There is a charm found in the cobblestone streets of Boston, where there is a confluence of history and city living. 

Office workers in Back Bay going on a quick lunch can stumble upon pieces of American heritage along the Freedom Trail. Couple that with the artist enclaves in the South End and the harborside restaurants and shops sitting below the gleaming towers of Seaport, and it is easy to see why people love living in and near Boston. 

But not everyone wants to spend their years living day to day amongst the hustle and bustle of Downtown Boston, and homebuyers set their sights on the adjacent towns and suburbs of Boston. 

Expansive public transport, combined with plenty of highways and interstates, make Boston a commutable city for everyone. To help city dwellers navigate a shift to the suburbs, we’ve compiled a list of the most commutable towns near Boston. 

Towns with Easy Commutes to Boston

• Medford
• Revere
• Quincy
• Malden
• Brookline
• Newton
• Salem
• Reading
• Needham
• Concord
• Arlington

Medford 

Sitting on the shores of the Mystic River about seven miles north from Downtown Boston, homebuyers seeking suburban living will love Medford. 

Originally part of Charlestown, settlers moved into the area of Medford in the 1600s, when it was known as Mistick. Residents built the first toll bridge fording the Mystic River in the 1600s, cementing the settlement as a fixture in Massachusetts history. 

Today, that traveling spirit remains alive as commuters scoop up homes in Medford to be close to the Boston business centers. Locals can take I-93 south to drive to Downtown, but soon the Green Line will give residents access to the Greater Boston Area. 

Tufts University strides the border of Somerville to the south. So new homeowners residing on the southern shores of the Mystic can expect to see students eating out and studying at restaurants lining Boston Avenue. 

Browse listings for sale in Medford

Revere 

Bostonians that routinely travel to Logan International Airport for work will love Revere. Located about five miles north of Downtown Boston, Revere residents can travel a few minutes south on I-90 to reach the airport or continue through the Ted Williams Tunnel to reach Seaport and Downtown. 

The Blue Line services Revere, and riders can take the Wonderland or Revere Beach stations to reach Boston. Like most Boston suburbs, settlers began moving into the area around the 1600s. 

The city came into its own in the 1840s, when it was split from Chelsea to the south, becoming North Chelsea. By the 1870s, residents voted to change the name to Revere in honor of the American Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere. 

Today, buyers thinking of trading up for a home in Revere can find single-family homes close to the beach and the Blue Line, or settle down in a house off Squire Road, an important commercial corridor just south of the Rumney Marsh flatlands and reservation. Bostonites can also close a deal on a condo at one of the Overlook Ridge apartment complexes. 

Browse listings for sale in Revere

Quincy 

Known as the birthplace of presidents, Quincy is about ten miles south of Boston and is perfect for buyers seeking a confluence of beaches, rivers, and forest preserves. The Neponset River borders the town to the north and flows east into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Settled back in the founding days of America, the town honors John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams, who was born in the area when it was known as Braintree. 

Quincy is located on the Red Line, making it quite commutable for buyers moving to the region. Plus, I-93 runs through the city, so residents can take day trips to the Blue Hills Reservation to the west or commute north for a day of shopping in Back Bay. 

Newport Avenue is the main commercial corridor of the area, running through several Quincy neighborhoods until it turns into the Thomas E. Burgin highway. The Red Line also follows this corridor, giving commuters a centralized hub to shop, dine, and travel to Boston. 

Wollaston Beach is a big attraction for residents, drawing folks from far and wide to the shoreline. 

Browse listings for sale in Quincy

Malden 

Homebuyers thinking of moving north of Boston should check out Malden to remain close to the city and nature. 

The northwestern section of the area shares a border with the sprawling Middlesex Fells Reservation, containing plenty of trails, waterways, and even a zoo. Revere borders Malden to the East, and the northern section of Malden features parks like the High Rock Memorial Park, the Alex Gentile Memorial Park, and Pine Banks Park. The Orange Line connects Malden to Boston, and there are two stops in the city, Malden Center and Oak Grove. 

Malden sits about eight miles north of Downtown Boston, and residents can take I-93 south through Charlestown to reach the North End of the city. There are plenty of shops, grocery stores, and restaurants found at Commercial Street and Centre Street, the main commercial strip. 

Malden is an older city, where buyers can find homes ranging from renovated Colonial houses dating to the late 1800s to condominium buildings erected in the 1980s onward. 

Browse listings for sale in Malden

Brookline

Named after the bubbling brooks and creeks found in this town, Brookline sits on the border of Fenway, providing homebuyers with easy access to the Greater Boston Area. 

Bordered by Allston, Brighton, Fenway, Mission Hill, and Jamaica Plain, this centrally-located town is perfect for Bostonites seeking green spaces close to the hustle and bustle of Boston. There are plenty of parks in Brookline, ranging from Riverway Park to the spacious Olmstead Park, named after the famed landscape architect that created many greenspaces in Boston. 

While commuters are only about six miles away from Downtown Boston, there are several neighborhoods to traverse before getting to the towers of Seaport. The Green Line commuter rail delivers residents to Back Bay and Downtown, making it a better option than trying to navigate the crowded streets of the City of Boston. 

Buyers looking for properties will find renovated Colonial and Victorian homes dating back to the early 1900s and late 1800s. Plus, there are new construction homes for buyers looking for turnkey houses. 

Browse listings for sale in Brookline

Newton 

Neighborhood explorers heading west of Brookline will find Newton nestled seven miles away from Boston. The region is a collection of villages united under the name of Newton. 

Drivers can travel east on I-90 to reach Back Bay or ride the Green Line to head into Boston. If residents travel to Beacon street or ride the Green Line to Newton Centre, they can spend the day exploring the shops, stores, and restaurants in the area. Newton Highlands to the southwest contains another commercial corridor on Needham Street, offering locals plenty of big box outlets and grocery stores. 

Settled in the 1600s as the New Towne, the area served as one of the first commuter neighborhoods for Boston and even had a rail car for taking wealthy Bostonites into the center of Beantown. Today, Newtown is a mecca for runners as the famed Boston Marathon runs through the city and is home to Heartbreak Hill, one of the most challenging race features. 

Browse listings for sale in Newton

Salem 

Settled in the 1600s, the deepwater ports in the area attracted fishers and other port workers leading Salem to grow into a significant seaport until Boston eclipsed Salem in trade and travel. 

But many settlers stayed in Salem, creating a vibrant colonial community featuring historical pioneer villages and homes from the 1600s, including the House of the Seven Gables. Salem is a popular haunt for historians and fans of the supernatural as the infamous Salem Witch Trials took place in the town during the late 1600s. Today, Salem residents keep the historical culture alive by rehabbing historic properties and hosting spooky festivals during October. 

The deepwater port provides plenty of opportunities for boaters to anchor their ships, and outdoors lovers can travel to the south of Salem to explore Salem Woods Highland Park or the Forest River Conservation Area. The Point neighborhood of Salem is where residents can find shopping outlets, restaurants, and many historical sites. 

Commuters can expect a 40-minute drive to Boston via route 1. Or they can head west on I-95 to I-93, then drive south towards Boston. The Purple commuter rail travels to Salem, giving straphangers a gorgeous ride on the Newburyport/Rockport Line. 

Browse listings for sale in Salem

Reading

Land-locked to the west of Salem, commuters looking for quiet living to the North of Boston away from the tourists hunting historical supernatural adventures to the east. 

Settlers tilled the land and named the town Reading in the 1600s to pay homage to the original British town with the same name. As Boston grew, residents moved out to the area, and Reading became a commuter suburb surrounded by forest and wetlands like the Cedar Swamp and the Reading Town Forest. 

Reading residents can take the Haverhill/Reading Purple Line at Reading station to reach the metropolitan Boston region. The station is near the commercial district, located at the intersection of Lincoln and High Street. The town is about 16 miles away from central Boston, and drivers can take I-93 south to head into the city. 

Reading has several historical sites like the Parker Tavern, constructed in 1694 and still serves patrons today as a museum. 

Browse listings for sale in Reading

Needham 

Homebuyers seeking an escape from the cramped streets of Boston should add Needham to their target town list. First settled in the late 1600s for agriculture, Boston residents began moving out to Needham to escape the city for some fresh forest air. 

Fast-forward to today, and homebuyers exploring Needham will find serene neighborhoods with large properties filled with trees and wide sidewalks. Residents can still take in those storied forests by exploring the Ann Volante Conservation area or the Needham Town Forest. 

The Needham Line of the Purple Commuter Rail services the region and has multiple stations in the area. Conversely, driving north on I-95 then cutting east on I-93 lets locals reach the heart of Boston within 30 minutes or so. 

Highland Avenue is where residents do most of their shopping. But if shoppers continue north on Highland, it eventually cuts west towards I-95, leading to more shopping outlets and business parks sitting along the Charles River. 

Browse listings for sale in Needham

Concord 

If Boston residents travel about 25 miles northwest of Boston, they will find the storied town of Concord, MA. Many Revolutionary War battles took place in the area, and residents can explore the Minuteman National Park. 

Much of the land in Concord is undeveloped, making it perfect for homebuyers who want forest adventures right in their backyard. Chamberlain Woods and Estabrook Woods are two sizable forests filled with hiking trails and hidden brooks. Buyers thinking of moving to Concord can get to Boston by traveling west on I-95, then heading south on Route 1 to reach the city. 

Conversely, straphangers can take the Fitchburg Line of the Purple Commuter Rail to the Porter Station just north of Harvard University to catch a ride to Downtown Crossing. 

Main Street is the main commercial corridor in Concord, where historically-minded explorers will find Concord Monument Square and the Concord Colonial Inn, originally built in 1716. 

Browse listings for sale in Concord

Arlington 

If an outdoor explorer follows the Mystic River north, seven miles from Boston, they will find the town of Arlington resting on the shores of Mystic Lake. The original Algonquin inhabitants called the area Menotomy in the early 1600s, which means swift running water. 

When settlers began moving in, they retained the name until the 1860s, when the town was named  Arlington to honor the Arlington National Cemetery. Industrial mills powered by the Mystic River and Mill Brook fed the Arlington economy. But today, residents can take a trip back to the 1650s by visiting the Old Schwamb Mill, the longest-running mill in America. 

Many commuters move to Arlington as it is a hop and a skip away from Boston. Residents can take I-90 west towards Cambridge to get to Boston or swing around from the north via I-93. Locals can also take the 350 bus to Alewife to catch a Red Line train to Downtown Crossing. 

Massachusetts Avenue hosts a variety of shopping outlets, from Whole Foods to several boutiques and restaurants. Swimmers will love Arlington as Spy Pond, and Mystic Lake has beaches where residents can lounge out after a day of shopping. 

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