Doylestown PA to Greater Boston (Woburn, Braintree: house, buy, construction)

[corgifan]

Hello
Looks like our will be moving to Massachusetts in the next 6 months for my husband’s new job. The firm is based on the Seaport area.

We’re looking for the flowing:
- within 30-45 min commute by commuter rail
- nice, diverse suburb town
- fantastic schools
- House price max $700
- Preferably 1980s+ construction, 3-4 beds, 2+bath, 2000+ SF

We like what we’ve read on the following towns:
- Sharon (Con - lack of commercial development and high tax)
- Westford (Con- commute)
- Sudbury (Con- lack of diversity)
- Natick (Con- schools?)
- Acton (Con- commute)

I would appreciate any feedback. I like in Doylestown PA currently and it’s a cute town with lots to offer. It would be nice to find somewhere similar. 😊

Thanks!

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by corgifan

Hello
Looks like our will be moving to Massachusetts in the next 6 months for my husband’s new job. The firm is based on the Seaport area.

We’re looking for the flowing:
- within 30-45 min commute by commuter rail
- nice, diverse suburb town
- fantastic schools
- House price max $700
- Preferably 1980s+ construction, 3-4 beds, 2+bath, 2000+ SF

We like what we’ve read on the following towns:
- Sharon (Con - lack of commercial development and high tax)
- Westford (Con- commute)
- Sudbury (Con- lack of diversity)
- Natick (Con- schools?)
- Acton (Con- commute)

I would appreciate any feedback. I like in Doylestown PA currently and it’s a cute town with lots to offer. It would be nice to find somewhere similar. 😊

Thanks!

Andover comes to mind, although it would be on the outer edge of your commute limit. As others have affirmed on this forum, the Seaport is tough to commute to from the suburbs. Consider Burlington also, but you would need to commute from the Anderson commuter rail station in Woburn.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by corgifan

Hello
Looks like our will be moving to Massachusetts in the next 6 months for my husband’s new job. The firm is based on the Seaport area.

We’re looking for the flowing:
- within 30-45 min commute by commuter rail
- nice, diverse suburb town
- fantastic schools
- House price max $700
- Preferably 1980s+ construction, 3-4 beds, 2+bath, 2000+ SF

We like what we’ve read on the following towns:
- Sharon (Con - lack of commercial development and high tax)
- Westford (Con- commute)
- Sudbury (Con- lack of diversity)
- Natick (Con- schools?)
- Acton (Con- commute)

I would appreciate any feedback. I like in Doylestown PA currently and it’s a cute town with lots to offer. It would be nice to find somewhere similar. 😊

Thanks!

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

Andover comes to mind, although it would be on the outer edge of your commute limit. As others have affirmed on this forum, the Seaport is tough to commute to from the suburbs. Consider Burlington also, but you would need to commute from the Anderson commuter rail station in Woburn.

My parents retired to Solebury, so I’m a little familiar with Doylestown. Was just there this week.

First off, forget about commuter rail lines that go to North Station. People on this board seem really wedded to north shore towns, even when they don’t make much sense. Andover to Seaport is 75 minutes on commuter rail (just check google). Sharon is 35. If you’re going to take commuter rail, pick a line that goes to South Station. So right away, knock Westford, Sudbury, and Acton off your list. All great towns, but not really that convenient to the Seaport via commuter rail.

If schools are your top priority, I don’t think you’ll do better than Sharon with your budget. Taxes are high, but otherwise it seems like a good choice. Canton is a good choice, as well. A little more affordable, lower tax rates, closer to Boston, schools aren’t as good. Milton is a possibility, too. You might consider Braintree. I definitely wouldn’t rule out Natick. Schools are plenty good.

Also, when you say you’re looking for diversity, what do you mean exactly? Doylestown is 95% non-Hispanic white, much like Sudbury.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudbury,_Massachusetts
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doyl...,_Pennsylvania

[rethcir]

No chance

Compromise on price, commute time or house age

[tysmith95]

With the commute you'll probably be better with a southern town, as South Station is much more convenient to the seaport compared to north station.

And by fantastic schools what do you mean? Do you want the top schools in Massachusetts, remember Massachusetts as a whole has the best schools in a nation. If you look at the top high schools in MA, i'd say everything inside of 75 would give a great education.

Milton would be an good commute, although that budget with a newish home would be tough. If you're willing to scratch the newish build off of your wish list you could find something.

https://www.trulia.com/property/3157...ilton-MA-02186

Here is a good one. It's older but a new reno. Something like this could work well.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Agree on sticking to towns served by South Station (Seaport is a direct line to/from it).

Sharon, Milton, and Canton would certainly work. The issue, though, is that whatever property you find -- and this goes for nearly every town, not just those three -- will probably need some kind of work. Most of the housing stock here is old. You do find newer construction, but it usually either a flipped property or, if you go further out, newer planned developments.

Also look at Westwood and Walpole. Westwood has the commuter rail which goes right to South Station. Walpole is the larger, more-rural-in-places town next door. We have family who moved to the latter last fall and love it. I can't vouch for the schools, though although I want to say that they're on the same tier as Milton and Canton -- great, but not in the top percent like Sharon.

[mwj119]

Yea, Westford/Acton will be too far. Once that line gets to alewife, it's an additional 25 minutes via the red line.

I'd roll with Natick, Sharon, or buy a fixer upper in Westwood. All great towns, and if it were me, I'd go Natick or Westwood. As compared to other towns of the 20k mark, Sharon has never been my favorite aestethically. That said, Sharon is one of the best school systems in the state.

[corgifan]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

My parents retired to Solebury, so I’m a little familiar with Doylestown. Was just there this week.

First off, forget about commuter rail lines that go to North Station. People on this board seem really wedded to north shore towns, even when they don’t make much sense. Andover to Seaport is 75 minutes on commuter rail (just check google). Sharon is 35. If you’re going to take commuter rail, pick a line that goes to South Station. So right away, knock Westford, Sudbury, and Acton off your list. All great towns, but not really that convenient to the Seaport via commuter rail.

If schools are your top priority, I don’t think you’ll do better than Sharon with your budget. Taxes are high, but otherwise it seems like a good choice. Canton is a good choice, as well. A little more affordable, lower tax rates, closer to Boston, schools aren’t as good. Milton is a possibility, too. You might consider Braintree. I definitely wouldn’t rule out Natick. Schools are plenty good.

Also, when you say you’re looking for diversity, what do you mean exactly? Doylestown is 95% non-Hispanic white, much like Sudbury.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudbury,_Massachusetts
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doyl...,_Pennsylvania

You’re right. There’s hardly any diversity in DTown. Mass seems to be more diverse than PA. Hoping to find a town that does.

There’s a ferry from North Station that most employees take to seaport.

Thanks for suggested towns!

[corgifan]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

With the commute you'll probably be better with a southern town, as South Station is much more convenient to the seaport compared to north station.

And by fantastic schools what do you mean? Do you want the top schools in Massachusetts, remember Massachusetts as a whole has the best schools in a nation. If you look at the top high schools in MA, i'd say everything inside of 75 would give a great education.

Milton would be an good commute, although that budget with a newish home would be tough. If you're willing to scratch the newish build off of your wish list you could find something.

https://www.trulia.com/property/3157...ilton-MA-02186

Here is a good one. It's older but a new reno. Something like this could work well.

Nice house!! What’s a good indicator for a “good/great” SD in Massachusetts?

[gf2020]

A $700K budget might get you something reasonable in Canton or Norwood. Those towns would be more suburban than Milton and a better commute than anything on your original list.