Work in Stoneham, live where? (Boston, Lynn: house, employment, middle school)

[love2driveinct]

Hi everyone. I discovered this site a few months ago when my hubby and I first started discussing a possible relocation to MA. He is now looking at a possible job in Stoneham, and I would love any input on the area, especially as far as commuting there. I grew up on the South Shore, so I'm not very familiar with the areas North of Boston.

We have three children, with the oldest almost in middle school, and our current schools are ok but not what we'd like. If we're going to uproot our family and go through all of this, then we want a great (or even just "really good") school system.

Seems like Winchester is pretty nice, but who can afford it? And the Concord/Lincoln/Lexington/Acton/Sudbury towns all offer great schools but how would it be getting from, say, Acton to Stoneham at rush hour? Google Maps says 40 min, but I'm thinking with Rt 128 I should double that, right??

It looks like Bedford is close enough for a decent commute, pretty good schools. What is it like there?

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

[brightdoglover]

The commute from Acton, etc. is virtually impossible. "Can't get there from here."
I imagine posters from north of Boston will again suggest Melrose- people seem to love it at a slightly northern, urbane, good-school city. It's what I've heard from many people.
If you could afford Wakefield (or, for that matter, Stoneham) they also sound excellent.
Bedford is quite nice, but pricey. Not that anything in the area is "cheap." Acton, etc. are very nice (Disclaimer- I live in Littleton) but the highway interchanges of Rts.3, etc. are dreadful.

[love2driveinct]

Thanks brightdoglover, that's what I was figuring...

So are you saying that Littleton would be just about impossible? What about Westford? When I map Westford to Stoneham, it looks like you can take 495 all the way over to 93, about 38 min -- I've heard 495 isn't bad even in rush hour, but would this commute still be horrible overall?

Honestly, the school search sites I use do not think favorably of Stoneham or Melrose, and I can't find anything afforable in Wakefield (surprise, surprise).

We currently live in a town of 12,000 in 40 square miles, so obviously it's an almost rural feel, so too much of a city feeling might be more than we'd be comfortable with. And we've gotten used to a 6-yr-old house on an acre lot in a nice subdivision on top of that. We'd love to replicate that for under 700K, hahaha...

Another town we looked at is Marblehead, wonder what the commute would be like from there? It seems like such a nice place, it would be worth the smaller lot and a few extra minutes on the commute...

One of our biggest considerations, though, is that ALL of our family is in CT, so that's why we like the towns near 495 so we can get straight down 290 to 84 or 395. Trying to avoid the entire north shore if possible. (Except Marblehead because we are suckers for the seashore.)

[scarletfire]

How about Lynnfield? It's a lovely town with very well regarded schools and should be an easy commute to Stoneham. Marblehead is a lovely seaside community though lots of tourists in the summer months. They have a good school system as well. I'm not sure what the drive to Stoneham would be like--can someone else comment on this? My understanding is it's a bit hard to get out of town depending where you are but to me living near the ocean might be worth the extra drive time. :-)

[scarletfire]

More info in Marblehead:


This coastal community of approximately 21,000 residents is located 18 miles north of Boston. Its quaint narrow streets and historic 17th and 18th century buildings mirror Marblehead as it has existed since its founding in 1629.

The sea was its economic force for generations fueled by fishing, lobstering, and marine industries. Marblehead is now a bedroom community with a strong tourism industry based on its historic, narrow streets lined with Colonial-era homes, excellent beaches, parks, and a harbor that makes it a pleasure-boating center.

Marblehead Harbor boasts one of the finest displays of sailing craft anywhere. Over the years the harbor has been both the starting and finishing port for numerous international races, including races between Marblehead and Kiel, Germany; San Sebastian, Spain; and Bermuda, as well as other national and international competitions. An annual race between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Marblehead, which began in 1905, continues to this day. And the yearly mid-summer Marblehead Race Week competition, which dates back to 1889, still attracts yachtsmen from around the world.

Miles from Boston 18 miles north of Boston
Population 20,297
Median house price $513,000
Tax rate $7.76
Website marblehead.org

More info on Lynnfield:

The Town of Lynnfield is a traditional New England residential community which has an open town meeting form of government, headed by a three-member Board of Selectmen. Its residents enjoy the small town feeling while within a short commute of Boston's cultural and employment opportunities. Lynnfield's school system is very highly regarded. Of particular pride to the community is the diversity of religious denominations and
ethnic backgrounds within the town. The community also offers a wide range of organizations for all ages, including Rotary, the Lion's Club, Art Guild, Townscape and the Historical Society.

The center of the town is graced by The Common, a small green bordered by historic structures including the Lynnfield Meeting House built in 1714 and the Lynnfield Public Library, which was built just before the Civil War.

Lynnfield is home to three public golf courses. Pillings Pond offers bicycling, non-motorized boating, fishing, ice skating, and nature observing. There is also a public playground, Pioneer Park in the Wildwood Drive area.

Lynnfield has access to State Route 128, Interstate 95, and Interstate 495. Commuter rail service to North Station in Boston may be boarded in the neighboring towns of Lynn, Reading, and Wakefield.

Miles from Boston 15 miles north of Boston
Population 11,443
Median house price $516,250
Tax rate 9.51
Website The Official Site of Town of Lynnfield, Massachusetts

[mcsummer]

You might look at Andover, North Andover or North Reading...commute wouldn't be too bad down 93 since you will be getting off before the major traffic begins.

[love2driveinct]

Originally Posted by mcsummer

You might look at Andover, North Andover or North Reading...commute wouldn't be too bad down 93 since you will be getting off before the major traffic begins.

Thanks for the recommendation -- I did look into these towns, and they are certainly ok. Obviously it would put us very far from our families in CT, though.

But I am wondering about what you said about the major traffic being after Stoneham... one of the towns I like is Westford, so how is the traffic on 93 from 495 down to exit 36? Would it actually be a doable commute? I really like everything I've seen about the town -- besides the good schools, etc, it is in a great location for getting to family in CT.

Thanks.

[mcsummer]

usually the ride down is easy (i actually reverse up to tewksbury so I see the traffic on the other side) down until the 128/95 exits then it gets bottled up a bit then it is better down past the Melrose exits before it really slows down. (Some days it is worse, of course). You could probably figure out options of getting off north of the 95 exits and using back roads to get to Stoneham? I am not sure. 495 itself sometimes is ugly, however, but not consistently bad, it usually moves along. I don't think the commute would be too bad despite the mileage. Returning home Fridays in the summer may be slow, though.

[suzy q]

why not move to stoneham excellent schools nice town

[Asta]

I personally will do anything to have to avoid driving on 495. Traffic moves along, but the few times I have driven it, it has been bumper-to-bumper tractor trailers. Last time I did it, I said I would never do it again. I used to live in Stoneham, and drove to Chelmsford often. Even today when I am commuting from Vermont to Maine, I will take the longer route in order to avoid 495. IMHO. Although you may be a braver soul that I!!!