# Thoughts on possibly moving to Boston **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286 "2012-04-19T16:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/21 "2012-04-19T18:15:31Z")
I live in a subrurb north of Boston. In Saugus you can easily get a home in the $500-600k range (although not one of the new McMansions). There’s sufficient acreage, and it’s an easy drive into town. One problem is that there’s no direct commuting. Next town over is Melrose, which is a very nice town (I lived in an apatrtment there for years), and prices are a bit higher, as are taxes. But you ought to be able to get a nice home in your price range. Melrose has a nice, functioning downtown and good schools. It also has both commuter rail running through it, with three stops, but also the terminus of the Orange Line from the subway system. You can definitely commute in to the city without a car. It’s far enough out that you won’t feel congested, and can park in the street. Both Melrose and Saklem are within easy driving distance of Salem, if that’s what you like (I certainly do). It’s a bit further to Lexington and Concord. Arlington is closer in, and I get the feeling that it’s more congested and more expensive. It, too, has a nice downtown and public transit (and a movie theater!), and it’s on a commuter bike path (which doesn’t get you into the city, however) We looked at houses there, but didn’t buy. But I know people who live or have rented there. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/22 "2012-04-19T18:17:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Pretty fucked, I guess, since that page came up as “Porn content is blocked.” Well, if you want the SFW version: [http://howsthet.com/green/](http://howsthet.com/green/) So your work will block a website that uses the word “Fuck” but doesn’t care if you use it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/23 "2012-04-19T18:17:15Z")
OK - for easy access to North Station plus reasonably sized lots and single family houses, look at Winchester and Ipswich. I’ll see what other ideas I come up with. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/24 "2012-04-19T18:17:29Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > If you have to get on a bus to get to the subway (or Commuter Rail in Porter) it’s horrible. Yes, as I found out last night. The Green Line sucks, but the D line is the best of it – unless there’s a ball game. Then it’s jam packed with drunken idiots. Like last night. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/25 "2012-04-19T18:18:58Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > You can also look out in Medford (pronounced Mehfuh) which has an easy commuter rail station. But these are relatively densely populated 'burbs, with lots of triple deckers and duplexes. Do you want to be out in the more suburban areas with the white picket fence and 2 car garages? Medford is a strange beast. There are swaths of it that are Somerville-dense, but other swaths that are very suburban. And actually, the suburban parts remind me of older suburbs in the Midwest --lots of 1920s Tudor. Medford is also a bit more affordable than some places. That said, access to the North End isn’t great, either by car or transit. The Green Line is coming, but not for six or eight years. I might actually recommend Melrose – the OP can probably find a place in his price range that would meet his needs, and the Orange Line would get him nicely to the right part of Boston. It’s a nice little town, too. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/26 "2012-04-19T18:20:16Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > So your work will block a website that uses the word “Fuck” but doesn’t care if you use it yourself? I have long since given up trying to figure how the censorship here works. But cool site, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/27 "2012-04-19T18:20:31Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > It took me nearly 2 hours to get home from Arlington last night. :mad: Really? I never have that problem. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/28 "2012-04-19T18:20:58Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > I might actually recommend Melrose – the OP can probably find a place in his price range that would meet his needs, and the Orange Line would get him nicely to the right part of Boston. It’s a nice little town, too. I know someone who might be selling a 3-bedroom in Melrose soon… ETA - within walking distance of the T ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/29 "2012-04-19T18:36:30Z")
**Dinsdale** , I’ve lived in Reading, MA for about 8 years now, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. We love it here! - It has a centrally-located commuter rail station, and the trains go straight to North Station in half an hour. - It’s convenient to both major highways, should you need to drive anywhere. - It’s a very walkable town, with a nice town center and several parks. - It’s mostly single-family detached houses in a reasonable price range (300k - 600k) - It was recently voted “best affordable suburb” in Massachusetts! - As it’s north of the city, it’s a shorter drive to the utterly fantastic hiking in New Hampshire. It’s less than two hours from our driveway to the White Mountains, for example. I can answer more specific questions about it, if you’d like. Good luck with your search! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/30 "2012-04-19T19:01:37Z")
Reading sounds pretty ideal! > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Really? I never have that problem. Huh. 77 bus to Harvard, red line to Park, D line to Reservoir, with a total of about 25 minutes waiting. And there was some walking involved too. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/31 "2012-04-19T19:11:26Z")
Yeah, Reading’s a nice town – commuter rail, big and diverse downtown, close to 128 and easy access to Boston and the northern suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/32 "2012-04-19T19:20:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > It took me nearly 2 hours to get home from Arlington last night. :mad: > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Really? I never have that problem. > [@tdn](#): > > Huh. 77 bus to Harvard, red line to Park, D line to Reservoir, with a total of about 25 minutes waiting. And there was some walking involved too. I live in Arlington. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/33 "2012-04-19T19:31:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Yeah, Reading’s a nice town – commuter rail, big and diverse downtown, close to 128 and easy access to Boston and the northern suburbs. And an REI store. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/34 "2012-04-19T19:32:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I live in Arlington. Does anybody else hear a whooshing sound? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/35 "2012-04-19T19:39:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > And an REI store. 🙂 And a Comic Book Store And a coupla good Chinese Restaurants ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/36 "2012-04-19T19:48:04Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Reading sounds pretty ideal! > > Huh. 77 bus to Harvard, red line to Park, D line to Reservoir, with a total of about 25 minutes waiting. And there was some walking involved too. Get off the 77 at Porter. Some days it shaves 5 minutes off your trip, some days it shaves 45 minutes off. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/37 "2012-04-19T19:51:50Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Reading sounds pretty ideal! > > Huh. 77 bus to Harvard, red line to Park, D line to Reservoir, with a total of about 25 minutes waiting. And there was some walking involved too. 66? Or is that a bad bus? I know that 77 is pretty awful. On [boston.com](http://boston.com) today: [http://www.boston.com/realestate/gallery/onmarket/homesfor350000/?p1=News\_links](http://www.boston.com/realestate/gallery/onmarket/homesfor350000/?p1=News_links) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/38 "2012-04-19T19:56:16Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I know that 77 is pretty awful. Last night it was freakin’ flyin’. We made it to Harvard Square in about 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/39 "2012-04-19T19:59:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > And an REI store. 🙂 And a good Swiss bakery. But all that said, I find there’s something a little underwhelming about Reading. Hard to say what, exactly, but to me it’s not a town with a ton of personality. Maybe I find the downtown a bit blah. ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286/40 "2012-04-19T20:53:38Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > And a good Swiss bakery. A second bakery recently opened up here: Sammy Jo’s, also close to the train station. I like it even more than SwissBakers, which I also enjoy. > [@](#): > > But all that said, I find there’s something a little underwhelming about Reading. Hard to say what, exactly, but to me it’s not a town with a ton of personality. Maybe I find the downtown a bit blah. Well, to each his/her own, I suppose. It has plenty of personality for us, though I agree it’s not super-vibrant in an urban sort of way. It’s right on the cusp between suburban and rural. One more positive: the town itself is well-managed and well-maintained. Just a couple of years ago they put it new nicer crosswalks, sidewalks, street lamps, bollards, etc., making the downtown much more aesthetically pleasing. Last year they did a bunch of work improving the main town park. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-possibly-moving-to-boston/619286.md?page=3)