Boxboro and felt really isolated but probably Maynard is different so that's an option.

Yes, Maynard is entirely different from Boxborough.

[Kramerica]

We went to check out Maynard and even if it does seem to have what we're looking for, we were not amazed or had the "that's it" feeling. It seems like Andover is the last option, or doing a complete job change which would take forever.

[luvmyhoss]

Originally Posted by Kramerica

Hi all,

We are a couple living in the Greater Boston area and we would like to move out to have a (way) more affordable rent ($900 tops but preferably in the 800s for a 1-bedroom apartment) and a more relaxed way of life. My husband works in Waltham,MA (just off 95) and we're looking for a town within a 1 hour or so commute from his job. We're looking for suggestions for a town with a nice downtown, cultural stuff, restaurants, yoga and gym available within a walkable distance, either in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Rhode Island. Can you think of any place that fit this description? We absolutely love Portsmouth, NH but unfortunately can't afford it but we're looking for a place with the same vibe (relaxed, diverse, vibrant). Also, we are in our late 20's-early 30's and would like a place where we can meet new people like us.

Thank you very much for your suggestions!

/amesbury, Newburyport.