Request for our Boston Area PJ family

wbutler29

Guys
considering a move to the Boston area and I was hoping for some intel. Office is in North Andover and I have two kids, so great public schools (high school) specifically is paramount. Will have to travel 25-50% of the time, so hour or less from Logan and would want to be 30 minute or less commute from North Andover if NA is not the place to settle. Thanks in advance for the time an input. You guys are the best.

JimmyV

Everything close to Boston is crazy expensive, so just be warned about that. North Andover is pretty much halfway between Boston and Manchester, NH. So you will have two airport options to factor into your search. Not sure how prices fluctuate across the state border but worth looking into for sure.

wbutler29

Thanks Jimmy V.  Going to break the bank for sure, but if I’m breaking it, want the best experience for the Wife and kids. 

ed243421

Swampscott is nice.

right on the ocean, a lot of good people there.

cept for that one guy who hates Boston and won’t turn his attic into a jamroom.

wbutler29

Nice. A jamroom would be a prerequisite for any house purchase.

mpedone

I would recommend looking into NH. Windham, NH is near the border and right off 93 (which will take you into N Andover and Boston). Shouldn't be a bad drive, good schools, no sales tax, and you'll get more house for your money.

One thing to keep an eye on is property taxes, which vary from town to town. One town might seem to have cheaper houses, but the taxes might make it more expensive.

Something else to keep in mind, the housing market up here is crazy, so your best bet might be to find a real estate agent and establish a relationship. I've been hearing about houses in my area (Bedford, NH) that are under contract before they're even listed. 

wbutler29

mpedone said:

I would recommend looking into NH. Windham, NH is near the border and right off 93 (which will take you into N Andover and Boston). Shouldn't be a bad drive, good schools, no sales tax, and you'll get more house for your money.

One thing to keep an eye on is property taxes, which vary from town to town. One town might seem to have cheaper houses, but the taxes might make it more expensive.

Something else to keep in mind, the housing market up here is crazy, so your best bet might be to find a real estate agent and establish a relationship. I've been hearing about houses in my area (Bedford, NH) that are under contract before they're even listed. 

Great info thanks. Was considering NH as well wasn’t sure how it compared school-wise, price -wise. Will include that area in the search.

pjl44

Use that stretch of 93 between Andover and Boston as a starting point. If you can stomach the housing prices, don't be afraid of pushing south. I lived in Somerville and Medford for a while and was commuting up to Lowell and Andover. You'd be going against traffic both ways - it was always a fairly easy ride.

lotsalemon

Hudson NH is nice, houses are reasonable and great schools but not a great drive to Logan. Quick ride to Manchester though. 
About an hour to Logan, and 35 min to N Andover. 

If you want to be closer to work, Wilmington/Reading area is a good option. 

pjl44

Oh and like you'd imagine there is a direct relationship between housing prices and school quality. If you can swing it, Winchester would be near the top of my list.

deadendp

ed243421 said:

Swampscott is nice.

right on the ocean, a lot of good people there.

cept for that one guy who hates Boston and won’t turn his attic into a jamroom.

Think I know that guy.

wbutler29

Thanks guys. You guys never disappoint. Willing to pay the premium. Saw Lexington schools were highly rated as well. Would be out 1st NE experience, so flying releativey blind. 

lmckenney24

Lived in Marblehead my whole life, until relocating to Atlanta for work two years ago. As people have mentioned, all of the North Shore is pretty expensive. However, the schools are great, and great communities to raise a family in.

Lexington/Concord, N. Andover, Swampscott, Lynnfield, Marblehead are all great, in my opinion.

pjl44

wbutler29 said:

Thanks guys. You guys never disappoint. Willing to pay the premium. Saw Lexington schools were highly rated as well. Would be out 1st NE experience, so flying releativey blind. 

Yeah, Lexington is great. You're starting to push at the 30 minute commute to North Andover, though.

mpedone

pjl44 said:

wbutler29 said:

Thanks guys. You guys never disappoint. Willing to pay the premium. Saw Lexington schools were highly rated as well. Would be out 1st NE experience, so flying releativey blind. 

Yeah, Lexington is great. You're starting to push at the 30 minute commute to North Andover, though.

I can't imagine that drive in would be fun, either. Back roads might not be bad, but I wouldn't want to take either 495 or 95/128 in either direction in the morning. 

I would echo the sentiments to look along 93 between N Andover and Boston. It's your best bet for an easy commute. 

BennyLaRue

Don't live in the Northeast. Pearl Jam never plays there enough, apparently.

pjl44

mpedone said:

pjl44 said:

wbutler29 said:

Thanks guys. You guys never disappoint. Willing to pay the premium. Saw Lexington schools were highly rated as well. Would be out 1st NE experience, so flying releativey blind. 

Yeah, Lexington is great. You're starting to push at the 30 minute commute to North Andover, though.

I can't imagine that drive in would be fun, either. Back roads might not be bad, but I wouldn't want to take either 495 or 95/128 in either direction in the morning. 

I would echo the sentiments to look along 93 between N Andover and Boston. It's your best bet for an easy commute. 

Not terrible in that direction, believe it or not. At least when I was doing it regularly. Gums up a little where the various highways meet (95/3, 3/495, etc.) but it's nothing like going the other way.