Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

jp_jellyroll t1_j5d9jfh wrote

Traffic on the Pike can be brutal especially at the 495 and 95 junctions where you'll both be headed regularly. Whatever town you choose, make sure your rental has easy direct access to the Pike!

Natick is the nicest, safest, and arguably most walkable on your list. They built a new Rail Trail that runs through a big chunk of town and connects to the retail district. Great places to eat, shopping, public transportation, and close to Boston. But it's the most expensive by far. Mostly large single-family homes, not many rental units. May have to stretch the budget to get what you need.

Framingham is the most populated & bustling on your list. Lots of rentals and your money goes a little farther. But some areas, like south of Route 9, are rough around the edges. Drug-related crimes are still common. There is public transportation and lots of good Brazilian & Mexican food.

Marlborough & Hudson are both quiet and safe. Marlborough is the larger of the two with a lot more shopping & retail. Hudson is smaller and much quieter with a downtown area that was recently revitalized. Walkable with some good places to eat & drink. Commuting to Norwood might be a pain if you're not super close to 495.

5

Waggmans t1_j5dqwog wrote

Framingham is much nicer than it used to be, lots of brand new rentals within walking distance of public transport and parks- I just wouldn’t live in the downtown area. Some nice older apartments on route 9.

Lived in Natick for over 25yrs until I had to move because I couldn’t afford it. Lots of nice places in the Natick area as well, but you will end up paying for it wherever you live.

1

JasperDyne t1_j5hiexe wrote

Hudson has a lot going for it. The downtown has some really great places to eat and drink that are as good, if not better than Boston, Cambridge & Somerville. 495 is easy to access from multiple routes. The Assabet River Trail is a nice place to take an easy walk.

Another plus about Hudson is its municipal electric company, Hudson Light & Power. The rates it charges customers are significantly less than the large regional electric providers like Eversource. The only drawback to having its own power company is that it’s not part of the big MassSave pool of subsidized home heating and weatherization plans. HL&P’s rebates and incentives are pretty paltry in comparison to MassSave.

1