Best bang for your buck - towns on the North Shore?

Submitted by beepboopitsajoop03 t3_z7gapa in massachusetts

Hello - I’m from the south MetroWest area and rent in Watertown now, but I’m looking to buy a home in the North shore area.

I need to commute to south Winchester everyday and my partner needs to commute to Boston three times a week.

Some towns we’ve been looking at are Woburn, Billerica, Burlington, Reading, and Stoneham, but we’re open! We are trying to focus on communities with or near a commuter rail stop. Our budget is $600-650k ideally (or below would be nice).

Any favorites or advice? All would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!!

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frazzledfortime t1_iy6f5rd wrote

We looked at the same towns! We moved from Watertown to Wakefield. We weren’t looking at Wakefield until we happened upon a house here.

I love walking downtown to the library, restaurants, and the town common by Lake Quannapowitt. We have easy access to Breakheart reservation through and the vocational school parking lot, I love hiking there. Happy to answer questions!

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SkipAd54321 t1_iy6g86d wrote

All those are fine towns and you should be able to find something there for 650k. If you want to go. But cheaper Check out Lynn. If you want so spend more but get easy access to the water try swampscott

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KG4212 t1_iy6kpmg wrote

I'd steer clear of Lynn. My son & wife bought a fixer-upper in Wakefield and they love it (I do too) and my niece is now in N. Reading and loves it... all in their 30s. Best of luck 👍

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Turbulent_Warning842 t1_iy6nju2 wrote

There are parts of Lynn that are quite nice near the Lynnfield Peabody line. Close to route 1, 128, Lynnfield Marketplace etc.

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lodger238 t1_iy7ni0m wrote

Beverly.

Commuter rail, on route 128, harbor, cool downtown, new schools, and above all - nice people.

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chickadeedadee2185 t1_iy7w2i3 wrote

Wakefield is a good town. It has both the commuter rail (Haverhill Line) and the bus (136,137). It is just funky enough to not be stuck on itself. It is right off the highway, has a great lake (Quannapowitt) and does the Fourth in grand style.

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beepboopitsajoop03 OP t1_iy82x65 wrote

Replying to lodger238 (#759,526)

I’ve heard great things about Beverly for sure! My only concern would be the commute to Winchester- I didn’t want an hour+ commute but I will definitely check out the actual times. Thanks for your suggestion!!!

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jp_jellyroll t1_iy8j3dk wrote

Replying to chickadeedadee2185 (#760,945)

Yeah, my advice is to stay close to 95 / 93. Local traffic in those areas -- Saugus, Swampscott, Lynn, Salem -- is absolutely horrible. I lived in Salem for 2 years, very close to the Swampscott line, and getting to & from 95 was miserable. Beautiful town though!

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[deleted] t1_iy9qahg wrote

Replying to B-Roc- (#766,362)

Any commute is terrible this has been played out for 10yr minimum lmao

Moving to Salem or bev is laughable

What a shitshow, guess the answer is just lower your standards and live in some shithole like Billerica til the townies are pushed out

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