Where should I live? looking for country setting

[konfetka]

There are many reasons to choose the North Shore for the country vibe.

Hamilton and Ipswich are known for their countless horse boarding farms. Hamilton hosts polo on Sundays and the Boston Equesterian Classic.

Ipswich has the oldest operating farm in the country - Appleton Farm, where you can still buy fresh eggs and milk. It also has the best rated beach in Greater Boston - Cranes Beach, and has the biggest inventory of 17th century houses in the country. It is popular for kayaking on Ipswich river, it's many farms and clam shacks.

Topsfield is home to Topsfield fair, which just rapped up on Monday, going for 150 years.

Boxford is known for it's 2 acre minimum for lots, privacy and exclusivity. It's resistance to any development resulted in not much of a town center.

Essex is known as America's antique capital.

Gloucester is a fishing town, made famous by "the Perfect Storm" and "The Wicked Tuna" reality show on National Geographic. Great for whale watches and waterfront seafood restaurants.

Rowley is known for it's weekly old time New England antique flea market on Sundays.

Beverly Hills was named after Beverly Farms, which used to be the wealthiest town in Mass when it was a summer resort for wealthy industrialists from Chicago, New York and Boston, who arrived in their private train cars in late 19th- early 20th century. It was also home to summer White House of president Taft.

The Border to Boston bike path project is expected to cover 28 miles from the New Hampshire border to Danvers, with many parts of it already complete.

Plus these northern North Shore towns are situated between Salem, Newburyport and Rockport, which are popular destinations of their own.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by konfetka

The OP is commuting to Faneuil Hall, not Back Bay. It is in the middle between North Station and South Station, a 10 minute walk from North Station or 7 minute ride on the T.

In Wakefield they should have told you to drive 20 minutes to Oak Grove station to get on the Orange line, which would take you straight to Back Bay.

Not sure why he wants to go to back bay if he's working in Faneuil Hall. If that's the only place you'll se yourself working North Station is a fine option. If you're looking to possibly work elsewhere in Boston in the future the commuter rail is a lot more convenient from South of the city.

And my wife wanted to take the commuter rail (driving to Malden was not on the table for options) which would have been ok from Wakefield. At least when she was working downtown. She got a new job near Back Bay and that would be a miserable commute for someone uninterested in driving. We love where we are now so we're glad we were told to consider places other than the North Shore.

[konfetka]

I am glad you like where you are.

Oak Grove station is on the border of Melrose and Malden. It's in a quiet residential area of Malden, which is not different from Melrose or Wakefield, and not at all like downtown Malden is. Melrose used to be a part of Malden anyway about 100 years ago or so.

Most office buildings and jobs in Boston are in the Financial District (except hospitals and colleges) - a 15 minutes walk form North Station vs. 5 minutes from South Station, so you are right, South Station is more convinient. To some people it would be a deal breaker, to others it's a short walk or a couple stops on the T.

Your job can always change anywhere, in that case there is always the T.

[Newdaawn]

Check out the towns of Westwood, Walpole and Norfork. Some great country settings there.

[CityLight]

Originally Posted by konfetka

There are many reasons to choose the North Shore for the country vibe.

Hamilton and Ipswich are known for their countless horse boarding farms. Hamilton hosts polo on Sundays and the Boston Equesterian Classic.

Ipswich has the oldest operating farm in the country - Appleton Farm, where you can still buy fresh eggs and milk. It also has the best rated beach in Greater Boston - Cranes Beach, and has the biggest inventory of 17th century houses in the country. It is popular for kayaking on Ipswich river, it's many farms and clam shacks.

Topsfield is home to Topsfield fair, which just rapped up on Monday, going for 150 years.

Boxford is known for it's 2 acre minimum for lots, privacy and exclusivity. It's resistance to any development resulted in not much of a town center.

Essex is known as America's antique capital.

Gloucester is a fishing town, made famous by "the Perfect Storm" and "The Wicked Tuna" reality show on National Geographic. Great for whale watches and waterfront seafood restaurants.

Rowley is known for it's weekly old time New England antique flea market on Sundays.

Beverly Hills was named after Beverly Farms, which used to be the wealthiest town in Mass when it was a summer resort for wealthy industrialists from Chicago, New York and Boston, who arrived in their private train cars in late 19th- early 20th century. It was also home to summer White House of president Taft.

The Border to Boston bike path project is expected to cover 28 miles from the New Hampshire border to Danvers, with many parts of it already complete.

Plus these northern North Shore towns are situated between Salem, Newburyport and Rockport, which are popular destinations of their own.

The above information pretty much sums up the North Shore area. Excellent information! Keep up with the good work.

[konfetka]

Originally Posted by CityLight

The above information pretty much sums up the North Shore area. Excellent information! Keep up with the good work.

Thanks, CityLight, love the North Shore!

[MikePRU]

I think we scared the OP away. He hasn't logged on since he started this thread.

Originally Posted by konfetka

Thanks, CityLight, love the North Shore!

This is one of my favorite parts of living in MA. LOCAL PRIDE. Most everyone loves where they live for one reason or another. From suburbs of Boston to Worcester to Western MA to the Cape and islands, this state offers something for virtually everyone. The lone exception being people who like warm weather all year round.

[Coolhand68]

Concord, Lincoln, Harvard, Stow. First one is a little more suburban, but quiet.