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NJ Nestie here hoping to pick your brains!
MH just got laid off this week and has an interview in Cambridge next week. I've lived in NJ all my life (and love it even though it gets a disgusting reputation lol) but we might have to make this move. We have a 3 year old and a baby on the way---so if we move, we need to find a nice family-oriented town in the surrounding area. We are in our early 30s but not looking for a town with popping nightlife.
I know housing cost is similar to that of NJ (pretty high) so we are looking for a single family home less than about $405k if at all possible. Of course, good schools are on my wish list and I just want a backyard!! Other than that, we are open to ideas. I work in publishing now and don't know if I have to quit my job or if I can telecommute---so if I have to quit, I will also prob have to find a job! Can you guys recommend some towns in the Cambridge area (i'd say no farther than an hour drive from Cambridge).
Sorry, lots of random details.
Thanks so much!
Re: NJ Nestie here hoping to pick your brains!
I'm sorry to hear about your DH's layoff, but it's great that he has an interview already.
Maybe look at Arlington, Waltham, Watertown, Medford? I'm not the best when knowing about school districts, but the other ladies will chime in I'm sure. These towns all have at least respectable schools as far as I know, but not the best of the best. Newton would be great but I don't think you'll be able to find a decent SFH in that price range there.
Somerville on the border of Cambridge would be nice too, but I really don't know about schools there.
If we move back to the area, we'll be living in Cambridge. I like the area.
For your housing budget, I have no idea what you'd find that is close to Cambridge for that amount. Maybe go north? Peabody? If he can work 7-4 the commute will be 1 hour. I lived 4 miles away from Cambridge and had an hour each way commute, the traffic is just bad all around.
I'd consider Arlington, too. See what you can find in that area. A lot of my CW-ers live in Watertown and like it a lot.
Hi! I work in Cambridge so I can give you a little insight.
Some of the surrounding towns that are close so you can take public transportation, but still have good school system: Belmont, Arlington, Newton (but it is pretty pricey so it depends on the size and # of bedrooms you're looking for).
A little further out but a quick drive to the T (subway system) with good school systems (but are pricey like Newton): Lexington, Wellesey, Lincoln.
Further still: Concord (this is the furthest up Rt.2 and will take you a good hour to get into the city with traffic), Winchester.
I live beyond Concord near the I-495/Rt.2 junction. I drive down Rt.2 to the Alewife T stop which is on the red line (the Cambridge stops). During the school year when traffic is bad it takes about 50 minutes just to drive to Alewife.
Hopefully others can give some insight to towns south of the city.
The 'northern part' of the South Shore?
Weymouth? Fairly okay schools, family oriented. Close to the T, commuter rail, shopping, grocery, parks, etc.
Rockland? A little bit farther south (towards cape cod) but maybe cheaper than Weymouth.
And, then you have Braintree and Quincy (obviously closer to Boston) but I always think that they don't have as good schools as maybe Weymouth.
Hingham and Duxbury are relatively expensive.
You can google the towns and read up on crime and school ratings. GL to your H with his intervierw! :-)
Are you adopting?
Haha. DH is from one of those areas and calls Duxbury Deee-lux-bury. LOL.
We plan to foster and also foster-to-adopt. Whatever comes our way, I guess! However, as you can see from my ticker, we are waiting a couple of years (more like 5 but the ticker would only let me go to 3.5ish) until our lives are in order better than they are now.
Oh, yes, Deluxe-bury - I grew up hearing that! I never lived there but babysat for some people there. I could never afford to live there. :-)
But, I do love the South Shore, in general.
We plan to foster and also foster-to-adopt. Whatever comes our way, I guess! However, as you can see from my ticker, we are waiting a couple of years (more like 5 but the ticker would only let me go to 3.5ish) until our lives are in order better than they are now.
Oh, yes, Deluxe-bury - I grew up hearing that! I never lived there but babysat for some people there. I could never afford to live there. :-)
But, I do love the South Shore, in general.
Ohhh I am a NJ transplant living in MA!! I have been in MA for 11 years now (moved from NJ right after i got married).
I was scared and i hated the first three months here, but after a while I made friends and now I LOVE it here.
As for towns to live in there are soooo many...we live about 12 miles north of Boston and I love it, towns like Melrose, Wakefield, Reading. There are commuter trains to Boston/Cambridge etc.
I work in Boston and DH works in Cambridge, we also have two kids and it works out nicely as the commutes are minimal.
Anyway good luck to you!