What is Wakefield like? (Waltham, Woburn: house, buying, schools)

[WoodyWW]

I've been there a few times years ago, but never got a good feel for the town. Is it super "townie", like Stoneham is reputed to be? My impression is it's a reasonably nice town. Is there any kind of downtown? Restaurants? Any particular "type" of people there? Schools--don't concern me personally, but I don't want to buy in a town with a bad school system.

Seems like a place one can buy a pretty decent s.f. house in the low to mid $400's, from what I've seen online, which is why I'm considering it. I don't have any particular commute to consider; I just want to be w/in OK distance to shopping in Burlington (Wegmans, TJ's, etc), also Lexington, Costco in Waltham, etc.

TIA for any feedback......

[in_newengland]

I lived there for a few years and got to like it. There are good areas and not so good areas. If you live by the lake it's nice. By the lake you can walk to the downtown--which was still a real downtown--and the library and post office.

They have two excellent craft fairs every year, held by the lake, and in the summer they had free band concerts.

To me, the lake is really central to Wakefield because most events are held on the grassy area around it. Also loads of people "walk the lake" because it's a great place to get out and walk for exercise, being three miles around.

The people were friendly and there was some of that townie stuff but I didn't think it was too bad. There were people living there who had come from other towns.

I used to call it "home town USA" because it seemed to be a cross section of so many kinds of people. Maybe my observation was off but I saw a mixture of people from rich to poor. The housing was older and not upscale yet their were plenty of well educated professional people living there. It didn't feel as townie as Stoneham to me.

ETA: When I lived there they had a wonderful Thai restaurant on the Main St which was expensive but very good. There was an Italian restaurant and a few little hole in the wall places as well as a place that served diner type food (can't remember the name of it). They had an old fashioned ice cream shop that had been there forever and was like a magnet on hot summer days. It's all within walking distance on Main St. Wakefield seemed like a great town for walking; you could walk to just about everything if you lived near the downtown or the lake.

[Steephill2]

The lake in Wakefield is Nice. Depending on where you are, lynnfield market street is minutes away if you are to the north. If you are in the south part of Wakefield, melrose restaurants are minutes away, and to the east, route 1 and all its shopping is close. For inside Wakefield itself, I remember there used to be a pretty good sushi restaurant there but has since moved.

[Ninotchka P]

Sushi Island was wonderful. The owner (who is Japanese) has moved his restaurant to Marblehead. It's been replaced by a new sushi restaurant; haven't tried it.

[luvmyhoss]

I think you would like it.
Buying near the hub of town would be a priority. The lake of course.

Lovely downtown area. Go and see for yourself.

[495neighbor]

Wakefield downtown has some nice businesses and the lake, but doesn't feel as vibrant as the downtown of Reading or Melrose. Perhaps, I have visited on the off days. It feels less townie than Woburn and Stoneham and more townie than Melrose or Reading.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Wakefield downtown has some nice businesses and the lake, but doesn't feel as vibrant as the downtown of Reading or Melrose. Perhaps, I have visited on the off days. It feels less townie than Woburn and Stoneham and more townie than Melrose or Reading.

I agree. When I lived there I would go to Melrose sometimes to eat and to Stoneham for a Marshall's, Reading once in a while. For real shopping there was close proximity to rte one with every box store I could want plus a mall. I think Whole Foods was there too.