Coastal/Near Coastal Family Town (Boston, Worcester: to live, stats, moving)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by tcalloway4

Does anyone have any thoughts on Quincy/North Quincy?

Do you like ugly condos being thrown up on every last square inch of dirt?

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Do you like ugly condos being thrown up on every last square inch of dirt?

I don't.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by tcalloway4

Does anyone have any thoughts on Quincy/North Quincy?

Quincy is quite a bit different than the "ideal" coastal towns you identified earlier in this thread. It's far more built up than a place like Marblehead and it continues to develop at a fairly rapid clip. There are some decent neighborhoods close to the water, but the housing stock is pretty tightly packed together in most of those. And from an aesthetic standpoint, I don't find them to be anywhere close to the the same level as waterfront/adjacent neighborhoods in many of the other North and South Shore towns that have been discussed in this thread. The upside is there a are lot of places in Quincy where you're close to some decent beaches.

It's fairly diverse with a large and growing Asian community, a recent influx of young professionals, and a still very present established, largely working class community of residents who have been in town for a long time. There's some resentment (and occasionally some friction) between the multi-generational residents and the newcomers, but that's not atypical of most established working class towns in Massachusetts that are attracting more affluent residents. I can't speak to the schools or the "family friendly" feel of Quincy, but I would note that it's a much larger and more urban locale than others you've looked at and that generally correlates with schools that are not top tier and less of a "one community" feel. I don't know Quincy to be any different in that regard.

From what I've read of your wish list, I'd look into Milton where you'll get similar access to Boston, you'll still be close to the water and everything else Quincy has to offer, and most of the community/family friendly boxes will be easier to check. It doesn't seem to me like Quincy would be the best fit.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Quincy is quite a bit different than the "ideal" coastal towns you identified earlier in this thread. It's far more built up than a place like Marblehead and it continues to develop at a fairly rapid clip. There are some decent neighborhoods close to the water, but the housing stock is pretty tightly packed together in most of those. And from an aesthetic standpoint, I don't find them to be anywhere close to the the same level as waterfront/adjacent neighborhoods in many of the other North and South Shore towns that have been discussed in this thread. The upside is there a are lot of places in Quincy where you're close to some decent beaches.

It's fairly diverse with a large and growing Asian community, a recent influx of young professionals, and a still very present established, largely working class community of residents who have been in town for a long time. There's some resentment (and occasionally some friction) between the multi-generational residents and the newcomers, but that's not atypical of most established working class towns in Massachusetts that are attracting more affluent residents. I can't speak to the schools or the "family friendly" feel of Quincy, but I would note that it's a much larger and more urban locale than others you've looked at and that generally correlates with schools that are not top tier and less of a "one community" feel. I don't know Quincy to be any different in that regard.

From what I've read of your wish list, I'd look into Milton where you'll get similar access to Boston, you'll still be close to the water and everything else Quincy has to offer, and most of the community/family friendly boxes will be easier to check. It doesn't seem to me like Quincy would be the best fit.

This is mostly accurate, but where are these "decent" beaches nearby that you speak of??? North Quincy High actually scores pretty well these days (maybe even rivaling Milton?), Quincy High average to below averagish (more economic diversity and all) although it's a brand new building and guess it has some good offerings. But overall, I'd say Quincy is no longer interested in catering to families while Milton still is. But with what Milton costs, why not just go with one the metro-west towns mentioned previously if they are commuting to Brigham Circle? You will get a leafier/closer to nature feel, and it's not like Milton is even that close the real ocean.

[msRB311]

Quincy is interesting. It has changed a lot, it's nicer than it used to be, North Quincy high does rate well, the T is there (that used to be an attraction), it's a convenient location, nice restaurants, Marina Bay, etc...but it doesn't seem to have risen much in popularity.

People who move here just want to live in the same damn places. I'd welcome and encourage someone to move to Quincy..but people just obsess over internet ratings and what the 'top' towns are and that's how where they have to live.

Anyone want to live in Woburn these days?

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by massnative71

This is mostly accurate, but where are these "decent" beaches nearby that you speak of??? North Quincy High actually scores pretty well these days (maybe even rivaling Milton?), Quincy High average to below averagish (more economic diversity and all) although it's a brand new building and guess it has some good offerings. But overall, I'd say Quincy is no longer interested in catering to families while Milton still is. But with what Milton costs, why not just go with one the metro-west towns mentioned previously if they are commuting to Brigham Circle? You will get a leafier/closer to nature feel, and it's not like Milton is even that close the real ocean.

What's wrong with Wollaston, Perry, Orchard, or Nickerson beaches?

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I can't speak to the schools or the "family friendly" feel of Quincy, but I would note that it's a much larger and more urban locale than others you've looked at and that generally correlates with schools that are not top tier and less of a "one community" feel. I don't know Quincy to be any different in that regard.

FWIW, Quincy has a 10% poverty rate. The majority of households are renters. That kind of has to stress the school system. I'm pretty sure the OP is looking for one of the blue chip school systems.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

FWIW, Quincy has a 10% poverty rate. The majority of households are renters. That kind of has to stress the school system. I'm pretty sure the OP is looking for one of the blue chip school systems.

So is everyone else.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by msRB311

So is everyone else.

"Everyone else" doesn't necessarily have a 20% down < $1.2 million housing budget. There are some easy commute options to Needham an exit below Route 9 with strong schools at that price point. Same for Longwood Medical using commuter rail. This is why so many people land in those suburbs. Living on the coast is a soul-destroying commute.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

"Everyone else" doesn't necessarily have a 20% down < $1.2 million housing budget. There are some easy commute options to Needham an exit below Route 9 with strong schools at that price point. Same for Longwood Medical using commuter rail. This is why so many people land in those suburbs. Living on the coast is a soul-destroying commute.

The majority of people moving here have it.