North shore advice? (Boston, Lowell, Lynn: rental, neighborhood, high school)

[fishfaceri]

I will begin a new job in Jan., working primarily in Salem and Beverly, but sometimes in Peabody, and occasionally Lowell. We will have a son entering 10th grade and a daughter entering 7th grade at the time of the move. We have looked at towns from Andover to Beverly. Many of the towns seem nice. We would like to live in a town with a sense of community. Does anyone have suggestions of towns North of Boston? Thanks!

[puffle]

Originally Posted by fishfaceri

I will begin a new job in Jan., working primarily in Salem and Beverly, but sometimes in Peabody, and occasionally Lowell. We will have a son entering 10th grade and a daughter entering 7th grade at the time of the move. We have looked at towns from Andover to Beverly. Many of the towns seem nice. We would like to live in a town with a sense of community. Does anyone have suggestions of towns North of Boston? Thanks!

Since no one answered you, I will. Having a freshman going into high school I would recommend Swampscott,Marblehead and then Reading in that order. Peabody and Beverly do not have the best in schools, in my opinion, but these other towns seem to. We are moving from California and are hoping to find a rental in Marblehead...I say hoping because we have dogs. Good luck.

[vter]

I really like Manchester By-The-Sea.

[Parsec]

I'm not being racist, but avoid Swampscott and Manchester(-by-the-sea) if you're African American. They were unofficial sundown towns even as recently as the 1970s, so you can be sure that feeling still exists w/the locals today, just 1 generation later.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Seems to be an outdated view. The 70s are over 30 years ago, what city is still the same as they were in 3 decades? You would think then they would vote overwhelmingly republican in the last governors election. Both towns voted Patrick over Healey.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Seems to be an outdated view. The 70s are over 30 years ago, what city is still the same as they were in 3 decades? You would think then they would vote overwhelmingly republican in the last governors election. Both towns voted Patrick over Healey.

When talking about cities, of course there's a lot of change over 30 years. But when talking about small towns, change CAN happen -- but that's not the case with Manchester. Look at the census numbers -- in 2000, Manchester had 3 black residents. THREE! Swampscott may have come around a little bit -- I don't live there nor do I have the desire to visit. I'm just relaying what I have heard about the towns. Of course, none of this even matters if the OP doesn't care.

[badluck]

Originally Posted by Parsec

... I don't live there nor do I have the desire to visit. I'm just relaying what I have heard about the towns. Of course, none of this even matters if the OP doesn't care.

You have never lived there and by your own admission you dont visit there...yet you have no problem condemning a town based on a view from more than 30 years ago (and I debate that someone who doesnt know the town of which they speak is indeed a reliable source of it's history)

[Mujo]

Chunky Monkey...I find your assumption the voting Republican is an indication of racism outrageous and offensive. Is supporting individual rights and individual responsibility racist? Or is supporting a party which attempts to keep generations of minority families dependent on government programs, requiring them to come on bended knee to people like Teddy Kennedy in order to receive thier handouts.

[CityGirl52]

Fishfaceri, Your poor thread and question is getting lost because it's turning in to a huge debate here with these posters, yikes! Let's see if we can try to get this back on track here for you, if I can.

I think if you are going to be working in Peabody AND in Lowell some times? You could live further up the North Shore in the town of Newburyport, which definitely has a sense of community which is what you're looking for. Amesbury is quite nice too, so check those towns out. The reason why I'm saying these two towns to you? You can reach Peabody in no time via I-95, it's a straight run down the highway in 25 minutes you'd be there if not less and also if you have to get up to Lowell? You can get over to I-495 in no time from Newburyport or Amesbury quicker than down around Cape Anne to get to the City of Lowell. So think about that when you're looking for a place to live.

[AnnPedi614]

Originally Posted by fishfaceri

I will begin a new job in Jan., working primarily in Salem and Beverly, but sometimes in Peabody, and occasionally Lowell. We will have a son entering 10th grade and a daughter entering 7th grade at the time of the move. We have looked at towns from Andover to Beverly. Many of the towns seem nice. We would like to live in a town with a sense of community. Does anyone have suggestions of towns North of Boston? Thanks!

What is your price range? There are plenty of great towns in the area that would work for you, but it does depend on your budget. I have two sisters in Georgetown, one actually just moved there and her reason was the school system there is very good. She is a teacher so I do respect her opinion when she judges the systems.
I have another friend who just moved to Beverly, I do not know about the school system but she loves her neighborhood and the whole area. Hamliton is a good town as is Wenham, but you do pay to live there. I grew up in Lynnfield and the schools there are still wonderful, but Lynnfield is a clicky town and it is hard for some to adjust to it.
Knowing what you can spend would help narrow your search down quite a bit.