Considering a Move to Greater Boston? Let us help!
GREATER BOSTON OVERVIEW
Communities within Greater Boston range from true city-living to more suburban lifestyles. Public transportation, tons of things to do, and access to downtown are major factors for families who choose to live in Greater Boston.
Cities in Greater Boston
Allston
Back Bay
Beacon Hill
Brighton
Charlestown
Dorchester
Downtown Boston
East Boston
Fenway
Hyde Park
Jamaica Plain
Mattapan
North End
Roslindale
Roxbury
South Boston
Waterfront
West Roxbury
General Information about Greater Boston
Transportation + Walkability
- MBTA + Commuter Rail :: Commuting from these towns into Downtown is desirable.
- MBTA Bus :: Most of these towns over MBTA bus service of some sort.
- Bike-friendly
- Many neighborhoods walkable
Grocery Stores
- Wegmans; Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Medford, Westwood
- Trader Joes; Burlington, Cambridge, Saugus, Sommerville, West Newton, Boston, Allston, Needham, Brookline, Arlington
- Whole Foods Market
- Roche Bros; Boston, Needham, Quincy, Wellesley, West Roxbury, Westwood, Watertown, Cambridge
- Lamberts Fruit, Westwood, Dorchester
- Shaws
- Hannaford
- Stop & Shop
Public Green Space
- Boston Public Garden
- Spot Pond; Stoneham
- Lynn Woods; Lynn
- Red Rock Park; Lynn
- Castle Island; Boston
- Breakheart Reservation; Saugus
- Gibson Park; Revere
- Oak Island Park; Revere
Greater Boston School System
Massachusetts Department of Education
Services: Allston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Downtown Boston, East Boston, Fenway, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, Waterfront, West Roxbury
Arlington
Belmont
Brookline
Burlington
Cambridge
Canton
Chelsea
Dedham
Dover
Everett
Lexington
Lynn
Lynnfield
Malden
Medford
Melrose
Milton
Nahant
Needham
Newton
Norwood
Quincy
Randolph
Reading
Revere
Saugus
Somerville
Stoneham
Wakefield
Waltham
Watertown
Wellesley
Westwood
Winchester
Winthrop
Woburn
Pediatricians + Urgent Care
Family friendly restaurants
libraries
historical sites
CHILDCARE OPTIONS
playgrounds
youth athletics
parenting groups
indoor playareas
Relgious organizations
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“East Boston is the perfect blend of old school Boston neighborhood, mixed with up-and-coming new energy – and with the airport a stone’s throw away, and downtown Boston just two stops away on the renovated Blue line, you couldn’t ask for a better location to be both “in the city” and “ready to jet.” It’s super family-friendly, with tons of outdoor spaces (Constitution Beach! Bremen Street Fountains!) and activities for the whole family!”
“Stoneham is a wonderful, small community. I love being so close to Boston to make commutes easy, but far enough outside of the city to enjoy suburbian living. There are small and large businesses making it a one-stop shop for whatever you need. However, we are also are very close to hiking trails, boating, and outdoor activities. Stoneham is the best of both worlds!”
Interested in learning more about Greater Boston?
Our local moms are ready to give you the scoop on what you need to know about Greater Boston. Check out these posts to find out all you need to know.
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Interested in Exploring Other Areas in Boston?
In addition to Greater Boston, there’s many other great locations in Boston to choose from. Check them out!
Want to find out more about moving to or within Greater Boston?
Melanie Gundersheim, Commonwealth Standard Realty Advisors
Thank you to our Sponsors
NEDC practices a complete planning system that allows for families to understand the complete cost and process prior to starting any construction. Using a design-build method, and spending a considerable amount of time planning out every aspect of your project — including the budget, the schedule, design, and materials — NEDC creates an end product that is both aesthetically beautiful and fits the needs of your specific lifestyle.
Boston Baby Nurse + Nanny is a boutique nanny agency that has been serving families in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire for nearly two decades. Whether it’s overnight newborn support, sleep coaching, postpartum assistance, nanny placement, or online childcare classes, their services offer parents the peace of mind and reassurance that comes with having trusted caregivers.
Pediatricians & Urgent Care
- Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric ER
- Boston Medical Center Emergency Room
- Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Room; Boston
- Tufts Medical Center Emergency Room; Boston
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Emergency Room; Boston
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital Emergency Room; Boston
- Carney Hospital Emergency Room; Dorchester
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center Emergency Department; West Roxbury
- Atrius Health; Chestnut Hill – West Roxbury, Copley, Post Office Square, Kenmore, Burlington, Dedham,Quincy, Somerville, Wellesley, Watertown, Cambridge, Norwood, Medford
- Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance; Boston, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Melrose, Stoneham, Wellesley, Waltham, Hyde Park, Lexington, Medford, Needham, Newton, Malden, Lynn, Reading, Westwood
- Boston Medical Center Pediatrics; Boston
- Centre Pediatrics; Brookline
- Signature Healthcare; Randolph
- North Shore Physicians Group; Saugus
- South Shore Health; Quincy
Family Friendly Restaurants
- Legal SeaFood Harborside; Boston
- Life Alive; Cambridge
- SummerShack; Boston
- The Friendly Toast; Boston (Back Bay); Burlington
- Flatbread Company; Brighton,
- The Fours; Quincy
- Early Harvest Diner; Wakefield
- Cask n’ Flagon; Boston
- 110 Grill; Malden, Boston, Saugus, Woburn
- Evviva Trattoria; Malden
Libraries
Historical Sites
Childcare Options
City of Boston – Boston Baby Nurse + Nanny
- Allston
- Back Bay :: Kingsley Montessori, KinderCare
- Beacon Hill
- Brighton
- Charlestown: Bright Horizons
- Dorchester
- Downtown Boston
- East Boston
- Fenway
- Hyde Park
- Jamaica Plain
- Mattapan
- North End
- Roslindale
- Roxbury
- South Boston
- Waterfront
- West Roxbury
Greater Boston
- KinderCare; Somerville, Cambridge, Melrose, Wakefield, Westwood, Canton
- Bright Horizons; Waltham, Lexington, Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, Milton, Quincy
- Rogers-Pierce Daycare; Arlington
- Y Academy Melrose
- Y Academy Stoneham
- State Street Early Learning Center; Quincy
- Primrose Schools; Woburn, Burlington
- Goddard School; Dedham, Milton, Watertown, Lexington, Saugus, Reading
Playgrounds
Youth Athletics
- YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Brighton, Woburn, West Roxbury, Roxbury, Waltham, Chinatown
- YMCA South Shore, Quincy, Reading
- YMCA Metro North, Lynn, Melrose, Saugus, Stoneham, Needham, Woburn, Burlington, Wellesley, Lexington
- Boys and Girls Club of America; South Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury, Chelsea, East Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Arlington, Roslindale, Watertown, Newton, Stoneham, Lynn, Waltham, Woburn, Wakefield
Parenting Groups
- Arlington Family Connection; Arlington
- Boston Breastfeeding Coalition; Boston
- East Village Family Association; East Boston
- South Boston Neighborhood House; South Boston
- Charlestown Mothers Association; Charlestown
- LexFUN!; Lexington
- Medford Family Network; Medford
- Quincy Community Action Program; Quincy
- Infancy to Independence; Waltham
- Wellesley Mother Forum; Wellesley
- Parents Helping Parents; Watertown
Indoor Play Areas
- Boston Children’s Museum
- Jam Time; Norwood
- XtremeCraze; Woburn
- VinKari Safari; Woburn
- Launch Trampoline Park; Norwood, Watertown, Woburn
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park; Everett
Religious Organizations
- Boston and the Greater Boston Area has many Christian Churches of all denominations. Any town in this area will likely have more than one Christian Church.
- Archdiocese Of Boston
- There are many Jewish Temples in Boston and in the Greater Boston area. JewishBoston is a great resource.
- Islamic Center of New England (ICNE); Quincy
- Boston Islamic Center, Roxbury
- Islamic Society of Boston; Cambridge
- Islamic Culture Center of Medford
- Masjid Alsalam-Islamic Society of the North Shore; Lynn
- Islamic Center of Burlington; Burlington