Good schools, nice towns in Worcester County? (Leominster, Fitchburg: neighborhoods, best schools)

[scanz]

A friend of mine was asking me for advice: he and his wife have to find a town that is roughly mid-point between Nashua NH and Hartford CT, because due to a long history of events, they have jobs in those locations. Google puts the mid-point in Auburn MA at an hour for each of them, but the schools aren't that great in Auburn from what I've heard ...

I've lived in Middlesex county most of my life (I live in Chelmsford now) and know a lot about the towns there, but find myself at a loss about Worcester county.

If anyone has any suggestions of towns that have good schools (they have 3 kids), and are relatively affordable in the Auburn area, or if you know of good private schools to consider if they were to live in Auburn, I would be grateful to know them so I can pass them on for further research.

Thanks!

[Lowerdeck]

Charlton, Sturbridge, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Grafton are all close to highways and near Auburn. Shrewsbury and Grafton closer towards Nashua, Charlton and Sturbridge closer to Hartford. Auburn would probably be the cheapest option out of it all.

Can't comment about what schools would be better than others.

[brightdoglover]

Of the above, I do think Shrewsbury is the nicest with best schools.

[scanz]

Thanks guys !

Does anyone else have any thoughts? I have been strolling through previous posts and it seems most people who have asked these questions about the area didn't have any kids, so they didn't care as much about schools, etc.

It looks like Greenville, Auburn are the direct midway points. Some people have mentioned Oxford and Sturbridge? Shrewsbury looks nice, but it may be too far for him to Hartford. Mapquest says 90 min (though you can never be sure how accurate that really is).

Thanks again,
Scanz

[Lowerdeck]

My guess for a midpoint would have been Auburn or perhaps Millbury.

Sturbridge is closer to Hartford, Shrewsbury closer to Nashua. Oxford is just south of Hartford, so it'd be a few minutes longer to both H and N. I'm not sure about 495 and 3 towards Nashua, but 84 is a fast road between Sturbridge and the Hartford suburbs. It's certainly easier to come in and out from the east of Hartford than other directions.

[Dougdog]

To correct the previous post...Oxford is just south of Worcester. Charlton is a wonderful, quiet, safe community near the junction of I90 and I84. Great schools.

[Lowerdeck]

I meant to say just south of Auburn (Turnpike exit 10, which was what I was referencing)

Though yes, south of Worcester too.

[gadnahhey]

I'm not at all too knowledgeable about southern Worcester county, but in the northern part, Westminster and Ashburnham are both wonderful towns. Ashburnham has a small, private school with a prestigious reputation called Cushing Academy. Leominster/Fitchburg have some wonderful neighborhoods and Notre Dame Prep School/ St. Bernard's High School are great private schools.

Rutland's a bit north of Auburn/Worcester, but it's one of the most charming towns I've ever been to. The elementary schools are fantastic from what I've heard and the Wachusett Regional school district (middle and high schools) seem to be better than average. Leicester, another town outside Auburn is also a great option. I'm actually hoping to move to this town in the near-future because it offers a lot more in terms of convenience and location compared to other towns in the area. I know nothing about their elementary schools, but I have heard good things of their public high school.