Work in Concord, live where? (Leominster: to live, photos, family)

[budderfly]

Originally Posted by endo

I think the 'Rednecks' sold their land and moved away long, long ago.

I find it's hard to picture a woman with her kids riding the T twice a week into Boston for children's activities; I suppose it's possible. We used to ride in once a year (on a Budliner) to see Santa Claus at Jordan Marsh (the real Santa was in Boston, not the Burlington Mall). That was plenty for my mother.

Acton is a full-blown suburb, albeit New England style, with strip malls galore. If you include the surrounding towns there is opportunity to learn and watch dance, art, music, history, and other stuff I don't know about. Then there are also, horses, boating, swimming (in a pond not a pool!), shooting, archery, biking, hiking, flying, bowling, fencing, and all the usual sports. We did all that growing up there.

Metro Boston really extents out to 495 and beyond. Any rural appearances are only a result of the fantastic wealth that allows the folk and the towns to keep it looking that way. Unless one is a college student, music or art student, sports fanatic, or works there, I wonder at anyone who ventures into the hub regularly; but then, I am one of the rednecks that moved away...

BTW, there's cool stuff in Worcester, and yes, Lowell too. Don't be proud or you'll miss out.

This is a perfect assessment. LOL!

Btw, I love Acton. I used to take my daughter there for horse riding lessons weekly. I agree about the Worcester area. There are several surrounding burbs that would be ideal to the OP, especially since he is commuting to Concord and not all the way into Boston. My husband works in downtown Boston, and there is no way he would want to commute from there, but to Concord it would be okay.

[Spindletop]

Originally Posted by budderfly

This is a perfect assessment. LOL!

Btw, I love Acton. I used to take my daughter there for horse riding lessons weekly. I agree about the Worcester area. There are several surrounding burbs that would be ideal to the OP, especially since he is commuting to Concord and not all the way into Boston. My husband works in downtown Boston, and there is no way he would want to commute from there, but to Concord it would be okay.

Really? If you check my original question, you'll note that we live on the outskirts of an actual urban area, and my wife really wants to be sure that it's not a hassle to get the kids into Boston 2-3 times a week if need be. We're not really into the strip mall/new construction thing, not knocking anyone who is. Different strokes and all that. And personally, I'd like to be able to find like-minded people to put together a new rock band at some point. But I digress...

What we really want is something that has a "old New England village" feel but that's only 20-30 minutes to Boston during non-rush-hour times of day. I spent some time driving around the area while I was up on Thursday night, and I couldn't really find any kind of town center area in Acton. I found the stip malls, etc on Rt. 2, but no walkable downtown. From what I can tell, Concord embodies what we want. Maybe I should rephrase my question as such--is there anything else like Concord where the houses are less expensive?

[endo]

Originally Posted by Spindletop

What we really want is something that has a "old New England village" feel but that's only 20-30 minutes to Boston during non-rush-hour times of day. I spent some time driving around the area while I was up on Thursday night, and I couldn't really find any kind of town center area in Acton. I found the stip malls, etc on Rt. 2, but no walkable downtown. From what I can tell, Concord embodies what we want. Maybe I should rephrase my question as such--is there anything else like Concord where the houses are less expensive?

The historic New England village was not a center of commerce, so you will find little or no commercial activity in the town centers of those towns which have preserved their historic character: Carlisle, Acton, Boxboro, Wayland, Lincoln, and Harvard are good examples. They have stores, only not 'downtown'.

It sounds like you are looking for the 19th century American downtown. Unfortunately for you, most of the towns in that area are too 'New England'. People have already mentioned Lexington, West Acton, and Maynard. I Mentioned Bedford. West Concord is a good bet. Chelmsford maybe... If you are willing to commute farther you may investigate Belmont, Watertown, Newton, or Natick. I have no idea how prices compare there.

An old New England feeling town with a commercial downtown less expensive than Concord and near Concord and Boston may not exist. Honestly, the town you are looking for seems to be Concord. It seems absurd to me to be offered a job and then have to live out-of-town. Maybe if you tell them you need a housing allowance to help save the planet from greenhouse gases they will accommodate you.

[endo]

Originally Posted by budderfly

Btw, I love Acton. I used to take my daughter there for horse riding lessons weekly.

If the woman's name began with 'Mac', then I went to school with her son.

[jandrew]

Wow, there are some very insightful replies here, most of which I agree with entirely.

Given the relevant points regarding the validity of the need for Mrs. Spindletop to venture into Boston on a bi-weekly basis, perhaps now Spindletop may consider the abundance of wonderful options for activity and culture beyond the greater Boston area.

Now, here is my point of view. Acton is a wonderful town, though the obsessive emphasis on competitive academic and organized sports achievement can be stressful on both kids, parents and teachers. Concord (including West) and Sudbury are generally expensive towns with an abundance of simply unapproachable people who can possess an abundance of airs.

So, here then is one more shameless plug for Leominster. The city has many of the lifestyle advantages of the aforementioned towns. Yet, the people here are very responsive. Your wife and children are likely to develop real friendships here based on caring, support, shared interests and camaraderie. It is an affordable and evolving small city and there are some very attractive housing options currently available.

Now, as this is about you, Spindletop and not me and if your principal objective is to be close to Boston, then Maynard may be your best bet as it has many of the qualities that you seek and is close to Boston and even more so to Concord.

[jandrew]

But Leominster is affordable, on the move and on the way; kind of like Acton was not too long ago...

Here's a little sampling of photos for your review, Spindletop...

[puffle]

Originally Posted by jandrew

Wow, there are some very insightful replies here, most of which I agree with entirely.

Given the relevant points regarding the validity of the need for Mrs. Spindletop to venture into Boston on a bi-weekly basis, perhaps now Spindletop may consider the abundance of wonderful options for activity and culture beyond the greater Boston area.

Now, here is my point of view. Acton is a wonderful town, though the obsessive emphasis on competitive academic and organized sports achievement can be stressful on both kids, parents and teachers. Concord (including West) and Sudbury are generally expensive towns with an abundance of simply unapproachable people who can possess an abundance of airs.

So, here then is one more shameless plug for Leominster. The city has many of the lifestyle advantages of the aforementioned towns. Yet, the people here are very responsive. Your wife and children are likely to develop real friendships here based on caring, support, shared interests and camaraderie. It is an affordable and evolving small city and there are some very attractive housing options currently available.

Now, as this is about you, Spindletop and not me and if your principal objective is to be close to Boston, then Maynard may be your best bet as it has many of the qualities that you seek and is close to Boston and even more so to Concord.

Not fair to make a generalization of a population of people from Concord. Did you live here or is this the local gossip of those that cannot afford to live here? I am probably the least well off person in most of West Concord. 99% of my son's friends are weathly with summer homes but they have been the most down to earth people I have ever met including living in SoCa. my whole life! Better to say to someone looking for answers regarding a new town that either you have heard people are such and such or in my experience such and such happened to me a few times while visiting the town, but not the whole population of Concord and Sudbury and rich snobs.

[Spindletop]

Thanks for all of the replies. I agree--I think West Concord is really what we're looking for, and while we can actually afford to live there, it never hurts to look for other options.

Jandrew, those are indeed very pretty pictures. Thanks for posting them.

[puffle]

Some West Concord recent pics. If you check my other post on the Mass. threads you will see more West Concord pics.
...hope you like them!

[jandrew]

[quote=puffle;4051628]Not fair to make a generalization of a population of people from Concord. Did you live here or is this the local gossip of those that cannot afford to live here?


I respect and understand your point of view Puffle. My statement was intended to be as objective as possible given the fact that I possess first hand experience having lived in Concord for over twenty years.

Although I could still own a house in Concord, (my brother from Huntington Beach still does!) I choose not too for the the principal reason I expressed in the earlier post.

Actually, I am probably all the better for having lived in Concord, yet the social and economic stratification in the town can create challenges for some people.

Note the qualifiers I use in most of my controversial statements so as to insure that generalizations do not occur.

It's great you are happy in West Concord and I hope you continue to be so.