Boxford and Topsfield, MA / Any insight? (Boston, Andover: real estate, loft, house)

[Amandabk]

Hi,
I live in Ipswich on the North Shore and we are considering moving to Topsfield or Boxford. My kids are 3 and 4. We love Ipswich and want to stay near the water, but I don't think we will be able to find the family neighborhood we are looking for. My husband commutes to Boston 5 days/week. I commute to Boston 3 days/week.

I am interested in the following feedback:
1. are these towns as family friendly as their reputations suggest?
2. boxford has no town center, where do people 'congregate' for ice cream or dinners out etc.?
3. I hear the schools are good. can anyone tell me how to research the schools on my own (i.e., what website to go to and what numbers to look at?)
4. I saw a house listed in Boxford close to Four Mile Pond. It said for a fee you can have access to the pond for boating and tennis. Anyone have any further details about Four Mile Pond and this 'association.' I googled it but found very little.

Thanks in advance for our responses -- greatly appreciated!!
Amanda

[Valerie C]

Hi Amanda! Interesting that you live in Ipswich--I just this morning thought of the Cranes Beach Sand Sculpures, and was going to look online to see if I've already missed it or not... It seems that this about the right time for it

In answer to some of your questions, one of the best places to check for schools is SchoolMatters - Home. There is an area that you can compare schools from one area to another. Masco is an excellent school, but you should definitely do your own research. You may also want to check out the MCAS scores: http://www.boston.com/news/special/e...ex_schools.htm
I hope you find the links helpful

Some of the places that people tend to congregate would be Benson's Ice Cream in West Boxford (almost into North Andover). They have the most AMAZING ice cream in the world--when fruit is in season (NOW) order raspberry or peach ice cream. It's even better than White's Farm , and that's saying something! Ingaldsby Farm has something for everyone (PYO berries, etc. and a great farm stand for your fresh produce). Going out to dinner, plenty close by. Follow Rte 133 to 125, and there are some great choices from Joe Fish to The Loft to Mango Grille to China Blossom or Beijing for eat in or take out Chinese.

One thing to keep in mind that there IS no walkable town center. It's amusing to read through MLS listings and see the comment "2+ Acre Lot!!!", since that has been the minimum lot size for building for decades

[Amandabk]

Hi Valerie,
Thanks for the message. Sandblast at Crane Beach is this Saturday, 8/9. You haven't missed it. Great info about how to research schools - thank you!! I know that Boxford doesn't have the town center and wonder how people still manage to feel like there is a 'community.'
Boxford is gorgeous! I just wondered how I would get the community feel.

Thanks.
Amanda

[SJSarcevich]

I am interested in the following feedback:
1. are these towns as family friendly as their reputations suggest?

absolutely! Both Topsfield and Boxford are great family towns.

2. boxford has no town center, where do people 'congregate' for ice cream or dinners out etc.?
Actually, there are 2 small town centers, in east and west, with small deli/cafes where people often meet for coffee or a quick lunch. In west, it's the West Boxford Store, which has a lunch counter, and in East, it's Wayne's, with tables and a lunch counter.

I find that many people in Boxford find many ways to get together through activities at the schools in town, so if you have kids, there are always fundraisers, barbeques, etc. The two congregational churches in town are also very socially active. As for dinner & drinks, people in West often head to the nearby restaurants a few miles away in North Andover, while those in East frequently head for the business strips on Route 1 or Route 114 to the South. Boxford itself is absolutely closed down in the evening and at night.

3. I hear the schools are good. can anyone tell me how to research the schools on my own (i.e., what website to go to and what numbers to look at?)

The schools aren't just good, they are excellent. They are the reason many people with children accept the inflated real estate prices in order to get their kids into town. The regional high school , Masconomet, which would be available to you if you live in either Topsfield or Boxford, is considered top-flight.

4. I saw a house listed in Boxford close to Four Mile Pond. It said for a fee you can have access to the pond for boating and tennis. Anyone have any further details about Four Mile Pond and this 'association.' I googled it but found very little.

I think you are talking about Stiles pond. There is a Four Mile village, which is the town's retirement community, which I think may be near a pond which may be called Four Mile (there are many ponds in Boxford), but the town beach is at Stiles Pond, and membership is around $125 per family per summer season now, payable to the Boxford Athletic Association. It is very swimmable, the beach is peaceful. Kayaks and canoes are available for free (lifejackets provided), and there is a great snack bar staffed by town teenagers so you can feed your kids at the beach. Half the families in town with kids live there in summer.

Free public tennis courts are near the Boxford police station and were recently refurbished.