New to the Boston real estate market? Choosing a new town to live can seem overwhelming for those relocating to the Boston area. The good news is there are plenty of great options to choose from.
Here are a handful of tips to narrow down your choices:
Commuting to Boston.
Where will you be working in Boston, how long of a commute is acceptable, and do you plan to drive or use public transit? If, for example, you’d like to take the train to your office near Boston’s Prudential Center, you may want to consider suburbs to the south or west of the city since those train lines run directly to South Station. The MBTA (Mass Bay Transit Authority) website includes many handy tools for estimating commute times, including a “service nearby” feature where you can enter an address and find the best public transit routing.
Massachusetts Schools.
Fortunately there are many highly regarded public school systems throughout the Boston suburbs. US News & World Report and Boston Magazine have annual rankings of Massachusetts public school systems that you may find helpful. I’ve also written more detailed profiles of several of our most highly regarded public school systems, including Dover/Sherborn, Weston, and Lincoln/Sudbury schools.
Budget.
Boston area housing is pricey compared with many areas of the country. You’ll likely find a strong correlation between distance to Boston and home price. (for example, home prices are quite steep in nearby Boston suburbs such as Wellesley and Weston and relatively more reasonable as you head further west to towns such as Hopkinton and Westborough). If you’d like an idea of home prices in various Boston suburbs please drop me a line. I’d be glad to share recent home sale data.
Lifestyle.
Boston communities vary quite a bit in character and “feel”. Looking for a bustling community walking distance to cafes, shops, and theatres? Brookline, Newton, and Wellesley would be a good place to start. If you prefer a more traditional suburban feel, there are lots of communities to pick from, including Holliston, Hopkinton, Southborough, Sudbury and Westborough. If you’re looking for a more country feel, Dover, Sherborn, and Wayland are lovely choices.