MA Ladies, help me move!!!!!

[musiclover]

Help me choose a new place to live. PLEASE
We need to move within 1 year-1.5 years due to DH's commute (1.5 hours each way to work, which is in Manchester NH), plus Adam starts Kindergarten next Fall (14') and I want to be settled in a new area that we like, with a good school system before all of that stuff begins. I LOVE where I live now ( Near Foxboro) but we just can't stay here due to DH's job I am trying so hard not to let this depress me, and want to be pro active about finding a town that will fit our needs.

Where should I go and why? We need to be like 30-45 minutes away from Manchester, and I still want to be near the 495/90 Belt so I can get to NY easily. There must be a good school system, I do not want to be in a big city like Lowell, but I also don't want to live in an area that has nothing.

I don't ask for too much, huh? :N:

[bean47]

Forget MA, just come to NH. Come live in our great town and your DH can have a 15 minute commute! No? Shucks. I wish I had some suggestions but I don't know MA towns well enough to be really helpful.

[bebeetmoi]

Is staying in MA mandatory? If so, Burlington area? If not, what about Bedford or Nashua NH? They are both close to Manchester and have fantastic schools. When I was home last week my aunt was trying to convince us to buy a house in Bedford that was seriously less than the original asking price and in an awesome location.

[cat19]

I vote for Nashua too, just because that's where DH's aunt and uncle live and I thought it was awesome!!!

[imimahoney]

I live in Burlington!! Wonderful town, low taxes but expensive to buy into. Good sized home with minimal renovations is probably 400k+. What is your budget like? I live and teach in the area so I know all of the good... and bad... school districts.

[imimahoney]

Ok, so I just google maped it and it seems a bit far from Burlington. My husband works in Westford, which is an amazing town if you can afford it, but that is about 40ish minutes away. Burlington is 20 minutes south/east from Westford.

You could do near Haverhill (which is not bad) and that seems to be 35ish minutes away- it's just down 93 but of course that is farther from 90.

Maybe southern NH would be a good option. I don't really know much about the NH school districts except that they pay their teachers crappy but I assume their cost of living would be much cheaper than this area of Mass.

[teamhayes]

Easton, Walpole, Sharon, Canton, Milton, Dedham, Norwood all have great schools/location.

[imimahoney]

Jan 5, 2013 17:38:29 GMT -5 teamhayes said:

Easton, Walpole, Sharon, Canton, Milton, Dedham, Norwood all have great schools/location.

Yeah but those aren't close to Manchester at all... probably over an hour to an hour and a half.

[teamhayes]

I missed the Manchester part. What about Melrose, Marblehead, maybe even Salem. I am trying to picture in my head where Salisbury is? Is Reading a hike?

[laurack]

North shore! Be my neighbor!

In Beverly we are about an hour from Manchester, but a bit further north maybe...? I don't know if there is somewhere in mass that's only 30 mins from Manchester

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 14:58:08 GMT -5 pinksapphires said:

I have a girlfriend that lives in Chelmsford. She's really happy there. From what I've seen it's a nice town, right off 495, and has a little bit of everything. I don't know much about the school systems, but she and her husband are planning on raising kids there so I think that went into their decision making to move there.

Thanks, that's really good to know. I was stalking a map today and chelmsford area caught my eye.

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 16:57:11 GMT -5 bean47 said:

Forget MA, just come to NH. Come live in our great town and your DH can have a 15 minute commute! No? Shucks. I wish I had some suggestions but I don't know MA towns well enough to be really helpful.

I have a terrible memory, were you in Derry? DH would love to live in NH but I am opposed because I feel like its just that much further from my NY family and my MA friends

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 17:27:24 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

Ok, so I just google maped it and it seems a bit far from Burlington. My husband works in Westford, which is an amazing town if you can afford it, but that is about 40ish minutes away. Burlington is 20 minutes south/east from Westford.

You could do near Haverhill (which is not bad) and that seems to be 35ish minutes away- it's just down 93 but of course that is farther from 90.

Maybe southern NH would be a good option. I don't really know much about the NH school districts except that they pay their teachers crappy but I assume their cost of living would be much cheaper than this area of Mass.

I was actually googling Westford today, too funny. Can you elaborate more on what westford is all about. It seemed to get reviews on its schools. My boss was saying that it was nice there.

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 17:48:06 GMT -5 laurack said:

North shore! Be my neighbor!

In Beverly we are about an hour from Manchester, but a bit further north maybe...? I don't know if there is somewhere in mass that's only 30 mins from Manchester

I would totally love Beverly, Andover, reading area but it's too far from NY and probably not very close to Manchester

[Faevantastic]

I'm sad that you're going to move farther away from me. Is that creepy?

[imimahoney]

Jan 5, 2013 20:54:05 GMT -5 musiclover said:

Jan 5, 2013 17:27:24 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

Ok, so I just google maped it and it seems a bit far from Burlington. My husband works in Westford, which is an amazing town if you can afford it, but that is about 40ish minutes away. Burlington is 20 minutes south/east from Westford.

You could do near Haverhill (which is not bad) and that seems to be 35ish minutes away- it's just down 93 but of course that is farther from 90.

Maybe southern NH would be a good option. I don't really know much about the NH school districts except that they pay their teachers crappy but I assume their cost of living would be much cheaper than this area of Mass.

I was actually googling Westford today, too funny. Can you elaborate more on what westford is all about. It seemed to get reviews on its schools. My boss was saying that it was nice there.

Sure!

It's in a good location. Off 495 and rte 3, near Nashua and about an hour away from Boston. The town is cute, very quaint and New Englandy. They have a nice walkable center with some small shops and places to eat. They just built a brand new shopping plaza which is great if you don't feel like driving 15 minutes to a grocery store.

The schools are top notch. The town is upper middle class for sure. Westford Academy is there, too which is an excellent private school if you ever decide to go that way.

There are a lot of tech businesses (Dh works in one) which I think keeps the town taxes reasonable.

For what I've seen there is a nice mixture of houses. A few new subdivisions with very large homes but also more typical New England homes that are older with character. A lot of Dh's coworkers live in Westford and really rave about the overall town.

Oh and a totally random fact my DH just told me, the town's zoning laws do not allow for drive thru's. The have a Dunks, Starbucks, McD's but all are walk in. It's kinda weird.

[countthestars]

Littleton! It's right next to Westford. Small town, good schools.

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 21:10:20 GMT -5 Faevantastic said:

I'm sad that you're going to move farther away from me. Is that creepy?

Nope, in Fact is that you outside my living room window?
So I honestly really don't want to move at all, if I think about it too much it makes me cry DH just really had to take this job as it provides us stability and job advancement. His last job was anything but stable and paid crap.

[musiclover]

Jan 5, 2013 21:12:37 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

Jan 5, 2013 20:54:05 GMT -5 musiclover said:

I was actually googling Westford today, too funny. Can you elaborate more on what westford is all about. It seemed to get reviews on its schools. My boss was saying that it was nice there.

Sure!

It's in a good location. Off 495 and rte 3, near Nashua and about an hour away from Boston. The town is cute, very quaint and New Englandy. They have a nice walkable center with some small shops and places to eat. They just built a brand new shopping plaza which is great if you don't feel like driving 15 minutes to a grocery store.

The schools are top notch. The town is upper middle class for sure. Westford Academy is there, too which is an excellent private school if you ever decide to go that way.

There are a lot of tech businesses (Dh works in one) which I think keeps the town taxes reasonable.

For what I've seen there is a nice mixture of houses. A few new subdivisions with very large homes but also more typical New England homes that are older with character. A lot of Dh's coworkers live in Westford and really rave about the overall town.

Oh and a totally random fact my DH just told me, the town's zoning laws do not allow for drive thru's. The have a Dunks, Starbucks, McD's but all are walk in. It's kinda weird.

Thanks so much, that is really helpful. My hometown in new York did not allow for drive thrus either, in fact they only have one chain allowed and that is a Dunkin donuts.
So we'll probably have to rent for awhile once we move only because we are upside down on this stupid town home and it will take everything just to get out

[Faevantastic]

Jan 5, 2013 21:24:49 GMT -5 musiclover said:

Jan 5, 2013 21:10:20 GMT -5 Faevantastic said:

I'm sad that you're going to move farther away from me. Is that creepy?

Nope, in Fact is that you outside my living room window?
So I honestly really don't want to move at all, if I think about it too much it makes me cry DH just really had to take this job as it provides us stability and job advancement. His last job was anything but stable and paid crap.

*turns into a creepy Chinese buffet lady that wants to steal your babies* Teehee!

Seriously though, I totally get it. My work commute is 45 mins - 1 hr and it sucks... can't imagine 1 1/2 hrs!

[imimahoney]

No problem! Not sure about their rental population but I bet you might be able to find a house or 2 to rent that are in the same position you are.

Someone above mentioned Chelmsford. It is very close to Westford but a bit bigger so there might be more rental opportunities. The schools aren't as great and the town isn't as nice but it's a nice town with good schools if that is where you end up.

[bean47]

Jan 5, 2013 20:50:50 GMT -5 musiclover said:

Jan 5, 2013 16:57:11 GMT -5 bean47 said:

Forget MA, just come to NH. Come live in our great town and your DH can have a 15 minute commute! No? Shucks. I wish I had some suggestions but I don't know MA towns well enough to be really helpful.

I have a terrible memory, were you in Derry? DH would love to live in NH but I am opposed because I feel like its just that much further from my NY family and my MA friends

Your memory isn't bad, I'm in Londonderry. I understand the distance thing. Choosing a place to live and raise a family is a huge decision!

[musiclover]

Jan 6, 2013 8:47:47 GMT -5 bean47 said:

Jan 5, 2013 20:50:50 GMT -5 musiclover said:

I have a terrible memory, were you in Derry? DH would love to live in NH but I am opposed because I feel like its just that much further from my NY family and my MA friends

Your memory isn't bad, I'm in Londonderry. I understand the distance thing. Choosing a place to live and raise a family is a huge decision!

It really is, and unfortunately my brain is so damn OCD that I am over thinking every single thing, ugh......

[laurack]

My commute is 1 hour but its train and walking. I hate driving and traffic.

I think sno lives in Groton? That's close enough too. 45 mins.

[musiclover]

Jan 6, 2013 15:53:37 GMT -5 laurack said:

My commute is 1 hour but its train and walking. I hate driving and traffic.

I think sno lives in Groton? That's close enough too. 45 mins.

I miss Sno, I hope she is ok.
An hour on the train is not terrible, it's just being on the road so much that blows. Luckily DH's current 1.5 trip does not have any traffic, that is the only saving grace.

[kkfeb04]

I don't have the foggiest clue but I just wanted to say that my BIL used to live in Beverly and now lives in Gloucester. All I know is that is freaking far for me to drive and seems I may never get out of the Boston traffic hell.

[sno&2peas]

I grew up in Chelmsford, very nice town (may move back there myself). School system is good. I think Tyngsboro's school system is decent also, look into it! Chelmsford is close to a lot of highways including Rt 3 which is how your H will go to work and it's not busy that way, it's opposite traffic.