More towns like Marblehead? (Boston, Salem: condos, houses, neighborhoods)

[seaboarded]

I was in Marblehead this past summer and thought, probably like many, that it was one of the prettiest towns on the east coast. However, I couldn't afford it in a million years. I was hoping to get a list of similar architecturally intact coastal towns of about the same size that are a bit more affordable. I'm interested in places from Mass to Florida. Thanks.

[scratchie]

I'm not sure what you're looking for. There are little seacoast towns filled with old houses all over New England. The really nice ones, like Marblehead, Rockport or Newport, tend to be more expensive. But it sounds like you could find something that's somewhat similar in any New England town with a coastline. But you could be looking for something else that I can't discern from your post.

[luvmyhoss]

Rockport, Amesbury,Newburyport, Swampscott,Winchester

[in_newengland]

Most of the coastal towns north of Boston will be expensive. I don't know about south of Boston. There are some nice towns on the CT shore like Saybrook, Branford, Guilford. I don't know if they're quite as expensive as MA. The CT towns that are on the shore west of New Haven and closer to NYC are outlandishly expensive.

Rhode Island has coastal towns that could be affordable. I don't think they have the charm of Marblehead though. (Not talking about Newport.)

North of Boston and on the ocean is Salisbury which is affordable but not that charming. A lot of redevelopment is taking place so it will probably come up in the world but right now there's no comparison between Salisbury and Marblehead except for the ocean. Although there are some nice condos on the ocean front.

Gloucester is a great town but it's rapidly changing and prices are going up. Its economy was based on the fishing industry, which is dying. It's a town in transition. Of course, Rockport, at the end of Cape Ann, just past Gloucester--expensive again, but charming and lively.

You might find something in Ipswich, it may be too expensive though. Just inland from Ipswich is Rowley which is very charming but may not be good for you if you don't want rural. My favorite town is Newbury--Plum Island is part of Newbury. It's not good to live on Plum Island for several reasons but Newbury is gorgeous, has a lot of beautiful old homes, an organic farm--you'd have to like rural though. Byfield too, but rural. I'm not sure of the home prices but you probably won't find anything cheap. That's what I know of the north shore.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by luvmyhoss

Rockport, Amesbury,Newburyport, Swampscott,Winchester

Winchester? Did you mean Winthrop (which was what I was going to recommend). Hull too?

[luvmyhoss]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Winchester? Did you mean Winthrop (which was what I was going to recommend). Hull too?

Yes. Rowley is entirely too buggy. Can't even swim outside. You'll bring eaten alive from late April until forst frost.

[konfetka]

Beverly, Beverly Farms, Ipswich, parts of Winthrop, parts of Salem, Gloucester, Magnolia, Ipswich, Swampscott, all of tose towns the closer to water, the more like Marblehead! Basically stay out of Nahant, Marblehead and Manchester, probably Rockport, (because of price) but many other towns in between are more affordable. Just because they are so close geographically and historically, to a different degree some have more similar neighborhoods than others. Actually, it is because almost the entire Essex county originally used to be the city of Salem, and then gradually separated into smaller towns.

[scratchie]

Originally Posted by luvmyhoss

Yes. Rowley is entirely too buggy. Can't even swim outside. You'll bring eaten alive from late April until forst frost.

I don't think that's unique to Rowley.