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My husband and I are looking for a town that would split the commute between my work in Manchester New Hampshire and his work in Concord Mass. We currently live in Somerville and have lived in Cambridge and Jamaica Plain and are looking for a town that has the artsy, foodie, boutique-y downtown scene that these neighborhoods have. We have a 2 year old daughter so also must have outstanding schools with plenty of activities for kids like dance, arts, sports and other extracurriculars. Our budget is $850,000 or less for a 4bd home.
West Concord is artsy, foodie, boutique-y, has highly reputable schools, fits your budget and would be about 45min to 1 hr commute to Manchester. It is something of a Cambridge for grown-ups.
There are only couple of artsy-er town around: Concord, Newburyport in MA and perhaps Portsmouth in NH. Last two might not work for your commute. If artsy is what you looking for than Concord is probably best of the bunch.
Thanks so much for these tips. I definitely love W Concord and I think it would be a great fit for us but the commute would be close to an hour. From a commuting perspective we were looking at Chelmsford and Westford (30 mins to Manchester) but I don't think either of those towns fit the bill for a town center with cute shops and great restaurants. Alternately I was looking at Andover but I'm worried that my husband commute to Concord might be a long one in traffic. Does anyone have any experience with that commute? On Google maps it looks like it's 40 minutes without traffic.
Thanks so much for these tips. I definitely love W Concord and I think it would be a great fit for us but the commute would be close to an hour.
There is no easy solution. But why not West Concord? The Concord schools are great. And with a child involved, why try to split the commute exactly in half? Instead, your commute to Manchester would in reverse traffic, so not that bad. And the time your husband saves by not commuting in regular traffic can be better spent in time with your 2-year old and doing household tasks.
Otherwise, within the next five years, is there a chance of either of you being able to find work that is closer to the other's workplace?
Thanks so much for these tips. I definitely love W Concord and I think it would be a great fit for us but the commute would be close to an hour. From a commuting perspective we were looking at Chelmsford and Westford (30 mins to Manchester) but I don't think either of those towns fit the bill for a town center with cute shops and great restaurants. Alternately I was looking at Andover but I'm worried that my husband commute to Concord might be a long one in traffic. Does anyone have any experience with that commute? On Google maps it looks like it's 40 minutes without traffic.
Westford has a pretty town center behind the commercial part with its own art center, commons and community center, but no independent businesses. It's getting yuppified and mallified, by the second.
Chelmsford has a somewhat walkable albeit heavily trafficked little downtown. The Java Room, still decent, is a cool little casual jazz and coffee house spot on the weekends. During the dotcom era, they had everything from knitting groups to poetry readings. More artsy in those days. There are some small independent eating places and a nice library in the center. The once filled mall has left an empty spot.
I wouldn't consider either of these towns very funky, if that is what you are looking for.
Westford has a pretty town center behind the commercial part with its own art center, commons and community center, but no independent businesses. It's getting yuppified and mallified, by the second.
Chelmsford has a somewhat walkable albeit heavily trafficked little downtown. The Java Room, still decent, is a cool little casual jazz and coffee house spot on the weekends. During the dotcom era, they had everything from knitting groups to poetry readings. More artsy in those days. There are some small independent eating places and a nice library in the center. The once filled mall has left an empty spot.
I wouldn't consider either of these towns very funky, if that is what you are looking for.
Why not Groton?
Sorry to interject, but curious to hear about Groton, which I have never considered artsy.
I know that it is very old and beautiful rural town, with big private school, and very charming, but small downtown. Concord is the first to come to mind when artsy place outside immediate Boston area is ISO.
Please share.
Sorry to interject, but curious to hear about Groton, which I have never considered artsy.
I know that it is very old and beautiful rural town, with big private school, and very charming, but small downtown. Concord is the first to come to mind when artsy place outside immediate Boston area is ISO.
Please share.
Let's see...bike trail (seems to always be popular with the hipster crowd old and young)...walkable downtown next to the bike trail with little coffee cafe, health food store, art gallery, number of upscale unique eating places (Filho's Cucina with its own wine lovers room, Herb Lyceum, Gibbet Hill).
People with independent bake shops, jewelery making, woodworkers, massage therapists.
Very active Unitarian church in town center with many community events.
Less literary than Concord, but more arty than yuppie Westford and Chelmsford with its blue collar edges.
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knew there was one I was forgetting. Groton would be your best town, Concord second.
