tell me all you know about Rockland, MA (Boston, Springfield: apartment complex, renting)

[aprilkd2001]

Hello,

We are considering a possible relocation from Westwood to Rockland. We are new to the Boston area in general (we relocated last year from Virginia) so we don't know much about Rockland. We have a 3 year old so we are looking for a family friendly town with good schools, a safe community, and affordable cost of living. We love Westwood but we would like more home for our money. We've done a little research on the housing market in Rockland and have found what we are looking for in a home but we know nothing about the town.

My husband will be commuting to Roxbury. He leaves very early in the morning (5:30ish) so he is not worried about the AM commute, but what would the PM commute be like?

Also, we need to know the basic facts aobut Rockland:
schools
community life
any health clubs? preferrably with a indoor pool
safety issues?
etc...

Thanks!

[CaseyB]

The schools aren't the greatest in Rockland. Obviously it's a totally different atmosphere than a town like Westwood. Have you looked into Hanover? That would seem to be the kind of area that you are looking for - better schools, more middle class.

[crazyworld]

Abington and Weymouth(South) are also nice towns.

[aprilkd2001]

Thanks for the additional information but I need a little more specific information about Rockland versus these other cities. I don't have much for comparison so I'd really like to know why one would choose these other cities over Rockland.

Also, what makes the schools not so great? Obviously that is a BIG concern for us. But we also need to know what else makes this not so great a place to live.

Thanks!

[CaseyB]

Rockland Public Schools 2007 MCAS Results - The Boston Globe - Boston.com

You might find Rockland to be a perfect fit for your family, all I'm suggesting is that if you want to be near Rte. 3 in that general vicinity Hanover and Norwell would be nicer towns to live in (in my opinion). Of course other towns like Hingham are even nicer, but understandably, you are seeking something more affordable.

[do-i-move?]

I think people are trying to be PC on here so as not to offend. We're all trying to tell you to set your sights elsewhere. Hanover, Norwell, Hingham...

Rockland is hardly what I would deem safe and family friendly. There is an apartment complex called Rockland Place which is referred to as the Projects of Rockland by their own residents. I worked with a woman who lived in one of the nicer neighborhoods with brand new construction and was dealing with an issue of a child repeatedly shooting his bb gun out his window. Check out their police logs online. Here's a cut and paste from one that I found.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

3:40 p.m. Market St., property found.
4:18 p.m. Summer St., restraining order violated.
6:06 p.m. Howard St., domestic dispute.
6:13 p.m. Market St., restraining order violated. Arrest: Kenneth Guilfoyle, 48, 230 Forest St., Weymouth. Charges: Domestic A&B and violation of a 209A.
6:44 p.m. Howard St., restraining order-emergency.
8:12 p.m. Cobb Drive, restraining order served.
9:15 p.m. Martha Drive, suspicious activity.
9:30 p.m. Concord St., disturbance-loud noise.
11:21 p.m. Grove St., disturbance-loud noise.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

1:45 a.m. Market St., suspicious person.
4:21 p.m. Park St., suspicious activity.
6:14 p.m. Pleasant St., disturbance-neighbor.
8:36 p.m. Concord St., suspicious motor vehicle.
11:15 p.m. Union St., motor vehicle stop. Arrest: Timmothy Beaucaire, 20, 743 Union St., Rockland. Charges: Outstanding warrant. Arrest: Sean Knudsen, 20, 65 Hilberg Ave., Brockton. Charges: 2 outstanding warrants and possession of Class D marijuana.
11:53 p.m. Myrtle St., larceny from motor vehicle.

MONDAY, MARCH 3

12:30 a.m. Concord St., domestic dispute.
12:45 a.m. Krisroy Drive, larceny.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

11:21 a.m. Rice Ave., family offense, non-violent.
1:23 p.m. Lancaster St., malicious damage to motor vehicle.
3:13 p.m. Market St., larceny.
4:48 p.m. Durbeck Rd., larceny from motor vehicle.
10:14 p.m. Hingham St., motor vehicle accident.
10:25 p.m. W. Water St., domestic dispute.

Do not go to Abington either, it's not much better. May I ask what part of Virginia you came from? I know that it's certainly not inexpensive to live there, especially in the Northern region of the state. I have friends in Alexandria, and another just recently moved from Springfield.

[findingmesomeday]

If your husband is working in Roxbury, why do you want to move to the South Shore? Are you renting in Westwood and you are looking at buying? I agree that Rockland is not the nicest place to target.