Concord vs. Carlisle (Boston, Lexington, Burlington: homes, school district, median income)

[PhillyViaBoston]

Can anyone help me understand if there are any meaningful differences between Concord & Carlisle?

I know they share a school district and are generally in the same geographic area, but I don't know much more about the people & attitudes in the towns. Is one of the two older/snobbier/richer than the other? Does one have more diversity in age/race than the other?

Thanks for the help!

[kmann-sherborn]

They're both lovely towns. Carlisle is a lot smaller in population and feels sleepier/quieter with homes set far apart whereas Concord feels more suburban and more bustling. I've found people in both communities quite nice.

Concord:
population of approx 17,000

669 residents per square mile
median income $111K
median age 43

Carlisle:
population approx 4,900
median income $150K
median age 43
318 residents per square mile

[crzydrver]

Carlisle is much more remote in that there isn't a town center or train like Concord has.
There are McMansions in Carlisle and very simple homes too. Concord also has West Concord which is minus the mansions and snob appeal but has a cute town center of it's own and a train station.

[DreamworksSKG]

I think it would depend on if you want a quieter lifestyle or a more hustle and bustle type lifestyle.

With all the tour busses coming through Concord center and such and up to the old north bridge, the pedestrian and bike activity the summer tourist season can make Concord center trafficy and congested. Its a charming village center though, and yes, while Carlisle doesn't have the same historical charm and appeal as Concord, it still has a quaint feel to it... a cozy feel to the town ---there's Fern's country store, and a few other businesses along 225. You're also a short drive from Lexington, Bedford, and Concord, and not far from Burlington mall area in Burlington. Carlislie has a more quiet cozy feel than Concord, Concord is more historial and can be busy during the tourist season it has the charm of a classic new england village and commuter rail into Boston right there. Carlislie has Great Brook Farm State Park and ice cream stand right in the town which is a great place to walk the dog or bike or hike. So it would depend on if you want more quiet cozy feel to your town or more of a tourist town/quaint village feel.

[jaywalkin]

Concord has more traffic and businesses. Carslile is a spread out, sleepy town. Quaint and pretty. If you don't live in Carlisle, chances are you're not going there.
The downtown areas of Concord and West Concord are charming and nice to stroll around in. Getting around town can be congested, esp at peak times but it is not unbearable.
I would guess that Concord is probably the more diverse and ecclectic of the two.
As far as snobbery etc go, everywhere has their snobs. Concord folks on the whole are nice, good people. The town has an interesting mix of blue collar, medical, hippie-ish, families, old money and country folks.
My vote would be for Concord-- You can get a meal, shop and then go hiking. Unless you want every day to be quiet and isolated... then pick Carslile.

[PhillyViaBoston]

Thank you for the feedback. I very much appreciate the perspective!