Questions about Manchester by the sea area (Boston, Beverly: real estate, school rankings)

[Nea1]

My husband has an interview there coming up. If the deal is done and we have to move I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the area. Schools, good towns things of that nature. Not sure about costs yet since we dont know exact salary yet (probably around $80-90000 a year), just a general idea of good areas to start looking in. Thanks you for any suggestions, we are really excited.

[Nea1]

Also wanted to add that we are looking for any towns within a 30 mile radius of the area.

Thanks!!

[vter]

Manchester is a beautiful small seaside town. Schools are excellent. See Boston.com school rankings. I believe Manchester-Essex HIgh School is ranked in the top 10 in the state.
Singing Beach is gorgeous, but gets crowded on weekends. There are some smaller beaches in town that you would have access to as a resident as well.
There is a small grocer in town (Crosby's) and larger supermarkets in nearby Beverly and Gloucester. Nearest shopping malls are in Danvers and Peobody, about 15 minutes away.
The commuter rail stops in town for easy access to Boston.
Real estate is expensive though. If you can afford it, I'd strongly urge you to consider living there.
Other options in the area I would check out would be Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, and Wenham.

[in_newengland]

Ditto to the above. Ipswich could be cheaper, maybe Gloucester too. Rowley is further inland but it's a nice rural town. There's always Beverly for a cheaper place to live and probably Danvers. If I were rich I think I'd live in Manchester by the Sea.

There's a new shopping center in Gloucester that has a Marshall's and a Market Basket (a good inexpensive grocery store) so living in or near Manchester won't be so isolating anymore.

[Nea1]

How are the school in Gloucester? I have read they were questionable.

Thanks for all the other info, I really appreciate the input!!

[muskrat]

How far away are the above towns from Wilmington?

[sna77]

Originally Posted by vter

Manchester is a beautiful small seaside town. Schools are excellent. See Boston.com school rankings. I believe Manchester-Essex HIgh School is ranked in the top 10 in the state.

#12
Public Schools Chart - Boston Magazine (http://www.bostonmagazine.com/boston/public2009 - broken link)

Originally Posted by Nea1

How are the school in Gloucester? I have read they were questionable.

Thanks for all the other info, I really appreciate the input!!

#108. oyy. and then there's this:
Pregnancy Boom at Gloucester High - TIME

[brightdoglover]

If I remember correctly, there isn't a good way to get from Cape Ann to Wilmington, which I think is essentially on 93. Cape Ann is a peninsula, and you have to get off it to get anywhere else, and then start driving.
There is a significant blue-collar Gloucester population, often first- or second-generation Italian/Portuguese, often fisherman families. Not overly education-oriented, and I believe the schools reflect that. However, it is a real community, and that's worth a lot. For family and all, though, I think it would be incredible to be able to live in Manchester (which used to be just "Manchester" but for some reason, the locals wanted it called "Manchester-by-the-Sea"- maybe to distinguish it from New Hampshire's grittier Manchester, or maybe to sound more like merry olde England). Lovely town and well worth trying to get there.

[kmann-sherborn]

Manchester is beautiful & quaint and has very well regarded schools. I agree with brightdoglover's assessment of Gloucester. It does have a terrific little private school for youngsters - Eastern Point Day School.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by sna77

#12
Public Schools Chart - Boston Magazine (http://www.bostonmagazine.com/boston/public2009 - broken link)




#108. oyy. and then there's this:
Pregnancy Boom at Gloucester High - TIME

Considering I have a daughter I guess that answers that question. Thanks for the info.