Help identifying a good suburb within 30 mins train ride to downtown boston (Cambridge: condo, buying)

[ECPCVC]

Natick, Sharon. Any place closer with good schools is too expensive. Any place farther with good schools is too far (according to OP).

[brainbree]

I'd look for something in Melrose or Braintree. Everything else isn't worth it. A zone 1 pass is what, $200? So that's almost $100K extra over 30 years. For $650 you may be able to find something near the orange or red lines.

[robr2]

You can get into Burlington at a little higher price point if you take taxes into account:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...3_M34039-20726

but the commute to Back Bay will be an hour or so each way. You can take the 352 bus to State St. or the commuter rail from Wilmington or Woburn to North Station and then the T to Back Bay.

[semiurbanite]

The 30 minute commute into the city has disappeared unless you live in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline or Somerville. Lately when I arrive at work by bike, the only people there are the city dwellers lately. The suburban commuters have been arriving progressively later each year due to traffic or train delays. Remember every 5 minutes you add to your commute each way is 40 hours per year of your life - a week of vacation!

The Globe concurs: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...GHN/story.html

[rethcir]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

The 30 minute commute into the city has disappeared unless you live in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline or Somerville. Lately when I arrive at work by bike, the only people there are the city dwellers lately. The suburban commuters have been arriving progressively later each year due to traffic or train delays. Remember every 5 minutes you add to your commute each way is 40 hours per year of your life - a week of vacation!

The Globe concurs: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...GHN/story.html

Cheap, Close, Good schools. Pick two.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Cheap, Close, Good schools. Pick two.

And with 2 of those you can only really pick one.

[alidmc]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

The 30 minute commute into the city has disappeared unless you live in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline or Somerville. Lately when I arrive at work by bike, the only people there are the city dwellers lately. The suburban commuters have been arriving progressively later each year due to traffic or train delays. Remember every 5 minutes you add to your commute each way is 40 hours per year of your life - a week of vacation!

The Globe concurs: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...GHN/story.html

+1 I have colleagues who live in Somerville and Brookline and it takes them longer than 30 minutes to get into work. Traffic has increased considerably over the past few years and the trains often run pretty slow during rush hour. I believe the OP asked for a town that was a 30 minute train ride, however, not an all-in commute.

If you truly want to stick with the 30 minute train ride, I would prioritize Sharon or Canton. There are towns on other commuter rail lines that stop in Back Bay in less than 30 minutes (Framingham/Worcester, Needham), but the towns that are only a half-hour ride to Back Bay are expensive.

Oak Grove is a good suggestion, but there are a few things to consider. Oak Grove is on the Malden/Melrose line and there aren't many homes in Melrose within walking distance to the station. This is unfortunate because the parking lot fills up before 7. That means you will need to find an alternative to get to the station. There are many bus lines in Melrose that will take you to the station, but it will add time to your commute. Another option would be the commuter rail (three stops in Melrose), but you would have to make the switch to the orange line at Malden Station or North Station, also adding time.

As others have said, you really need to pick you poison when it comes to commuting to/from Boston. There is always a limiting factor, whether it be budget, commute time, or schools.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by alidmc

+1 I have colleagues who live in Somerville and Brookline and it takes them longer than 30 minutes to get into work. Traffic has increased considerably over the past few years and the trains often run pretty slow during rush hour. I believe the OP asked for a town that was a 30 minute train ride, however, not an all-in commute.

If you truly want to stick with the 30 minute train ride, I would prioritize Sharon or Canton. There are towns on other commuter rail lines that stop in Back Bay in less than 30 minutes (Framingham/Worcester, Needham), but the towns that are only a half-hour ride to Back Bay are expensive.

Oak Grove is a good suggestion, but there are a few things to consider. Oak Grove is on the Malden/Melrose line and there aren't many homes in Melrose within walking distance to the station. This is unfortunate because the parking lot fills up before 7. That means you will need to find an alternative to get to the station. There are many bus lines in Melrose that will take you to the station, but it will add time to your commute. Another option would be the commuter rail (three stops in Melrose), but you would have to make the switch to the orange line at Malden Station or North Station, also adding time.

As others have said, you really need to pick you poison when it comes to commuting to/from Boston. There is always a limiting factor, whether it be budget, commute time, or schools.

If you live near any red line station, 30 minutes is pretty realistic. Brookline less likely. Don’t underestimate the bikers - more than 1/3 of the commuters going over the bridges from Cambridge into Boston are cyclists.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

And with 2 of those you can only really pick one.

Anyone that really knows MA schools and knows how to look beyond greatschools.com knows that Cambridge has some of the best schools in the state. It’s amazing how much people think they know about school quality yet have no real basis for those opinions. I was one of them, we put our first in private school then switched to public and have no regrets whatsoever.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

Anyone that really knows MA schools and knows how to look beyond greatschools.com knows that Cambridge has some of the best schools in the state. It’s amazing how much people think they know about school quality yet have no real basis for those opinions. I was one of them, we put our first in private school then switched to public and have no regrets whatsoever.

Definitely, Cambridge and Brookline have very good schools.