Boston is full of history, arts and culture, shopping, dining, and nightlife… and of course professional opportunities. But if you’re a young professional, the city prices and competition might be overwhelming.
So it’s a good thing Boston is surrounded by awesome suburbs. Whether you’re looking for a quieter place to call home with an easy commute, or a lively town where you can settle down and build your career, this list will help you find it.
1. Waltham
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 16.3 percent
- Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent
Home buyers in Waltham will find condos with updated features and charming historic Bungalows.
Shop and dine on trendy Moody Street, home to dozens of local restaurants and boutiques, like The Gaff pub and More Than Words Bookstore.
Active young professionals can hike through 250 acres of natural woodlands with Boston views at Prospect Hill Park, explore the grounds at Storer Conservation, or view wildlife at Beaver Brook North Reservation.
Waltham is about a 25-minute drive from downtown Boston and is connected by a MBTA train line, making it a good suburb for commuters.
2. Wakefield
Key Stats:
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $64,682
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 29.2 percent
Young professionals looking for a home in Wakefield have their pick of condos with updated amenities or single family homes with room to grow.
Cool off at Crystal Lake Park or Lake Quannapowitt on hot summer days, or hike, fish, and swim at Breakheart Reservation. Foodies can get their fix at one of Wakefield’s local eateries, like Pit Stop BBQ or Blue Moon Grill. Downtown Wakefield is also home to several boutiques and specialty stores.
An MBTA train line runs through the center of this suburb, and a commute to downtown Boston by train takes about 22 minutes, making Wakefield the perfect suburb for commuters who want to save on gas money.
3. Brookline
Key Stats:
- Residents with professional occupations: 77.9 percent
- Residents age 22-29: 16.1 percent
The beautiful historic suburb of Brookline has plenty of amenities for young professionals. Home buyers have their pick of charming historic condos and single family Colonial style homes with room to grow.
Coolidge Corner, the center of the action, is home to the bulk of Brookline’s shopping, dining, and nightlife. Play a tabletop game and a grab a bite to eat at unique local cafe, Knight Moves, or relax after work at The Publick House with a Belgian beer and classic pub food. Spend Saturday night at the Coolidge Corner Theater watching the latest indie flicks.
This well-connected suburb with access to MBTA train lines is a perfect choice for young professional commuters.
4. Arlington
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 6 percent
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 29.9 percent
Arlington is one of the best Boston suburbs for young professionals who want plenty of weekend amenities. Houses in Arlington are full of historic charm, and condos in turn of the century buildings preserve plenty of character, even with updated features.
You’ll never have trouble figuring out weekend plans in Arlington. Catch a flick at local Capitol Theater, grab a bite to eat at Blue Ribbon BBQ or chic new American restaurant, Tryst. Shop local boutiques, or spend the day on the water at picturesque Spy Pond.
Young professional commuters are just 20 minutes away from downtown Boston by car in this convenient suburb.
5. Dedham
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 27.6 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $60,942
The lively suburb of Dedham is perfect for young professionals who don’t want to commute after the workweek is over. With shopping, dining, and nightlife in residents’ backyards, the weekend trip to Boston is totally unnecessary.
Home buyers will find a range of housing options in Dedham, from new construction homes at more affordable prices, to classic Colonial style houses.
Grab a coffee or beer and a bite to eat while you enjoy live music at Paradise Cafe, or plan a night out with friends at Yard House, a bar and restaurant with a massive craft beer selection and vegetarian bites.
Though young professionals will find there’s plenty in Dedham to fill their weekends, Boston is just a 30-minute drive away.
6. Cambridge
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 23.6 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 69.7 percent
Home to the Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge is the sixth best place to live near Boston for young professionals. Home buyers will find plenty of charming historic condos, perfect for recent graduates, and single family homes with room to grow.
Cambridge’s colleges support a number of thriving local businesses. Grab drinks after work at Irish pub The Druid, or Russell House Tavern, a chic cocktail bar with delicious eats.
Catch a flick at historic Brattle Theater or gallery hop through the university and private art galleries. Boutique shopping and a range of local eateries give young professionals plenty of ways to fill their weekends.
Boston is just across the Charles River, and residents are well connected by the MBTA red line.
7. Melrose (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 30.1 percent
Tied for seventh on our list of best Boston suburbs for young professionals is Melrose. Home buyers have a range of options, from condos in large buildings to quaint historic homes.
Active young professionals will love hiking in Middlesex Fells Reservation, a 2,575-acre park that borders Melrose, or strolling through Pine Banks Park. Grab a bite to eat at Turner’s Seafood, or stroll down Main Street and stop in Melrose’s boutique shops and specialty stores.
An MBTA Purple Line train runs through Melrose, so residents can get into Boston within 20 minutes.
7. Woburn (tie)
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 142, compared to the Boston average of 144
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 20.6 percent
The second suburb tied for seventh is Woburn. Home buyers searching in Woburn will have their pick of condos in turn of the century buildings and Colonial style homes.
Active young professionals can hike, bike, or kayak at the Horn Pond Recreation Area. Foodies can get their fix at Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar, a welcoming local restaurant perfect for dinner with friends after work.
Woburn is just 25 minutes on the MBTA Purple Line, or 25 minutes by car to downtown Boston, making it an ideal suburb for young professional commuters.
9. Medford (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 16.2 percent
Medford, home to Tufts University, is tied for ninth best Boston suburb for young professionals. Home buyers have a range of options, from condos in historic buildings to beautifully maintained Colonial style homes with room to grow.
Active young professionals can hike through scenic Middlesex Fells Reservation and cool off on a hot summer day at Spot Pond. Grab a quick bite to eat after work at Tenoch Mexican Restaurant or Bob’s Italian Foods or relax after work at Snappy Pattys restaurant and bar with sophisticated food and cocktails.
Connected by multiple MBTA train lines, Medford residents are just 10 minutes from Boston by car or public transit, making it the perfect suburb for young professional commuters.
9. Milton (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 31 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $71,816
The second Boston suburb tied for ninth is Milton. Young professionals looking for homes in Milton will find a range of options, from one to two bedroom condos in turn of the century buildings, to large Colonial style homes with big yards and plenty of room to grow.
Active young professionals can hike and bike at Blue Hills Reservation, a massive scenic park with beautiful views of the Boston skyline. Those who prefer a life of leisure can grab dinner at upscale restaurant, Steel & Rye, or treat themselves after a long workweek at A New You Spa.
Milton residents are connected by the MBTA Red Line train and are just a 20-minute drive from downtown Boston.
9. Winchester (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 32.1 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $81,140
Winchester rounds out our list of best Boston suburbs for young professionals in a three-way tie for ninth. Home buyers have a range of options, from updated midcentury condos, to classic quaint Colonial style homes or bungalows with pretty yards.
Winchester residents have plenty of outdoor recreation options. Cool off in the summer at Upper Mystic Lake, hike through Middlesex Fells Reservation, or fish at Horn Pond Recreation Area. Indoor amenities aren’t limited either. Grab a bite to eat at Cafe Piazza Dolce, or shop local at Book Ends or An Elegant Affair.
Winchester is just a 15-minute drive and 20 minutes on the MBTA Purple Line from downtown Boston, making it a great place to live for commuters.
Our Methodology
To create this list of Boston suburbs, we looked at the following criteria of importance to young professionals:
- Percent of residents age 22-29
- Professional opportunities (unemployment rate, percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree, median earnings for residents who attained a bachelor’s degree, percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields)
- Cost of living
- Amenities per capita
Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighted the percent of residents age 22-29 to make up 30 percent of our score. Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders and cost of living made up 20 percent. The rest of our categories made up 10 percent of the total score.
We then averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the 11 lowest scores made up our list of the 11 best Boston suburbs for young professionals.
We sourced cost of living data from AreaVibes, amenities data from business listings, and the rest of the data from the 2013 U.S. Census American Community Survey.
Want to see how the rest the 28 Boston suburbs we ranked measured up? Take a look at the table below:
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