Info on Essex County towns (Georgetown, Rowley, and Groveland) (Boston: home, to buy)

[househunter16]

Hi,
We are looking to buy a home in Essex County, preferably a newer home (built after 2000) or new construction. We are considering Georgetown, Rowley, and Groveland. We'd appreciate any info on these towns (ie. commute to Boston, school systems, children friendly... etc). We currently live in the city and are looking for something much more rural. Since we dont know much about these towns, any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[MAtoNC!]

I like Georgetown best. It has a little downtown and good access to 95. I like the fact the schools aren't regional. Rowley would be my 2nd pick because it's closer to the water.

[LivinginMA]

We have been looking in the same areas ... also Ipswich, Boxford and Amesbury. Have you considered those towns?

Of Georgetown, Rowley and Groveland ... Georgetown is closest to 95 and therefore probably gets you to Boston faster. Schools are good for all three. Georgetown has a nice park with a fenced in playground, clean bathrooms and a beach.

How old are your kids?

[DreamworksSKG]

Try Essex or Ipswich Mass. Ipswich has great schools
Essex and Ispwich Clam shacks right there like Woodmans, the beverly North Shore music theater isn't far away , North Shore Mall is in the area. Also Cape Ann is close by. Gloucester/Salem, etc.
I might also suggest Amesbury, Salisbury, Newbury or Newburyport, possibly West Newbury or Merrimac.
Georegtown/Rowley are nice too...

[NE2MA]

Can I ask where did you end up moving? We are more than likely going to relocate and have been looking at similar towns - Georgetown, Methuen, Andover, etc... We currently reside in Lincoln, NE but my husband works for a company out of Danvers and we are looking into relocating. Any information is helpful.

[RMP059]

Any of these towns mentioned are nice, except possibly not a huge fan of Methuen. It seems run-down, more industrialized, and depressed. Rowley, Ipswich, Essex would be my 1st choices, but my priorities might be different than yours. Topsfield would not be a bad choice either and might be the easiest commute into Boston. Boxford is a pretty quick shot onto 95 too.

[Valerie C]

NE2MA, it looks like many of these folks are no longer posting here on City-Data. Working out of Danvers, you would most likely want to lean toward towns that are convenient to Route 95 and Route 1. Georgetown, Groveland, West Newbury, Byfield, Topsfield are all very nice towns that would fit that criteria. However, they can be in the upper end of pricing, and moving from the midwest, I"m sure you'll experience a bit of sticker shock (I sure did!!) Methuen is a more blue-collar city, with some urban fringe (being located next to Lawrence. Andover would be a decent commute to Danvers via Route 114, and easy to get to Boston as well (though not from a commuter's standpoint--Rte 93 resembles a parking lot for "rush hour" each day. I'm sure you'll have lots more questions, and City Data is a great place to ask and get answers from those who live and work in the area