Thinking of moving to Concord, MA can anyone help with info? (Boston: houses, rent)

[pjrichard]

Hello, We currently live on the south shore, Plymouth and my husband's work has relocated from Boston to Andover. Right now he's making 4 hour commutes daily. Obviously this can't continue so I've started looking at different towns and was thinking of Concord or Georgetown. Concord has a lot going for it but Georgetown seem like we can get more for our money. Schools are the most important because we have a 7 and 9 year old. Please any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, worried about being able to sell our house to even think about moving. Thanks!

[goyguy]

Georgetown would give you a lot more house for the dollar, ditto for Rowley and Essex, but the schools are more "comprehensive" - as opposed to college prep oriented the way they are in Metro West. If Andover and North Andover are too pricy I'd look in Melrose, Stoneham, or Wakefield in terms of proximity. Acton/Boxborough and Lincoln/Sudbury are public school districts on par with Concord/Carlisle, but (with the exception of Lincoln) in more affordable communities than Concord. Winchester would be a short commute on 93, but good luck with finding a house you could pay for.

Georgetown and Concord are very disparate types of towns. The former has been "upscaling," but historically had a Yankee farmer blue-collar type of feel to it. OTOH Concord (to my way of thinking) has a strong preppy overtone with a downtown area that's more "precious" than practical. What I'm asking is, besides a place with schools offering good academic preparation for a fulfilling adult life what kind of an environment do you want your kids to grow up in? I'm talking about qualities beyond the "givens" such as safe streets and no factories.

[pjrichard]

Schools are our top priority. We want a nice neighborhood, downtown and good shopping choices. I really don't want to have to travel far to go food shopping or to find a mall. I'd like to find a nice community close to where my husband will work. Right now the commute is impossible I'd like for him to have a 30 min. commute. I wish I knew more about the Northshore I am such a Southshore girl. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[airedaly]

Andover would be my first choice. We lived there and loved it. Great neighborhoods, excellent schools and a very nice downtown with lots to do. If you can afford Concord, then you should be thinking about Andover.

For shopping, you can drive to Salem, NH as mostly everyone does, to save money. Or just stay in Andover and surrounding towns.

North Andover and Boxford are really nice, too.

[Valerie C]

Northshore questions I may be able to offer opinions (I stay well out of the Western MA/Southshore discussions!)

Anyway, Andover is very nice, some great neighborhoods, good schools. However, there is a tendency for neighboring towns to look upon it as having a certain "snob appeal". This possibly in relation to having Phillips Academy in town? If you wouldn't mind so much a smaller town feel, Georgetown might work, but there is no true "downtown" area. They have a central square with a couple of small stores, and a grocery store, but no true "shopping". Georgetown has been very strict with their zoning and ordinances, and residents are very happy to have preserved their town from having behemoth CVS, Walgreens, or fast food chains on every corner. rhe nearest "big shopping" area to either would probably be along 114 in Middleton, or in Peabody.

If in-town shopping is important to you, then dismiss the towns that make up well-respected Pentucket School District. Merrimac, Groveland and West Newbury are very nice towns to live in, and while Merrimac does have a small town center with a few stores, I just couldn't consider it a shopping mecca of any kind. However, Newburyport with it's beautiful downtown is just minutes away.

You could also look into Amesbury. With the beautiful Victorian homes leading to the very active downtown, great restaurants, the town has an awful lot to offer. It's come a long way from the somewhat jaded reputation it had back in the 70's and 80's... Amesbury also has 2 or 3 exits onto 495, which would be pretty much a straight shoot to Andover, 30 to maybe 40 minutes away.

[jumbolaw]

My fiancee's family lives in Concord and it is a great town. The town center has lots of cute little shops, including an amazing cheese store. Definitely an upscale mentality but not in a snobby way, if that makes sense. Easy access to commuter rail with free parking!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by airedaly

Andover would be my first choice. We lived there and loved it. Great neighborhoods, excellent schools and a very nice downtown with lots to do. If you can afford Concord, then you should be thinking about Andover.

I agree with this 100%. Andover is a great town and the commute would be a breeze compared to what you're going through now, or even coming from Concord.

[TheWereRabbit]

Concord and Georgetown are both great towns. Rural, but not too far from the city. That being said, your desire for a 30 minute commute will be tested. I also disagree with people saying a commute from Andover is much easier than Concord (although it definitely is easier than from Georgetown). I haven't driven route 2 much in the morning but 93 is horrendous. Plus, both towns have a commuter rail stop.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by TheWereRabbit

I also disagree with people saying a commute from Andover is much easier than Concord (although it definitely is easier than from Georgetown). I haven't driven route 2 much in the morning but 93 is horrendous. Plus, both towns have a commuter rail stop.

In this case the job is IN Andover, not a commute to Boston! That's why I said the Andover commute would be better.

[scarletfire]

I agree, Andover's such a nice town. I work there 2 days a week and love the character of some of the handsome old houses there.