From SFBay to Boston suburb - most similar suburb (Cambridge: new home, neighborhoods)

[CaliBayGirl]

Looking for someone familiar with the SFBay area for help recommending similar neighborhoods/areas in the Boston suburbs.

We currently live in Los Altos CA and I'm wondering what areas are most similar within a 20 minute commute from Framingham. Not opposed to moving closer to Boston as it would be reverse commute.

Suggestions?

[jayrandom]

It's been nearly twenty years since I left the Bay Area, and even then I was North/East Bay (Benicia), but I will give it my best guess. My first thought would be Weston. Los Altos is by some measures the most expensive city in the U.S. And Weston is by most measures the most expensive in Massachusetts. I'd say Weston is the analogue to Los Altos and Wellesley is the analogue to Palo Alto. Both would be a very easy commute to Framingham.

That's a very loose analogy, though. The two areas (Bay Area vs. Eastern Mass.) are just so different that a direct mapping doesn't make total sense. There are things offered here that you won't find there and stuff here (like freshwater) that you won't find in the Bay Area. One big difference is that the Bay Area is huge. While you can roughly identify Boston with SF and Cambridge with Oakland/Berkley there isn't really a San Jose. The distance between SF and San Jose is about the same as Boston and Providence, but Providence doesn't have the extremely wealthy suburbs that San Jose does. Second, the Bay(s) carve out a huge useful area of living space.

What are you looking for and what is your budget? That's a much better question. What aspects of Los Altos do you want to keep, what aspects would you like to improve or change? Weston is rich with big lots and no sidewalks. Wellesley is rich with smaller lots and more to do in town. Newton is a relatively dense rich city with even smaller lots. Brookline is expensive and denser still.

[missionhill]

Just looking at the Google map-- Interesting how even in a wealthy suburb out there the houses look to be as close together as houses in Somerville and Dorchester. In Weston or Sherborn or any other of the dozens of wealthy Boston exurbs your house lot will be huge by comparison. Even in Wellesley you have a lot more outdoor space.

[MikePRU]

I'm not sure how many people there are on the site with knowledge of both the San Francisco are and the Boston area. You might get more helpful answers if you described what it is that you're looking for in your new town, what your expectations are for your new home, and what your housing budget would be. Of course, it would also be helpful to know if you expect to buy or rent.

[495neighbor]

Lexington would be the Boston twin to the affluent Silicon Valley suburbs. It is where there are many high tech businesses as well as home to many high level tech executives and geniuses. Wellesley is more financial service executives and bankers. I don't know Winchester as well as Lexington, but I believe it may be similar to Lexington in population makeup.

[CaliBayGirl]

Thank you everyone for your insight and comments, nice to sense a true desire to help! It's hard for me to describe because the disparity in housing costs are huge. A 60-yr old 2000sq ft house here costs minimal $2m. one of the advantages we see coming to Boston is being able to have a nicer home without sinking our entire budget in housing. Our budget is $1M Max, no more.

I realize we could get a virtual mansion in the outlying suburbs however I'd give up space (we're used to small spaces!) to be closer to the City. I do want a 4bdrm, 2 bath with upgraded kitchen/bath. Doesn't have to be big, but I do hope to get upgraded. I'm looking for a bit more diversity, and good schools (have elementary aged children). A town with its own shopping district. This may sound odd but one of my biggest concerns is finding an area with an older demographic, we had our kids late and I'd prefer to live somewhere with "older parents" if that makes sense. I think we'd get that living closer to the City?

Los Altos IS very affluent although I wouldn't say we are. We live on one income and definitely watch a budget. We live here because schools are an issue in CA and we felt this was the best for our kids. Several of you mentioned Weston. Are there particular areas of Weston I should be looking at?

Thanks much for any input, truly appreciated! It's so daunting to think of making this huge life decision w/o having lived there and getting the feel for where we want to be!

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by CaliBayGirl

I realize we could get a virtual mansion in the outlying suburbs however I'd give up space (we're used to small spaces!) to be closer to the City. I do want a 4bdrm, 2 bath with upgraded kitchen/bath. Doesn't have to be big, but I do hope to get upgraded. I'm looking for a bit more diversity, and good schools (have elementary aged children). A town with its own shopping district. This may sound odd but one of my biggest concerns is finding an area with an older demographic, we had our kids late and I'd prefer to live somewhere with "older parents" if that makes sense. I think we'd get that living closer to the City?

Weston is a lovely town, but not high on diversity. Lexington and Arlington, the town next to Lexington and very up and coming, are higher on diversity than Weston and Wellesley. Burlington, a town next to Arlington and Lexington, has all the shopping anyone would want. They recently built a Wegmans. The only thing a bit lacking in shopping in that area is a lack of a Lowes or Home Depot. Lexington and Arlington both have developed town centers with places to eat and community centers for arts and activities. There are later life parents in every town around Boston.

[alidmc]

If your budget is 1 million and you want a more city-like vibe, I wouldn't consider Weston. For more city-like, I would consider Brookline (though single families under 1 million are rare) and Newton.
Other areas you may to consider that are more suburban, but with developed downtowns are Needham and Natick. All of these towns have great school systems and a lot to offer families. However, like the towns out in the SF area, these towns are very desirable, and multiple offers and bidding wars are common.
Good luck!

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by CaliBayGirl

Los Altos IS very affluent although I wouldn't say we are. We live on one income and definitely watch a budget. We live here because schools are an issue in CA and we felt this was the best for our kids. Several of you mentioned Weston. Are there particular areas of Weston I should be looking at?

Yeah, $1 million housing budget, considering living in Weston but you're not affluent.

[sal1181]

Winchester is also a great option with wonderful schools. Also Arlington and Lexington and Belmont are great choices.