while I can't comment about Boston per se other than I think it would be a fantastic place to live with all its educational and cultural advantages....way better than Modesto (unless you love Mad Dog 20/20).

I would see if you could get a short term rental in the area that you think you might like. That way you could house and community hunt at leisure. Just my 2cents.

LMF

Milton is great if you can afford it. Expect $400K+ for a house that needs updating. Schools are good but are hitting a rough patch as the Proposition 2 1/2 overrides are going over with the older citizens - not a phenonmenon unique to Milton. All school systems in Mass are suffering this year due to budget cuts by the state. If you are Catholic the parishes in Milton are very active - especially St. Agatha's.

Do not move to Randolph - bad schools, unattractive homes, rundown looking public places and that's an improvement over when I grew up there in the 70s. Yuck.

Metro West is now an option for a commute to Southie because of the extension of I90. Check out Newton, Needham or Weston.

North Shore is also a possibility because of the Ted Williams Tunnel but the towns that have easy access to the Ted are uniformily unattractive - Revere, Chelsea, Saugus, Lynn, Winthrop. You have to get to Swampscot or Lynnfield before you find a decent town.

Good luck.

Every year Boston Magazine rates all the Boston suburban towns (and includes real estate tax basis and rates). You may be able find the most recent one at their website, or you could phone and request a copy of that issue.

You can find towns most convenient to the commuter railway at www.mbta.com.

Generally speaking, the farther from Boston you live, the more house for the money, all depending upon the town. Towns vary enormously, even from one to the next.

It used to be far more economical to buy a condo, as opposed to a single family home, in a somewhat distant town with a commuter rail station - Franklin, MA, for example. Not sure of today's prices.

If you plan to work full time, you may want to shop day care first, then the housing market. Or, be sure to acquire a position where there is on-site day care.

If you can, get copy of this past Sunday's Boston Globe - nice article on price of houses, condos and rentals within Rte 495 belt of Boston. Add it to your research.

It seems most posters are addressing your husband's job location in South Boston and your desire to work at Harvard hasn't been addressed. I think if you check the communities off or close to the Mass. Pike, in particular the more affordable communities like Watertown, you might find it easier for your husband to hop on the turnpike and get into South Boston pretty quickly. This will also be a much easier commute to Harvard as Watertown, Belmont, etc are bordering towns to Cambridge. No free rides here, you will pay for the proximity and the better schools in these towns, however, your quality of life will be better if you can afford it. Good Luck, from and ex Harvard employee happily living on the Cape!!

Don't forget that large chunks of Harvard are in Boston -- all the health-related schools (Medical, Dental, Public Health) are in the Fenway area and the Business school is in Boston, too. The medical research community probably employs as many people as the Cambridge- based grad schools.

Someone suggested Sharon, which is southwest of Boston. My husband and I owned a house there for 10 years. (We live on the North Shore now.)

Sharon is an easy, 25-30 minute commuter rail ride into South Station in Boston. It has a higly regarded school system. House prices are high, but even the "starter homes" are in pleasant, well kept neighborhoods. There is a lake in town, and also Borderland state park, which is nice for hiking. There's a definitely a small town feel to Sharon, yet it is a very convenient location, close to shopping, etc.

Good luck with your plans!