More rural areas still commutable to Boston?

[brightdoglover]

Littleton has worked hard to keep development down to a dull roar. In the past 20-some years, a lot of land has moved into conservation protection. Yes, there's a lot of development along the highway (2A) but it still doesn't look like Route 9 in Framingham. The OP's budget would buy almost anything in Littleton.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Littleton has worked hard to keep development down to a dull roar. In the past 20-some years, a lot of land has moved into conservation protection. Yes, there's a lot of development along the highway (2A) but it still doesn't look like Route 9 in Framingham. The OP's budget would buy almost anything in Littleton.

I suppose my and Traffic_lover's point is not to say that OP can't afford Littleton or that it is an undesirable town, rather, we don't believe it is currently a "good value" now that home values in town are near equal to neighboring towns which have (IMO) better housing stock and established long term value.

There are a number of towns in east-central MA which are still "recovering" from 2008/09 ... Littleton is prices are (IMO) beyond "recovery". If and when rates do bump, I suspect Littleton prices will flat line rather quickly.

[bler144]

I like the Rowley/GeorgetownBoxford/Ipswich area, personally, but it's certainly not the only option.

That said, I didn't look closely at your budget or lot desires.

On its face your travel window is ample for riding in (even living across the border in NH and commuting to Newburyport or Haverhill to train in could be on the table). The hitch is that you really need to know where in Boston you're working.

Both of those trains go to North Station, which connect you to orange/green but not red/blue. If you live in Ipswich, walk to the train, and have an office that's a 5 minute walk from North Station, 90 minutes door-to-office should be more than sufficient.

If you're starting from the end of the line, training to north station (60-65 min), and then from North Station you're having to make connections, that's going to be a bit strained. Add a bus into the equation and it gets more complicated still.

So a lot really depends on what happens after you deboard at North Sta (or South if you're on the rail lines from the south side).