Rhode Island and Boston

I wasn't sure where to post this one...

we are looking at a few jobs in these areas and I have no idea what either are like.

I think RI has more pockets of affordable housing.  Any nice places or stay away from areas people can think of?

I lived in the Boston area for 11 years.  I was closer to the city though and not that far out. (Was able to take the T instead f the commuter train) 

I lived in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Arlington and back to Somerville.  Of all those locations, I would recommend all of them   It's just a really great area to live.  Arlington and Somerville are more affordable and loads of kids all around.

I know there are other great places around there like Watertown, but I didn't live there.  There are people on here who could recommend some of the outer suburbs that are really great as well.

One of my best friends is just now moving to the burbs from Cambridge.  I could put you in touch with her if you like.  I have a lot of friends there still in the area, so I can give you the hook up if you do end up in that area.

My sister lives in Somerville and really likes it. She works at Harvard and is able to travel in without a problem.

My sister lives in Somerville and really likes it. She works at Harvard and is able to travel in without a problem.

It's so easy to get to Cambridge from Somerville!  My friend works at Harvard too, at the B School!!!!  Great place to work IMO.


V-Peeps, that is another thing, if you want to go back to work there are a million Uni's to work at.  Great Benefits at all of them.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island are awesome! I grew up in Mass.  What kind of area are you looking for?  Suburban? Urban?  Rural? Seaside?  Some good towns in near the RI in MA are Taunton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Franklin, Blackstone, Millvile, 
More urban nicer towns in Mass near Boston are Arlington, Dedham, Norwood, Ashland, Westboro

Providence is a great city with a lot going on.

I grew up in Western Mass though, which is very rural and gorgeous.

You will also laugh, because all the towns and cities are named after places in England.

You will also laugh, because all the towns and cities are named after places in England.

Basically why I can pronounce most of the towns here

Well really we would love a little bit of England in the USA.

We have a 20 month old son so a good family area, good to excellent schools,  low crime, some diversity, a place with sidewalks and on the quiet side, but near enough to urban amenities. Housing around $200-250,000.

I've read a lot from City Data but there always seem to be people that are negative nellies about anywhere.  I figure fellow expats might have more in common with us!

We don't want a generic sidewalkless, no walkable areas, no public transport, long commutes of Atlanta.

We have a 20 month old son so a good family area, good to excellent schools,  low crime, some diversity, a place with sidewalks and on the quiet side, but near enough to urban amenities. Housing around $200-250,000.

Well definitely a lot of the towns listed in this thread meet that criteria.  Maybe not quite on housing though.  Housing is very expensive in Mass and RI.  Could hopefully find something in the slumping economy though that would work.  Schools are excellent in New England, some of the best in the country. 
On another plus side, you have 4 distinct seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. But I hope you don't mind snow and cold though, nor'easter's can be brutal. 

'tis okay we'll bring a tent! Might be cold in the winter though!

I don't mind the cold and four seasons are good in my book.

I lived in Woonsocket RI for a while. It was very nice, although not really commutablet o Boston.  RI has an excellent public library system. 

I live in MA. There are actually quite affordable areas that are commuting distance to both Boston and anywhere in RI. The south coast and south shore areas of MA are nice and are both just as easily accessible to Providence and Boston. I live in central MA and some people from here commute to either Boston or RI as well.

I don't think you'll really find anything to  boy a house for that amount, although with the market right now it'd make it easier. Salaries are higher up here than down south because of the cost of living, so maybe rent for a bit and save up money for a down payment on a house?

I'm a teacher, so if you narrow down your search, I can let you know what I know about the school districts. If I don't know, I can find out from someone else.

Feel free to PM me if you want!

Taunton, MA (my hometown  ) is an easy commute to RI and has daily commuter buses to Boston.  Prices did go up in recent years with commuters buying a lot of places.  The school system is pretty good (my cousin's on the school committee). 

Closer to Boston, Acton is quite nice.  I lived there for a while in 1994.  I've heard good things about Maynard as well.

Thing is if you use trulia.com and put in a max of $250,000 in say in Taunton, MA you get about 237 homes.  Are these in bad areas?

We are set to close to that amount as it is what we could pay with no mortgage.  I'm trying to still be a SAHM.  Thanks for the offer Belita.  I might be pming you about Certification too!

Since I may go that route for a few years.

Thing is if you use trulia.com and put in a max of $250,000 in say in Taunton, MA you get about 237 homes.  Are these in bad areas?

We are set to close to that amount as it is what we could pay with no mortgage.  I'm trying to still be a SAHM.  Thanks for the offer Belita.  I might be pming you about Certification too!

Since I may go that route for a few years.

Taunton isn't bad if you get the right areas. Like slicusmissus said, very easily accessible to both Boston and Providence.

You're welcome!

That's great... will pm you if it seems like something we are going to do. 

DH is contacting a recruiter up there so who knows.

At this point I'd live anywhere that's not my parents house!