Thank you to the posters who provided the maps, etc. I'm super nervous about the potential change and learning more has really helped calm my nerves (also: Brookline seems lovely!).

You might want to look at Braintree or places accessible via the Commuter Rail that pulls into South Station.

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I don't actually mind the cold (lived and loved Chicago for example). I am trying to wrap my head around New England. It seems so different because each town has its own school system. I also wanted advice based on my commute to the "seaport" area, which is why I posted (though I did read the other pages).

Here is a Globe article on the Seaport and commuting and how they are working on improving it. 65% drive to work b/c public transit options aren't great.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/10/16/south-boston-waterfront-trying-get-here-from-there/1WmSeMKRFdhPg9qrMvNJpO/story.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newton and Needham are nice. I would love to move to Boston!

I'm from Needham originally and my parents still live there. I wouldn't move there from Old Town. I'm more urban too - we live on the Hill- Newton and Brookline are a better fit. The T line rather than commuter rail puts Needham in more solid suburban territory.

I'm from Needham too and my parents still live there. It's a great place to grow up, great schools, but really that's it. We live in Old Town now and there's no comparison. OT is way more urban and much easier to get around with the Metro, although Needham does have the Purple line. BTW, it's very expensive now. Nothing for less than 1.5M.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm jealous. I love Boston.

+1

It beats DC, hands down.

hmm...I am from outside of boston and would never move back. Don't love DC, but like it better than Boston. I could never stand the meat heady Boston guys and I also loath the Boston accent.

Sounds like you had a bad experience, and maybe did not come from one of the nicer parts. Ce la vie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry. That's on my list of places I will never move (including most of Texas). Good luck OP.

LOL, because Massachusetts and Texas are so similar.

+1

Try getting out once in a while, PP.

Anonymous wrote:Newton and Needham are nice. I would love to move to Boston!

I'm from Needham originally and my parents still live there. I wouldn't move there from Old Town. I'm more urban too - we live on the Hill- Newton and Brookline are a better fit. The T line rather than commuter rail puts Needham in more solid suburban territory.

I lived in Boston for years and now live just outside of Old Town. If you like a more urban lifestyle, Brookline is great, but VERY expensive for very old homes. Great schools, among the best in the country. Commute would be ok, if you can take the T. Green line to red line than a bit of a walk from South Station. Driving would be nightmare, especially if you have to pay for parking.

Newton and Needham are more suburban, but you get more space, great schools and a decent commute either by T or commuter rail. Lexington, Concord and Belmont are also fairly accessible by commuter rail and have a lot of character. If public school isn't a huge concern, West Roxbury and Hyde Park are decent. South Boston has become very hip, but expensive for what you get.

Generally, If you will be working a fairly regular schedule, it is probably worthwhile to look at communities that are accessible by train via South Station.

I envy you. I'd move back to Boston in a minute, snow and all!