Not sure where to settle down (Boston, Salem: amusement park, low crime, good schools)

[Dancer110964]

Could someone please help me?!?!
I have been searching for months just trying to narrow down a nice place for me to live. I have been looking at Massachusetts however I'm open to other suggestions anyone might have. My ideal area is for me to live in a rural setting so that I can keep my horses, but not too far away from the big city for me to go on a shopping spree every once in awhile. I could really care less about the climate, but I would hope that it had good schools,low crime rate, and entertainment around the city such as zoo's, aquariums, museums, and perhaps a theme park. I also love the ocean and beach as well. I realize my ideas are conflicting but I could really use your help!

[brightdoglover]

Not enough information. Are there children or husband/partner people involved? Budget? Most important, what about jobs?
You can stable horses in my area, rough board or full board, and I'm on a commuter line to Boston, 30 miles from the city. Did you mean boarding or a full-blown property with enough size to keep horses? If the latter, I am sure you wouldn't find anything like that near any decent city. More info please.

[MikePRU]

What kind of budget are you trying to stay within? Dover has horse farms and isn't that far outside of Boston but it's PRICEY.

[Valerie C]

This is a tough one, but you came to the right place The easy part is the Theme Park question, since they are in short supply around here. There is 6 Flags in Agawam, but that's a long hike from Boston (and even further from any sort of beach) which would be where your museums, aquarium, and small zoo would be found. There is also Canobie Lake Park (a smaller but beautifully maintained amusement park in operation for decades) in Salem, NH (Salem is ON the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border) and less than an hour to Boston (unless you're talking about commuting there for work, in which case add a possible additional hour.

When I read through your list, certain MA towns come immediately to mind. Boxford, Topsfield and West Newbury are located along Route 95, and fill the 'rural enough for horses, good schools, low crime rate' requirement. Hamilton also comes to mind. There are also several towns in New Hampshire that could work as well.

May I ask what sort of horses you have? Are they strictly for pleasure/trail, or do you show? There are a number of fairs throughout the region, from late August through mid-October.

Rural setting for horses, good schools,low crime rate
entertainment around the city such as zoo's, aquariums, museums, and perhaps a theme park.
ocean and beach as well.

[wmass]

I would think that any place with land (for horses) in eastern mass will be too expensive- at least for my budget. Look at western mass. The Northampton - Amherst area is considered a desirable area with lots of culture excellent schools, enough shopping to suffice (big Holyoke Mall about 15-20 minutes, funky downtown Northampton shops/restaurants) but surrounded by rural areas. Northampton really has a lot of the benefits of big city life in a country setting. Many museums in thre area, Six Flags, Lupa Zoo & Forest Park Zoo about 1/2 hour away, ocean about 1.5 hrs (though there are plenty of lakes and rivers nearby), Boston 1.75 hours, New York city about 3 hrs (for a really big city day trip - daily bus service available).

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by Dancer110964

Could someone please help me?!?!
I have been searching for months just trying to narrow down a nice place for me to live. I have been looking at Massachusetts however I'm open to other suggestions anyone might have. My ideal area is for me to live in a rural setting so that I can keep my horses, but not too far away from the big city for me to go on a shopping spree every once in awhile. I could really care less about the climate, but I would hope that it had good schools,low crime rate, and entertainment around the city such as zoo's, aquariums, museums, and perhaps a theme park. I also love the ocean and beach as well. I realize my ideas are conflicting but I could really use your help!

I believe Groton has a national horse competition every year so I assume it's a good area to raise them. There is shopping over in Nashua and it not that difficult getting into Boston during non-rush hour times. The area is littered with regional museums and cultural attractions such as the Fitchburg Art Museum and Johnny Appleseed Trail. The Nashua River Rail Trail cuts through the area. I-495 north will take you the the north shore and Maine. I-495 south will take you straight to Cape Cod. Route 3 will take you to the White Mountains and upper New England. Route 2 west will take you to historic Deerfield and the various amenities that western Mass has to offer.

I suspect that Groton itself might be a tad more expensive than its neighbors because of its famous prep schools. I don't know the area well enough, but I would bet there are cheaper alternatives nearby with comparable amenities.

[CityLight]

Hamilton is a great fit since it is a big horse riding community and it is only minutes away from the infamous Cranes estate/beach. Boston is also only 30 minutes away and there is the Stoneham zoo which is 20much minutes away. New Hampshire is also only 30 minutes minutes away. Good luck without your hunt.

[Morris Wanchuk]

Originally Posted by Dancer110964

Could someone please help me?!?!
I have been searching for months just trying to narrow down a nice place for me to live. I have been looking at Massachusetts however I'm open to other suggestions anyone might have. My ideal area is for me to live in a rural setting so that I can keep my horses, but not too far away from the big city for me to go on a shopping spree every once in awhile. I could really care less about the climate, but I would hope that it had good schools,low crime rate, and entertainment around the city such as zoo's, aquariums, museums, and perhaps a theme park. I also love the ocean and beach as well. I realize my ideas are conflicting but I could really use your help!

Sounds like Townsend/Ashby are right up your alley

1 hour to the beach in NH, one hour from Boston. Plenty of tax free shopping in Nashua, NH.

[konfetka]

Ipswich has lots of horse farms, best beaches north of Boston with sand castle competitions, Cranes castle with concerts and fireworks in the summer, lots of history, train station to Boston and Newburyport, good schools, historic downtown, and it's right next to Newburyport, Essex, Gloucester and Rockport with lots to see and explore.

[brightdoglover]

I know of a woman who breeds and raises Quarter Horses on her property in Townsend, and there's a state park nearby for riding.
OP hasn't said yet anything about what the horses are for/need, budget, or JOB.