Single empty nester seeks greater Boston location for new place (Quincy: price, bus)

[jcdmass]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Is JP or Roslindale out of the question at your price point?

Yeah, JP is anyway. Roslindale might be OK, but honestly I didn't care for the vibe there - seemed a bit run down? Maybe I just didn't see the best part of it??

[jcdmass]

Originally Posted by johngolf

Waltham and maybe up your game to Andover.

I used to work in Andover and hated the evening commute back to Boston. Traffic was awful. But otherwise, yeah, Andover seemed like a nice town.

Any thoughts on Reading and/or Winchester?

[jcdmass]

Wakefield?

[massnative71]

No no and no. The only place outside 128 I can think of for you might be Concord, which will be right up there with the other places you say are too expensive. For the walkability and culture you are looking for, that leaves you with Waltham, Quincy, Medford, Salem, Beverly, and maybe Roslindale.

[jcdmass]

Originally Posted by massnative71

No no and no. The only place outside 128 I can think of for you might be Concord, which will be right up there with the other places you say are too expensive. For the walkability and culture you are looking for, that leaves you with Waltham, Quincy, Medford, Salem, Beverly, and maybe Roslindale.

OK. It's tough. I have to decide what's most important, I guess. I would rather live further out than have a place that's not so nice just to be closer in.

It's fabulous though to get perspectives from those native here. I moved to MA about 10 years ago from the midwest so I don't have the history with all these suburban towns.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by jcdmass

OK. It's tough. I have to decide what's most important, I guess. I would rather live further out than have a place that's not so nice just to be closer in.

It's fabulous though to get perspectives from those native here. I moved to MA about 10 years ago from the midwest so I don't have the history with all these suburban towns.

In that case then maybe a place like Braintree or Wakefield would be worth consideration. What you will get are nice communities with some walkability in areas, what you won't get are scenes for older singles or any real "culture".

Maybe look into Dedham also? There is/wss a good sized choral society there.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by massnative71

No no and no. The only place outside 128 I can think of for you might be Concord, which will be right up there with the other places you say are too expensive. For the walkability and culture you are looking for, that leaves you with Waltham, Quincy, Medford, Salem, Beverly, and maybe Roslindale.

Outside 128 Wellesley has a walkable area around Wellesley Square with Wellesley College right there. Hard to beat. It's expensive of course. Look into Dedham too-- the old downtown section and adjacent neighborhood along Route 109 is really nice. Newton is well known for cultural amenities. Watertown is next to Newton and convenient to Cambridge and has a slight discount over Newton and Belmont in not having top-rated schools. What about West Medford? Some very nice streets there; you're near the Mystlc Lakes and have easy car access to Cambridge.

Roslindale should be cheaper by rights than any of those but it may not be any more. Pretty nice there along South Street south of Roslindale Square and Centre Street. Perfectly good along Washington St south of Rozzie Sq too. It's only the section between Forest Hills and Roslindale Sq. that's dingy.

I agree Salem could be great--it's nothing if not walkable.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Outside 128 Wellesley has a walkable area around Wellesley Square with Wellesley College right there. Hard to beat. It's expensive of course. Look into Dedham too-- the old downtown section and adjacent neighborhood along Route 109 is really nice. Newton is well known for cultural amenities. Watertown is next to Newton and convenient to Cambridge and has a slight discount over Newton and Belmont in not having top-rated schools. What about West Medford? Some very nice streets there; you're near the Mystlc Lakes and have easy car access to Cambridge.

Roslindale should be cheaper by rights than any of those but it may not be any more. Pretty nice there along South Street south of Roslindale Square and Centre Street. Perfectly good along Washington St south of Rozzie Sq too. It's only the section between Forest Hills and Roslindale Sq. that's dingy.

I agree Salem could be great--it's nothing if not walkable.

She is priced out of places like Wellesley and Newton.

[495neighbor]

It looks like small studio condos in Brookline sell in the 400k to 500k range and that is what OP has to play with. Yup, no Wellesley, no Newton, no Concord.

[tysmith95]

I think you should take a 2nd look at Salem. Yes it's a pain to drive in and out but the commuter rail is convient and it would hit all of your boxes.