Hello!

I am moving to Boston for my new job which is located downtown near the Harbor. I am really hoping to rent a house with a yard if possible - happy to commute 30-45 minutes. Any suburb recommendations? Aiming for $4k a month in rent, or even possibly buying if we find something. Coming from NYC so we’re used to apartments and would just love to not be in one anymore. Is this even feasible? I’m just not familiar with the area! Thanks for any advice!

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mileylols t1_it7y220 wrote on October 21, 2022 at 4:12 PM

A house with a yard?

Quincy, maybe? https://www.redfin.com/MA/Quincy/45-Ames-St-02169/unit-SF/home/181485687

You could try looking in Arlington, but I can't guarantee you'd get to the Waterfront in 30 minutes.

charons-voyage t1_it8hu71 wrote on October 21, 2022 at 6:24 PM

Another vote for Quincy. Great bang for your buck.

eigiarce t1_it892ui wrote on October 21, 2022 at 5:26 PM

Quincy is a good call, but with a budget of 4k you can find places (like this, this and maybe this) within walking distance to the T. Would be an easy 30 min ride on the red line (or CR) to where OP will be working.

LadyGreyIcedTea t1_it9dohk wrote on October 21, 2022 at 10:03 PM

You are underestimating Boston traffic. You can't commute to Boston in 30-45 minutes from the suburbs. I live in Boston and it takes me 45 minutes to get to the harbor area on a good day. Before COVID I used to have meetings in Charlestown once/week and I would leave my house by 7:45am to get there by 9. It was 10 miles exactly.

That said there are residential neighborhoods of Boston where you can get single family houses.

ObviousAd22 t1_ittr8zi wrote on October 26, 2022 at 6:41 AM

what are the general times for traffic? I have to be near Fenway at 6am and will leave around 6:30pm. Will I still hit some of that traffic?

LadyGreyIcedTea t1_itw5hm1 wrote on October 26, 2022 at 7:13 PM

"Near Fenway" includes Children's Hospital, Beth Israel, Dana Farber, Joslin and Brigham and Women's plus several schools. Traffic starts early since shifts in the hospitals start at 7am. And as far as leaving at 6:30pm goes, keep in mind that baseball season is from April-October and most nights when there's a game, it's at 7pm. So yes it's a giant cluster fuck at that time. And idk if it's going to be permanent or not but right now they're trialing the right lane on Brookline Ave as a bus only lane and traffic has been a nightmare since they started doing that. Plus box trucks like to stop in front of Dana Farber and take up an entire lane. I've sat in traffic for 40 min on Brookline Ave from Rte 9 to Longwood before.

ObviousAd22 t1_itw5wsg wrote on October 26, 2022 at 7:15 PM

I would be at children's hospital. Trying to figure out the best place to live and it seems like my options are living West in Watertown/west Roxbury since there are some back roads to take or to live slightly North or in Quincy and take the T line to work. Which do you recommend?

LadyGreyIcedTea t1_iu6vool wrote on October 29, 2022 at 12:26 AM

I would live somewhere where you can take public transportation. You want to be on the green (D or E) or orange line. Parking costs for staff are astronomical to park at a satellite lot. At my last job (I was on site at the hospital but worked for an outside company and they reimbursed my parking), parking at Simmons College cost over $300/month. That was 5 years ago so I'm sure it costs more now.

When I was employed by the hospital, I took the D line when I lived in Brighton and the 39 bus when I lived in Roslindale. Nowadays when I go there I still leave 45 minutes (or more depending on time of day) to get there and I live exactly 5 miles away.

ObviousAd22 t1_iu6x1dl wrote on October 29, 2022 at 12:37 AM

What time of day do you go in?

chacifer t1_it8cuhu wrote on October 21, 2022 at 5:51 PM

Hull and take the MBTA ferry to work.

bristollersw t1_it80zcr wrote on October 21, 2022 at 4:32 PM

Melrose.

DimSumIsGood t1_it9pedt wrote on October 21, 2022 at 11:34 PM

I live out in Walpole and work in Back Bay. As others mentioned, driving takes an hour to an hour and 15 most days, but the commuter line gets me to the office in 40 minutes. $4k would get you a decent house out here, but the commute may be on the longer side compared to what you are looking for. That being said, I’d look at some cheaper towns close to one of the commuter lines (Dedham and Readville come to mind). That’s likely your best bet to rent a house in that price range.

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mpjjpm t1_it8031m wrote on October 21, 2022 at 4:26 PM

Maybe Malden or Medford, along the orange line? Or Medford/Somerville along the soon to open Green line extension? There are a lot of older houses near Tufts that are split into 2-3 apartments (or condos), with either a shared yard agreement or one apartment getting exclusive use of the back yard. Just be sure you aren’t moving into a building with undergrads in the other unit.

Stronkowski t1_it80q2j wrote on October 21, 2022 at 4:30 PM

Go to the North end of the Orange Line or the south end of the Red Line. It'll be easier if you're willing to live further from the train (like 1-2 miles) and either walk a long time or bike/scooter to the station.

RogueInteger t1_it8a8dh wrote on October 21, 2022 at 5:33 PM

The outskirts of Boston metro area will be better if you want that commute time.