Need affordable and safe living for job south of Boston in Scituate. Please help! (Hingham: appointed, to rent)

[josh238]

Hi, I have been offered a job near Boston- something my wife and I would greatly appreciate to be a part of as they have a strong arts, sciences community (obviously). This would be an excellent position for us and I really hope that I can make this work out.

The job is located near scituate, hingham, cohasset areas. At first I Thought wow this is great, coastal community (I was told its only 30 min to Boston by company) and we can take the ferry if we want and so forth.

But now I see that the homes are very expensive. I'm also getting mixed signals that the area is or is not safe to live long term.

Can you guys please help my wife and I find a location that is safe to live in close to drive to work (I really really do not want to be driving 30 minutes a day to work in the snow) or take a train to work that is reliable in the winter so that I can accept this job offer?

My wife and I have a budget of 400k or less which I think is reasonable (My first real job, I do think I need to save as much as I can for retirement and I dont have much money in savings)- so I really would prefer a home in the 200-300 range. We would like the sqft size to be at least 1500. And yet with even this moderately sized home its almost impossible to find anything that is in our price range.

We are from the region that straddles the midwest and north east so this is a total price shock for us. I can't imagine how anyone can even afford to live in the boston area, save for retirement, and live in a safe place

Theres so much that the city and norhteast has to offer and I really really want to be a part of this!

Also Im a minority and am wary of the blue collar towns because of all the things that have been happening htis past year

[GrewUpsouthBoston]

Hi josh238, unfortunate a budget of 400k within 30 minutes wont get you much of a home. I live in dartmouth about 45 min away from boston. It might be a bit farther than you wanted but at least you can get a nice home(400-250k) in a great school system. Low taxes, great community, downfall is no train. You would have to drive. Feel free to ask me any questions.

[josh238]

Does this mean you drive 45 min a day to Boston?
Because otherwise I'm not comfortable doing that.

I know people live in Portsmouth to Boston- is there a train service?

Just concerned about driving in the snow- my position would require me to come regardless of the weather unfortunately so access to the work place is essential

[CaseyB]

There is a train from Portsmouth, but it takes a long time and it won't get you to Scituate. Hingham, Scituate and Cohasset are all safe but they would be out of your price range for a single family home. I'm not that familiar with prices on the South Shore anymore but perhaps a condo would be okay?

[josh238]

No issues with condos but theyre too expensive too.

So theres no where else I could live?!!!

[CaseyB]

Honestly, If you want the job I would look at renting first. Then you and your wife could investigate areas that you would feel comfortable living in and you don't mind the commute from. It's easier when you've been here awhile and are familiar with the traffic patterns.

This is a very expensive area of the country to live in and you wouldn't be the first to be shocked at the prices of homes.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by josh238

Hi, I have been offered a job near Boston- something my wife and I would greatly appreciate to be a part of as they have a strong arts, sciences community (obviously). This would be an excellent position for us and I really hope that I can make this work out.

The job is located near scituate, hingham, cohasset areas. At first I Thought wow this is great, coastal community (I was told its only 30 min to Boston by company) and we can take the ferry if we want and so forth.

But now I see that the homes are very expensive. I'm also getting mixed signals that the area is or is not safe to live long term.

Can you guys please help my wife and I find a location that is safe to live in close to drive to work (I really really do not want to be driving 30 minutes a day to work in the snow) or take a train to work that is reliable in the winter so that I can accept this job offer?

My wife and I have a budget of 400k or less which I think is reasonable (My first real job, I do think I need to save as much as I can for retirement and I dont have much money in savings)- so I really would prefer a home in the 200-300 range. We would like the sqft size to be at least 1500. And yet with even this moderately sized home its almost impossible to find anything that is in our price range.

We are from the region that straddles the midwest and north east so this is a total price shock for us. I can't imagine how anyone can even afford to live in the boston area, save for retirement, and live in a safe place

Theres so much that the city and norhteast has to offer and I really really want to be a part of this!

Also Im a minority and am wary of the blue collar towns because of all the things that have been happening htis past year

A few things to clear up:

1) Whoever told you it would be 30 minutes from Scituate to Boston was lying to you. Plain and simple. Maybe it would take 45 minutes at 2 am. Scituate is only defined as being "close to Boston" because there are people who commute in daily. In mileage terms it is close. In real world travel times, it is not.

2) You can't afford to live in Boston so there's no point in bothering. There are places within about a 30-45 minute drive from Scituate that you CAN afford. You just have to look. This will unfortunately mean you'll be about a 1 hour drive from Boston (on the weekend) living in a bedroom community, not a city.

Realistically going to Boston will be a special occasion for you.

3) You won't find a livable house for less than $300k unless you are willing to do a ton of work.

If your goal is "to move to Boston" then you will probably be disappointed and should stay where you are if you're happy. The cost of living here will eat you alive.

[YellowVW]

^ That last sentence is so damn true.

[YellowVW]

Originally Posted by josh238

Does this mean you drive 45 min a day to Boston?
Because otherwise I'm not comfortable doing that.

I know people live in Portsmouth to Boston- is there a train service?

Just concerned about driving in the snow- my position would require me to come regardless of the weather unfortunately so access to the work place is essential

Dartmouth is 45 minutes on a perfectly sunny Tuesday day at 10:36am lol. It is a lovely town however.

If you're open to renting, I'd explore that.

[gf2020]

Where exactly is the job? If you're working in Scituate you could commute from Pembroke, Plympton, Halifax, or Kingston, and you can find houses for under $400K.