Please name an ideal place to live in MA...

[VlyRoadKid]

RE: Ipswich. I agree that it's quite walkable! We stayed at a B&B there one night, when I messed up our reservation in Gloucester. It was very pretty and pleasant to walk around at night and there's an excellent pizza parlor!

Speaking of Gloucester: if you don't mind a "rougher" and more "touristy" atmosphere, it also has a nice downtown area for night walks, including an artist's "colony" at Rocky Neck. But the winters are brutal! *shudder*! It's also quiet congested.

[n9m2003]

I thought of Newburyport reading this thread

[jva42]

I've lived in Melrose for the past 7 years and think it meets most of your requirements. If you don't care about being close to Boston, then some other town may be a better choice.

Melrose has:

- A nice, walkable downtown with some unique shops and a few decent restaurants (it's a little on the small side, though).
- Ell Pond, Spot Pond, and the beach (20-25 mins away).
- Very safe -- tiny amount of petty crime. We leave our cars unlocked and I left the keys in the door last night
- Route 1 has most stuff you need and don't want downtown. There's also square one mall and north shore mall not too far away.
- Solidy middle class population. If you want pervasive affluence, you'll be disappointed.
- Plenty of places to take a nice walk. I know of several options for Yoga/Pilates, though I am not into it. There's a decent YMCA downtown. There are several community events put on downtown each year, e.g. Victorian Fair.
- Not too much taffic. There can be some getting to/from the highway.

Other good things:
- Several commuter rail stations and close proximity to Oak Grove Orange Line station.
- You can be parking in downtown Boston within 15 minutes on a good day.
- It may be cheaper to live here than nearly any other town so close to Boston that meets your requirements.

[Peter Creedon]

May I suggest Swansea or even Dighton? You have the silver city galleria mall in Taunton.

[dm056]

Hello,
I'm working on a project from my Math class and I have to put together a budget for living in Newton, Massachussetts. I have tried to estimate some of the things that I need to include in my budget using the web, but I just can't get specific numbers. I have never owned a house so my idea that makes it kind of worse. Here is what I need:
Cooling bills. I am to estimate the costs based on a family home of 2.5 bathrooms and three bedrooms.
How do I figure out how much per month is the water sewer service? I read your numbers but I wasn;t sure what hcf stands for... Also, what are the Electricity and trash monthly expenses
I appreciate it!

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by dm056

Hello,
I'm working on a project from my Math class and I have to put together a budget for living in Newton, Massachussetts. I have tried to estimate some of the things that I need to include in my budget using the web, but I just can't get specific numbers. I have never owned a house so my idea that makes it kind of worse. Here is what I need:
Cooling bills. I am to estimate the costs based on a family home of 2.5 bathrooms and three bedrooms.
How do I figure out how much per month is the water sewer service? I read your numbers but I wasn;t sure what hcf stands for... Also, what are the Electricity and trash monthly expenses
I appreciate it!

For the sewer and trash fees, you could call Newton City hall. But as far as the electricity, and how cool you want your house in the summer, well that would depend on your individual preferences. The same with heating. Those utilities are supplied by private companies.

[Calla]

Winchester, MA meets all of your criteria (with the shopping mall in Burlington being just 10 minutes away) except the "thriving nightlife" but considering you can drive to Boston in 15 minutes for nightlife you are covered.

[suzy q]

readimg,stoneham and wakefield very nice towns with walkable downtowna bodies of water and close to boston

[CoastalMaine]

Hyannis

[moemommy]

Newburyport!