What do you think of Weymouth, MA? (Boston, Quincy: housing, condo)

[RSato]

Hi,

My husband, young son & I are planning to move back to MA next year.

From what I've gathered remotely so far, Weymouth looks nice. It seems convenient to Boston, kid friendly, and affordable (nice homes to be found for under $325)? What about Havover? or other towns in that area?

Looking for good public schools (Kindergarten through HS). Any comments in general, good or bad?

Thanks!

[moveinmetrowest]

I grew up on the south shore and it may have changed in the past few years but personally I would choose Hanover over Weymouth. Hanover is just a nice town, there is a decent mall and close to some really nice towns - Hingham, Scituate, Norwell, Cohasset. Good shopping, there is a train line going down the South Shore now so I think it would be as convenient as Weymouth. I think the schools are better than Weymouth. This is my own personal observation but the kids from Weymouth were mostly punks and the kids from Hanover were more preppy. My aunt and uncle moved from Weymouth to Hanover because they wanted better schools/town for her kids.

[RSato]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. This is exactly what I wanted to know. I'm looking for a nice town, where kids have a positive environment to grow up in. Good schools, etc... I'll look into Hanover.

[goyguy]

Plympton, Halifax, Abington, Whitman, Norwell, Hanson, Marshfield, Pembroke, and Holbrook are the other "affordable" communities in the South Shore region. All are along or near a commuter rail line and offer decent schools.

Weymouth has more of a blue-collar, Archie Bunker feel to it than the towns listed above - but less than is the case in Rockland or Quincy. Many of the tens of thousands of White Bostonians who ran from the city screaming when cross-district school busing began in the '70s wound up there. Although there's a good-sized segment of the population which is solidly middle-class and well-educated, the tone of the city is set by its Joe and Joanna Sixpacks. Roughly 75% sounds like a good proportion of high school graduates to be continuing their education until you realize that this is one of the lowest percentages on the South Shore. Since academics are what one makes of them, a Weymouth kid can still win admission to top-ranked colleges (I know people who did), and the comparative lack of pressure-cooker atmosphere could be welcome. But peer pressure can just as easily steer a young person toward vocational school or the military - and often does.

Where housing is concerned, there are some large apartment/condo complexes along Routes 3 and 18. Most of the neighborhoods are comprised either of Capes and ranch houses constructed in the 1950's and early '60s, or of split-levels and some Colonials which went up later to accommodate the refugees of school busing and/or city crime.

Is it a safe assumption to make that "Sato" refers to the original poster's surname? It probably bears mentioning that because of the mentality of many of the townspeople I've alluded to it'd be wise to select a town with a more progressive reputation, or at least one of open-mindedness. A family I'm acquainted with - Italian-American husband, Japanese wife, and their kids - hasn't always had it easy in their 20-plus years there.

[RSato]

Hi Goyguy,

I really appreciate your response to my search for where to live on the south shore. You're right, my husband's Japanese, I'm Caucasian, and our son resembles both of us. My husband & I met at Mass College of Art several years ago, lived/worked in Boston, moved to Chicago for his job, and now are looking into moving back.

Priorities have changed, and now the most important thing is having our son grow up with good friends, healthy peer pressure... A safe place to play outside.... At the same time, I want my husband to fit in well. He'll probably teach design or Japanese, or both in Boston when we get back, and have as much connection as possible to the Japan America Society, etc.

I'm going to take a drive when I can around the south shore area to see how towns look, but the advice you've given me is something I wouldn't be able to tell just by looking.

Thanks again.

[moveinmetrowest]

Just an FYI. Holbrook schools are AWFUL so I would try and stay away from that town. It's just not a great town all around. The other towns listed are worth taking a look at.

[crazyworld]

goyguy...just curious...have you lived in any of these towns? You seem to think that you are an expert on the people who live in these towns. Archie Bunkers and Joe and Joanna Sixpacks.
I know quite a few successful people who have attended Vocational schools and there are many extraordinary people who have served in our Military.
I bet the next time you need a plumber, oil burner technician, electrician or any other type of laborer, you will be happy to see them.

With that being said.............

RSato...good luck with your search....there are plenty of wonderful towns with a lot of wonderful people in them.
I will tell you that housing in Weymouth is not as expensive as the surrounding towns. Still, there are many many parts of Weymouth that are very nice. Very large community.

[RSato]

Hi,

Thanks for the update on the area, and on Weymouth. I'm getting a much better idea of the south shore areas, and can't wait to get home to MA. Wish I didn't have to wait till next spring to get there (but that gives me time to explore)....

[irishmarie]

Much as I hate standardized testing, many times the MCAS scores can give you an idea of the quality of the school district. You can look at: MCAS - Boston.com

I agree with the earlier posts, that Scituate, Hingham, Hanover, Norwell, all have great schools. But, I would disagree with the post that described Norwell as affordable.

[RSato]

Thank you irishmarie. I'll use the link you suggested. After reading other posts, etc., I'm starting to think about Hanover, or possibly Sharon... I'll come to the area for a visit to really look around, too, this fall.