Thinking of relocating to Boston Area

Snow.

That's about it, the Boston area is very nice other than that. There are also lots of Cars and Coffee type things in the area if you're into that

 

As a parent, I would say pick a town with a good community and good schools. I am in Needham and it is great for a family and kids. You want your kids to have good kids around them...

 

Ray,

I work in Framingham but live 28 miles north on the NH border. Where you get your job will really be the deciding factor where you buy your house. I would NEVER live in Framingham, I would have to be close to homeless and broke to do so, same for Worcester! You have 2 small kids and the schools are awful there. Not to sound like an a***ole but english is not the primary language there! Yes there are nice areas in both cities but it's just not worth it.

Traffic is going to be your #1 decider on where you decide to look for a house. Example so you live in Natick but work in Westboro, you will be opposite traffic on Rt.90 (MassPike) but the opposite would be a NIGHTMARE. I used to live right next to Boston and I could go opposite traffic so wasn't an issue. I moved up north 4.5 yrs ago and found I can take backroads for the 28 miles, I have an easy 1 hour back country drive with 5 stop signs and 5 lights. I am ok with the ride because I REALLY like where I live, it's an upper middle class town with excellent schools (my girls are 6 & 3.5 so that was important) and all of my friends from the city I grew up in we all live up here.

Since I don't know your budget I'll guess it at $400K if you are working in Framingham I'll keep you in a 30 min radius, Natick is nice (next door) Wayland has excellent schools but $400k might get you a shack, same for Sudbury (also high taxes). Now you can find decent places in the $400-500k range there, my boss just did. I would avoid Ashland, Holliston is nice, Medway nice as well, Waltham..nope, Stow, nice, Maynard/Marlboro..nope. If you are in the $500-650k range, absolutely Sudbury/Lincoln/Wayland would be perfect. Both school systems are top 10 in the state. You might even find Concord and Carlisle as well. Concord has a charming downtown area with lots of foot traffic for shopping. I have a friend with a business there and he is doing VERY well for his niche.

Worcester area, Westboro is nice, the surrounding towns to Worcester are very "country" and for the most part good places for a family. I played golf in Paxton (15 mins from downtown Worcester) and it was like I was in Virginia with the rolling hills, great foliage, I liked it. Grafton is nice as well. I would avoid the towns north of Rt.2 like Fitchburg/Leominster area.

I would more then happy to help you out, shoot me a PM and we can talk off line.

 

you could even try Newton and Brookline. great school systems in each town and you are not more than a short car ride away from the city. and Cape Cod is only about 1.5 hrs away homes are a bit pricy but if you look hard enough, you can find some great buys. and yeah snow can be an issue but as long as you have 4wd on one of your cars, you'll be fine. main roads are usually plowed pretty nicely. hope this helps
-Alex

 

This is pretty accurate... although living in Lincoln, there are some abutting neighborhoods in Waltham that I wouldnt turn my nose up at... just send your kids to private schools!

 

Looking at the cars in his profile, you could probably take that $400K and double or triple it. Now what's he looking at?

 

I guess I should have checked that out! LOL

Ok if I were to be looking at homes, I worked in Framingham, and had up to a $1.2M budget.

Carlisle is my favorite community that is reasonable to Framingham. I live on the border and I am just really liking the feel of the town. There is no downtown per say and NO businesses. On my way to work I drive by these 2 gorgeous new developments Hanover Hill and Greystone Crossing, homes in the $1M to $1.7M range. Based on my $1.2M budget there are several beautiful homes in the 5100+ sq ft range. This one caught my eye.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/63-Old-East-St_Carlisle_MA_01741_M37853-98362

My 2nd favorite town is Groton, just a true classic old school New England community with awesome schools (Top 4% in the country). It's about 20 mins west of me now and worth the ride (can be done backroads).

If I really wanted to be < 30 mins from work then Sudbury with Wayland a close 2nd. For $1.1-1.25M gets you a min 4500sq feet 4+ bdrm and a beautiful estate. I found 33 homes $900-$1.25M range and there are some gorgeous homes up to 6600 sq ft.

Weston is THE best town in the area but $1M will not get you as much home. I found 16 homes in the $900k to $1.25M range, most lo-mid 3000 sq feet to be honest, I would want nicer for ME. Weston has the best public schools in the state and VERY high taxes as well. If living in THE best town is your priority then Weston is your town.

Newton is another really nice community with excellent schools, it's a little too busy for me, I want a quieter area.

If he needs to live out near Worcester then the "boro's" are nice, Southboro, Westboro, & Northboro. We have lots of executives at my Co. who live in Southboro and Hopkington