Relocating to Haverhill (Boston, Lowell, Cambridge: sale, real estate, renting)

[cliffrdball]

I am contemplating taking a position in Haverhill, MA from CT. We are unimpressed with anything in our price range in that immediate area in MA. Our purchase range is from $400K to $500K. Anything w/in a 35 min drive of Haverhill would be fine w/ us. Is there any area that I should be considering that perhaps has slipped my mind. Ideally (although I realize its probably a pipe dream) we would want a 2600 sf colonial in a neighborhood/culdesac setup.

Schools are important as we have 2 young children.

Thanks in advance.

[tao777]

hey cliffrdball,
I saw your post in the NH forum as well. If you're looking within a 35 min range from Andover (or is it Haverill?), why not consider Bedford/Chelmsford area in MA. They're about that distance away and houses are in your price range, and there are great schools and lots of young families, great access to everything.
Sorry if this is totally irrelevant...

[Nanseev]

First, I'd check Groveland. It's Pentucket schools, a small, quaint town that is more "up and coming" and Pentucket schools are good. There are nice family neighborhoods, and the beauty of the town is that it is NOT developed. Other area towns that may have something in your price range could be Georgetown, Ipswich, Boxford and Newburyport. Boxford and Newburyport are probably too pricey, but maybe the other two.

Do you mind me asking where you've looked, and what you have felt dissatisfied with? I grew up around the area, and lived there for many years, so I'm familiar with the areas. Personally, I wouldn't live in Haverhill, so I fully understand if that's where you looked....but I DO think there are plenty of nice communities around Haverhill.

The wonderful part of Haverhill is that it is accessible! You can get there from the Seacoast (NH), North Shore (MA), Central NH (Salem NH) and even areas off of 495 (North MA) without too many headaches.

[sameboat]

Cliff Groveland is a nice small community. Excellent elementary school and regional middle/high school. But I've heard the high school is not as impressive as it had been in years past. West Newbury is another nice, quiet town sandwiched between Groveland and Newburyport. A little pricier than Groveland but very nice. Neither Groveland nor West Newbury have a "real" downtown - too small. Both are just minutes from Haverhill. Like Nan, I wouldn't want to bring my children up in Haverhill either. It's a city, has it's beautiful spots but also has some dangerous spots, drugs, etc. I don't like to go through there at night. These days Newburyport is the place to be. I work in Newburyport. It's absolutely beautiful. Lots of fun shopping in the downtown area, artsy shops, high-end clothing, theatre, great food, the waterfront with a boardwalk, Plum Island beaches, parks, cobblestones, etc. But again, it's pricey. Amesbury is looking like an up and coming community that sort of looks like Newburyport downtown. But I find it very hilly and not quite as nice as they other communities I've mentioned. I'd stay away from Merrimac. Some nice areas and very affordable but lots of trailer parks (nice people, too, but doesn't help with your home equity). I'm no expert, but I hope this helps.

[StellaDella]

You might also look at Andover or North Andover and Boxford. They are pricey communitites and there will perhaps be less to choose from in your price range however it's not an impossibility. They are all lovely upscale communities, little to no crime rate and very good schools. I sold real estate in these area for 13 yrs. Haverhill is a quick ride up rt 495 from any one of these towns.

[cliffrdball]

Thanks for all your help. I have looked at most of those towns, and what is available in my price range (400K-500K) is just not that impressive. We have remodeled a home in CT and have no desire to do that again. And anything we have seen in those good MA towns is just either too small, not updated, etc. Groveland, I believe, had some things we would consider, but then again, the schools dont rate that highly (greatschools.net).

I dont know, maybe its NH.

[Nanseev]

I'm surprised Pentucket schools rated low...they actually have a decent reputation in the area. I would absolutely investigate and do your own research. I find it very hard to believe that the schools in NH (in the towns that you'd be commuting from) will be better than the schools in Massachusetts towns that you'd be considering. Lowell, Haverhill, Lawrence...sure, you bet. But Pentucket? I'd question it...there are way too many affluent areas that dump into Pentucket for me to believe that. There might be some on the seacost, like Exeter NH, but from my experience, most of the towns up 93 aren't as "affluent", and when I lived in the area, they were ALOT of drugs. I'd be interesting in seeing what the stats are for percentage of students that continue onto 4-year colleges. The areas in NH seemed more blue-collar...but that was a number of years ago, so my perception may be dated.

Did you try Georgetown? That's another area that you might be able to find something. Even parts of Ipswich could get you a fairly easy commute as well.

One more thought....Essex would be a tiny bit farther for you....BUT, purchasing in Essex you will get Manchester-by-the-Sea schools, which is one of the highest rated in the state.

I also agree on the Andover/North Andover suggestion. You could also go a bit further down 495 and still be pretty accessible to Haverhill.

You are going to get older homes because of the area...it's not a "newly" developed area. But don't count that out that quickly.

[beantown2]

For Haverhill job with family: Andover, Andover, Andover. Good town, great schools; very stable community. Twenty minutes to Haverhill, easy access to Boston/Cambridge. NA native, now live in Beverly; go to Andover/NA a lot; know Lowell/Lawrence/Haverhill; Andover, North Andover as a native; ALSO know North Shore because I live there now.

Daughter went to HS 2004/6 in Manchester-by-the-Sea: great kid, smart, academically ambitious, and it was a TOTAL disaster. Transferred her out asap. The middle and high schools are in total disarray, and they have no superintendent: the reputation mentioned earlier is O-L-D; system is crashing despite grand plans. NA overpriced, glutted with condos and houses, school system a mess. Lawrence coming back up, but not there yet. Haverhill in better shape, but also not there yet. Groveland, Amesbury, Newburyport a pain for various reasons: too much of a back-road commute, pricey, or schools up and down. N'port a tourist town and a commuting pain.

Hamilton/Wenham a lot like CT, with v. good schools, but 40 minutes by back roads and tremendously expensive. Pretty ride, though. Do it a lot. A really good town is Rowley--a bit of a hike to Haverhill, but not much farther than Amesbury/Groveland. Elementary school one of best in area. Middle and HS school (Triton) pretty good too. Topsfield is gorgeous and has a wonderful school system; Topsfield's Masconomet MS/HS tremendous, beautiful facility--niece and nephew went from there to Skidmore (he) and Emory (she). Boxford ditto, kids go to elementary schools in town, then switch to Masco. All three towns (Rowley, Topsfield, Boxford) v. expensive, but do-able, and REALLY nice.

Am a Mum and a teacher; daughter still in HS; cousin grads from Topsfield (Masco) less than five years ago. I would look at Hamilton/Wenham, Topsfield, Boxford, Rowley despite commute, but if too pricey (probable) really head for Andover. It's still a buyer's market--a lot of houses have been on the MLS for MONTHS (i.e., over six months). Look at the outer edge of your range, see if possible. If not, go smaller--all four are good towns.

Oh--I don't have a dime: I'm not a rich suburbanite! I live in a great house that I'm still renovating (the twenty-year plan), totally connect with been-there-done that and not much available in area for $400-500K: been looking for two years! But Andover has homes in that range or slightly higher in really pretty parts of town--maybe not as big as you want, but definitely do-able. Here's why: Boxford has a one shack (literally--a fisherman's seasonal cottage) for under $400K; Topsfield is nearly but not quite out of the question for under $500K; Rowley probably the same. Hamilton/Wenham virtually unreachable, although in the last few weeks there have been some OK $500k listings in both towns. It used to be that Andover was the really unreachaable town and H/W, T, B, R were affordable. In last few years, that has flipped over. Chief reason is that NA grossly over-developed, huge glut of houses driving prices in nearby Andover down: amazing to locals, but true.

Sorry the post is a bit disorganized, but I hope you get the gist. Good luck!

[nanaofzb]

I grew up in Groveland graduated from Pentucket, but that was 1968. Things change I would suggest renting and getting to know the area before I'd invest in a home anywhere that is unfamiliar to me.
I lived in Riverside (part of Haverhill) when I was married and raising young children. It was a sweet neighborhood community but with growth and change I don't know what it's like now.
I moved to SW Florida 20 years ago after my divorce and have since retired from the government (letter carrier). I'm planning to move back to Groveland area within a year. Anyone interested in a trade or sale of their home let me know. I need a 4 bedroom with enough room to breed and raise my Old English Sheepdogs maybe with a home office setup.
Good luck and do your research before buying. Like I mentioned renting even taking a vaction to the area of question.

[Valerie C]

Nana, the Riverside area really hasn't changed that much in 20 years (though the rest of Haverhill has!) The old hospital is now condos, a new hospital has been built between Groveland St. and Lincoln Ave, Building 19's still in the same place, and it probably looks much like it did back when you were in town. Was Timmy Mehan's still open when you lived in Haverhill? I live away from Haverhill now, but still have family there, so I'm there every couple of weeks.