Manchester, Hamilton, Boxford,? (Boston, Cambridge, Beverly: travel, zoning, job)

[4panthers]

Could someone please help? We are looking for advice. We are a young family with young children and a commute to Cambridge. We love the beauty of the North Shore and know the schools are good too. Does anyone have advice about living there? Boxford is so beautiful, so close to Newburyport, but no town center itself. Manchester is great but much farther away. Hamilton is nice too. Does anyone have any personal experience with these towns?

Thank you so much.

[Valerie C]

I can't speak for Hamilton and Manchester with personal experience, but Boxford IS a beautiful town, very suburban in feel with, as noted, no town center, no commercial development (so a very high tax base for residents).

You may want to consider neighboring Georgetown. Georgetown has a great small-town feel, with easy access to Route 95, a cute little town center that has a grocery store, and small businesses. What you won't find in Georgetown is national department (big-box) stores, chain restaurants, etc. It's definitely worth taking a look at.

Have you looked into Beverly at all? Right on the water, super close to 95 for the comute, lots to offer in terms of great schools (elementary recently renovated, new middle and high schools have been approved. A GREAT teaching staff from what I understand.

If I can help with your search in any way, these or other towns, just let me know. Happy searching

[vter]

I have family in Manchester and know the town fairly well. It's gorgoeous. BUT, I don't think I'd want to do a commute to Cambridge from there, although, I guess it depends on where in Cambridge the job is. You can take the commuter rail to North Station and you're pretty close to East (?) Cambridge from there - neaer the Galleria, Science Museum, etc. If the commute is more in the Harvard Sq, MIT, or Alewife areas, then the commute would be worse IMO. You'd probably want to drive to the Alewefe T station and train from there. I-95 (128 to locals) gets plenty of stop & go traffic during commute times.
But, regarding the town, I love it there, as does my family. The schools are good - a new high school building was approved recently. Singing Beach and Tucks Point are great.

[deportallofthem]

Three cheers for Boxford! The school system is tremendous. Boxford from 95 to 128 never has congestion. Can't say the same about Manchester from 128 to 1.

[4panthers]

I know Manchester is a wonderful place to visit. Does it feel isolating to live there? Also, we are wondering about the high school, since it is so small. Is that a problem? Do many kids go off to private schools?

[4panthers]

If you live in Boxford, what is your center? Coffee, groceries? I know about

Is Boxford a "young" community with lots of kids?

Is there any way to commute to Boston without taking the train?

[deportallofthem]

Originally Posted by 4panthers

If you live in Boxford, what is your center? Coffee, groceries? I know about

Is Boxford a "young" community with lots of kids?

Is there any way to commute to Boston without taking the train?

You travel to North Shore Mall/Danvers for most shopping. And yes, there are a lot of kids in Boxford.It is very possible to commute by car into Boston. Although you will experience daily congestion on Route 1. However, there is a plan to widen the "trouble area" to three lanes making an easier commute.


Are you specifically looking at the North Shore? If not, you may consider Concord too which has a great school system, a walkable downtown, yet is still semi-rural.

[vter]

The Manchester -Essex High School is small because the population is small - Manchester is only about 5,000 people or so...Essex probably about the same. Yes, some kids do go to private school.

[4panthers]

Originally Posted by deportallofthem

You travel to North Shore Mall/Danvers for most shopping. And yes, there are a lot of kids in Boxford.It is very possible to commute by car into Boston. Although you will experience daily congestion on Route 1. However, there is a plan to widen the "trouble area" to three lanes making an easier commute.


Are you specifically looking at the North Shore? If not, you may consider Concord too which has a great school system, a walkable downtown, yet is still semi-rural.

Originally Posted by vter

The Manchester -Essex High School is small because the population is small - Manchester is only about 5,000 people or so...Essex probably about the same. Yes, some kids do go to private school.

Thanks for the advice! Concord/Carlisle is our 1st choice if we decide to move more westward. We like the North Shore for the proximity to the beaches. Maybe a closer look at Hamilton could be in order.

[janice3]

Boxford!!! We have lived here 6 years and absolutely love it. When you talk about town Center you do have the town green, with a small charming country store where the kids get out of school and go for a snack and meet their friends...yes, I am not kidding! We live so close to Topsfield (1/4 mile) that I go to Dunkin Donuts or Market Basket and get my much needed supplies. Boxford has wonderful zoning!

GOOD CHOICE!