Need Advice: "Small Town" within 1 Hour Commute to Boston (Quincy: apartment, rental market)

[ew185]

My boyfriend and I are considering relocating to Boston for a good work opportunity. I am willing to commute (by public transit, not car) into Boston for work. The nearest T station to work is the Downtown Crossing Station.

We are looking to live in the more suburban areas of greater Boston. We have two dogs that we'd like to have in a fenced yard outside and would prefer to rent a single family home. We'd like to live in an area where we would walk/bike to a small downtown area if possible. What are the best "small town"-like areas outside of Boston within 1 hour public transit commute?

Rental range $1100-1800/mo.

[495neighbor]

You would be best seeking out a rental in a multi-family. Towns with best access to Downtown Crossing and many multi-famlies would be Arlington (red line), Malden, Medford, Melrose (orange line). The areas closer to the orange line have several dog parks and you would get more for the money there.

[CaseyB]

How small is "small"? It may be tough to find a single family house to rent for that price in the immediate suburbs.

[ladyalicemore]

Maybe look at Quincy for a good rental. It is on the red line, though. And the yards are small.

ETA: It's not really a small town, though. It's a small sub-city. Maybe Hull? There is a boat ferry to Boston and itls a nice place. Or maybe check out Weymouth?

[kingeorge]

Boston in tough in terms of RE prices in general. You would have to be very lucky to find something for $1800 and SF. Most often you can find an apartment in that upper price range and it will not be anything spectacular. But because of the dogs, that might be tricky too.
I would check into Franklin, Norfolk or Walpole. You might have commute that is 10-20 minutes longer than an hour, door to door, but chance at much cheaper rent, in pleasant family oriented towns that are safe but less comparative in rent than immediate metro area of Boston. Plymouth would work too. If you desire to be closer than check Quincy or Weymouth (both are pretty decent, Quincy more popular of the two, Weymouth has some nice parts but also some sketchy areas as well.)
Maybe also include Dedham and Norwood.
Hope it helps.

[frazil]

Hull would certainly fit many of your criteria. Small town, much of it walk/bikeable, dog (and people!) friendly and <1 hr commute (either via ferry or Greenbush commuter rail, with the caveat that both these transportation options run less frequently than the T, so they would have to fit your work schedule). There are a lot of beaches and parks nearby, too, that allow dogs (beaches more in the off season.)

I'm not sure that you'll find a SF in Hull in that price range, though I don't know much about the rental market so it would be worth a check if the town is otherwise appealing. Maybe a winter-only rental, or a multifamily or apartment (of which there are many), though that could be harder with the dogs. Good luck!