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I'll preach for a minute not to base everything on surface school caliber - a "poor" school is more of a reflection on a dose of socioeconomic "diversity" if you will, than quality of teachers and instruction. I speak as a former teacher, as a Fitchburg (ewwwww!) HS graduate who has a master's degree, and with many graduating friends who got into Ivys. The most important question - do you not smoke crack and are you supportive and available to your children's educational needs? The other question - is the Berlin/Boylston district lacking certain programs personally important to you / your kids?
Anyways, discounting a really lovely town like Berlin because of schools would be a shame. Groton, as mentioned above, is quite lovely and woodsy and hilly and historic. Harvard is a paradise of apple orchards, conservation land, and views to the higher New England terrain of Mt. Wachusett and even Monadnock. None of the towns you mention have much in the way of a vibrant town center, if that's a concern. Out of the ones others mention, Groton may be the only one. Perhaps add Stow and Boxborough to the list? Both are also quite nice, rural/suburban towns with lots of open space, sleepy history, and scenery. They have the "good" schools going for them too. Proximity to shopping at malls and strip malls up and down 495 if that's your thing, or head to the seek-the-diamonds-in-the-rough town centers of Hudson or Maynard, the latter of which is becoming pretty nice.
Berlin is pretty far west of the towns mentioned.
Littleton has wonderful conservation land areas and all that shopping is near enough (Westford). Littleton seems like a very coherent, unpretentious place, very kid-oriented.
How so? Just like Bolton, Harvard and Littleton, they all run North-South of each other along 495. Westford is the one that's the odd-duck out of those towns mentioned, being the one that's further North up 495 and also the most developed. Also, Groton has no highway access so it's the most remote of those towns mentioned.
How so? Just like Bolton, Harvard and Littleton, they all run North-South of each other along 495. Westford is the one that's the odd-duck out of those towns mentioned, being the one that's further North up 495 and also the most developed. Also, Groton has no highway access so it's the most remote of those towns mentioned.
You may want to consider Carlisle. Rural feel, but can still be a close-knit community. Family oriented, and a top school district. Shopping/Restaurants/etc close by (within 10-20 minutes driving in any direction) but not directly in town.
You may want to consider Carlisle. Rural feel, but can still be a close-knit community. Family oriented, and a top school district. Shopping/Restaurants/etc close by (within 10-20 minutes driving in any direction) but not directly in town.
Carlisle-no highway and very very expensive, but a nice town. I would pick Bolton out of the original towns mentioned, and then Stow! They are two of my personal favorites!
I was just in Carlisle in January and it felt way too remote. Loved Groton also, but too far from major route to Logan.
We'll be doing a recce in two weeks at Littleton/Bolton/Harvard. We all love the idea of being near Nashoba Valley Ski Area to just "pop" out for a few runs!
We're also heading up 95 to visit Newburyport (not the greatest schools but love the downtown), Georgetown and Topsfield.
A two-times a month commute to Logan is all we need.
I was just in Carlisle in January and it felt way too remote. Loved Groton also, but too far from major route to Logan.
We'll be doing a recce in two weeks at Littleton/Bolton/Harvard. We all love the idea of being near Nashoba Valley Ski Area to just "pop" out for a few runs!
We're also heading up 95 to visit Newburyport (not the greatest schools but love the downtown), Georgetown and Topsfield.
A two-times a month commute to Logan is all we need.
Other than Topsfield, Carlisle is the closest to Logan out of all the towns mentioned in this thread - Berlin, Littleton, Bolton, Harvard, Westford, Groton, Georgetown, and Newburyport.
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