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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Best family friendly towns with great schools within 25-30 min of Andover. (South or West)
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
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Posted 2/6/17 11:01 AM  |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19453 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:02 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by LSP2005
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
I've looked, they are pretty pricey. Most of the nice areas up there aren't cheap, but you do seem to get A LOT more house and property for your money than you do here. I'd like to keep a house under $600K, if possible.
Anyone familiar with Burlington, N. Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Groton or Westford???
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:06 AM |
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Jugglemom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/12 809 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by LSP2005
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
I've looked, they are pretty pricey. Most of the nice areas up there aren't cheap, but you do seem to get A LOT more house and property for your money than you do here. I'd like to keep a house under $600K, if possible.
Anyone familiar with Burlington, N. Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Groton or Westford???
Burlington isn't a particularly nice area. Very busy. I don't know enough about the other towns to opine.
In that area I'd recommend Winchester, maybe Woburn, Sudbury.
Message edited 2/6/2017 11:20:29 AM.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:17 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19453 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
I have college friends that grew up in Reading and loved it there. It has a really nice home town feeling and oddly a lot of car dealerships.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:17 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by LSP2005
I have college friends that grew up in Reading and loved it there. It has a really nice home town feeling and oddly a lot of car dealerships.
LOL How funny about the car dealerships.
Thanks for the info!
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:25 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Jugglemom
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by LSP2005
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
I've looked, they are pretty pricey. Most of the nice areas up there aren't cheap, but you do seem to get A LOT more house and property for your money than you do here. I'd like to keep a house under $600K, if possible.
Anyone familiar with Burlington, N. Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Groton or Westford???
Burlington isn't a particularly nice area. Very busy. I don't know enough about the other towns to opine.
In that area I'd recommend Winchester, maybe Woburn, Sudbury.
Good to know, thank you.
We're familiar with Sudbury, it's very nice, but would be a little too long of a commute to Andover, it's about 45 min.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:26 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19453 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Jugglemom
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by LSP2005
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
I've looked, they are pretty pricey. Most of the nice areas up there aren't cheap, but you do seem to get A LOT more house and property for your money than you do here. I'd like to keep a house under $600K, if possible.
Anyone familiar with Burlington, N. Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Groton or Westford???
Burlington isn't a particularly nice area. Very busy. I don't know enough about the other towns to opine.
In that area I'd recommend Winchester, maybe Woburn, Sudbury.
Good to know, thank you.
We're familiar with Sudbury, it's very nice, but would be a little too long of a commute to Andover, it's about 45 min.
Sudburry is really nice! I would not dismiss it.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:32 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7612 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Groton is very nice.
I can ask my ILs if you want specific area about the region. The live in Ayer, but I would not recommend the area. They are empty nesters and moved there due to my FIL getting a job at MIT. They were looking for low taxes and a nice house, but I know the district is not good.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:35 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by PitterPatter11
Groton is very nice.
I can ask my ILs if you want specific area about the region. The live in Ayer, but I would not recommend the area. They are empty nesters and moved there due to my FIL getting a job at MIT. They were looking for low taxes and a nice house, but I know the district is not good.
That would be great, thank you!!
We went up a few weeks ago and we looked around Groton, it was very nice. Little more rural in some spots but beautiful homes. Curious about the schools.
Do they like living in MA overall?
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:37 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by LSP2005
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Jugglemom
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by LSP2005
Lexington
Concord
Natick
All of those towns are really expensive though.
I've looked, they are pretty pricey. Most of the nice areas up there aren't cheap, but you do seem to get A LOT more house and property for your money than you do here. I'd like to keep a house under $600K, if possible.
Anyone familiar with Burlington, N. Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Groton or Westford???
Burlington isn't a particularly nice area. Very busy. I don't know enough about the other towns to opine.
In that area I'd recommend Winchester, maybe Woburn, Sudbury.
Good to know, thank you.
We're familiar with Sudbury, it's very nice, but would be a little too long of a commute to Andover, it's about 45 min.
Sudburry is really nice! I would not dismiss it.
It is really nice however, DH might have a possible job opportunity in Andover and we'd like to keep the commute to a relatively reasonable time.
So hard to try and plan a move to another state when you don't know any of the areas well enough. We'd likely rent for a couple of months but even so, I'm trying to compile a list of possibilities.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:40 AM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by PitterPatter11
Groton is very nice.
I can ask my ILs if you want specific area about the region. The live in Ayer, but I would not recommend the area. They are empty nesters and moved there due to my FIL getting a job at MIT. They were looking for low taxes and a nice house, but I know the district is not good.
That would be great, thank you!!
We went up a few weeks ago and we looked around Groton, it was very nice. Little more rural in some spots but beautiful homes. Curious about the schools.
Do they like living in MA overall?
My college roommate built a home in Groton. She loves it there. Her DD is in 5th grade and her son is in kindergarten and she is very happy with the schools and sports programs.
And actually my other college roommate grew up there. Her family still lives there. She turned out okay!
Message edited 2/6/2017 11:55:31 AM.
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:54 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by FirstMate
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by PitterPatter11
Groton is very nice.
I can ask my ILs if you want specific area about the region. The live in Ayer, but I would not recommend the area. They are empty nesters and moved there due to my FIL getting a job at MIT. They were looking for low taxes and a nice house, but I know the district is not good.
That would be great, thank you!!
We went up a few weeks ago and we looked around Groton, it was very nice. Little more rural in some spots but beautiful homes. Curious about the schools.
Do they like living in MA overall?
My college roommate built a home in Groton. She loves it there. Her DD is in 5th grade and her son is in kindergarten and she is very happy with the schools and sports programs.
And actually my other college roommate grew up there. Her family still lives there. She turned out okay!
Awesome!! Thanks, appreciate the info!
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| Posted 2/6/17 12:03 PM |
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LiveandLearn
LIF Adult
Member since 4/10 1586 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Stoneham was a pretty nice area when I lived in Boston about 10 years ago. I had friends that lived there but moved to Lynnfield which isn't too far away.
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| Posted 2/6/17 1:10 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
I lived in Stoneham for years, and grew up on what is considered the North Shore. Stoneham is an expensive area but my car ins was super high because of high car thefts due to location for 128/93
Other areas to consider:
Reading
Medford (northern near stoneham border)
N Reading
Wilmington
Chelmsford
Melrose
Tewksbury
Pepperell
Groton
Winchester
Saugus
Lynnfield
Wakefield
Littleton
Harvard
North Andover
Woburn and Burlington I'd avoid, and Bedford/Lexington would be a nightmarish commute.
Going South to North on 93 will be fine, going North to South anywhere from NH to Boston I'd avoid like the plague. I did that commute for way too long
If you're doing 495 you will hit some traffic at the Lowell Connector coming North from areas south of Lowell
Looking at the commute times, where your husband works in Andover will be a factor too. If closer to 49r/N andover you may want to look at towns along 495, if towards southern/eastern end, then towns like N Reading or Wilmington will be a more palatable commute.
Message edited 2/6/2017 9:40:38 PM.
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| Posted 2/6/17 9:33 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by tara73
I lived in Stoneham for years, and grew up on what is considered the North Shore. Stoneham is an expensive area but my car ins was super high because of high car thefts due to location for 128/93
Other areas to consider:
Reading
Medford (northern near stoneham border)
N Reading
Wilmington
Chelmsford
Melrose
Tewksbury
Pepperell
Groton
Winchester
Saugus
Lynnfield
Wakefield
Littleton
Harvard
North Andover
Woburn and Burlington I'd avoid, and Bedford/Lexington would be a nightmarish commute.
Going South to North on 93 will be fine, going North to South anywhere from NH to Boston I'd avoid like the plague. I did that commute for way too long
If you're doing 495 you will hit some traffic at the Lowell Connector coming North from areas south of Lowell
Looking at the commute times, where your husband works in Andover will be a factor too. If closer to 49r/N andover you may want to look at towns along 495, if towards southern/eastern end, then towns like N Reading or Wilmington will be a more palatable commute.
This is GREAT information, thank you SO much!! I really appreciate it!
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| Posted 2/6/17 9:43 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Things to know about North shore and surrounds area of Boston.
-You're close to NH. NH has tax free shopping. Great for buying things like TVs etc. Nashua is a shopping haven.
-You're also close to Boston. Boston has fun things and some of the best hospitals in the world
-It snows more than on LI and is colder. You will hear things on the weather like "inside the 128 belt" and the like. Look at 128 (which is confusing because it is 93 in some spots an d rte 95 in others. Gotta keep it interesting) on a map and if you're in or out of it can be the deciding factor on how much snow you get. Typically, inside the belt gets less snow due, but that can also flip flop
-The commuter rail is useless for most trips to Boston. Just drive to Wellington in Medford or Oak Grove in malden and take the T
-I miss it, stilll.
-Unlike LI, there are a lot of hills. Hills are something to consider when you rent/buy.
-MA does a better job with snow removal and prep than LI.
-Stop and shop is the expensive grocery store. Hannaford is awesome if you have one. Shaw's is super pricey, and Demoulas Market basket are great for everything but meat (think Shoprite or Pathmark but a little nicer)
-There are 2 types of pizza joints- italian and greek. Greek pizza is thicker and oilier.. identifiable by usually having "house of" or "brothers" in the name
-They're subs, not hoagies, not heros
-Kelly's roast beef. Try it.
-Do the touristy things.
-The drive to LI isn't too bad, I did it every weekend while DH and i were dating
-there are a LOT of free/inexpensive things you can do. Lots of state parks to hike, trails to walk around lakes/ponds, public parks etc.
Sigh. This really makes me miss home :(
Message edited 2/6/2017 9:59:22 PM.
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| Posted 2/6/17 9:58 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by tara73
Things to know about North shore and surrounds area of Boston.
-You're close to NH. NH has tax free shopping. Great for buying things like TVs etc. Nashua is a shopping haven.
-You're also close to Boston. Boston has fun things and some of the best hospitals in the world
-It snows more than on LI and is colder. You will hear things on the weather like "inside the 128 belt" and the like. Look at 128 (which is confusing because it is 93 in some spots an d rte 95 in others. Gotta keep it interesting) on a map and if you're in or out of it can be the deciding factor on how much snow you get. Typically, inside the belt gets less snow due, but that can also flip flop
-The commuter rail is useless for most trips to Boston. Just drive to Wellington in Medford or Oak Grove in malden and take the T
-I miss it, stilll.
-Unlike LI, there are a lot of hills. Hills are something to consider when you rent/buy.
-MA does a better job with snow removal and prep than LI.
-Stop and shop is the expensive grocery store. Hannaford is awesome if you have one. Shaw's is super pricey, and Demoulas Market basket are great for everything but meat (think Shoprite or Pathmark but a little nicer)
-There are 2 types of pizza joints- italian and greek. Greek pizza is thicker and oilier.. identifiable by usually having "house of" or "brothers" in the name
-They're subs, not hoagies, not heros
-Kelly's roast beef. Try it.
-Do the touristy things.
-The drive to LI isn't too bad, I did it every weekend while DH and i were dating
-there are a LOT of free/inexpensive things you can do. Lots of state parks to hike, trails to walk around lakes/ponds, public parks etc.
Sigh. This really makes me miss home :(
This is really fantastic, thank you!!!!! This is great info to have as we don't know much about the specifics of living there. If you think of anything else, please share. I'm all ears!!! 
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| Posted 2/6/17 10:09 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
If you want to, PM me. I still have plenty oif friends in the area and can always hit them up on FB if you have specific questions on an area etc :)
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| Posted 2/6/17 10:12 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by tara73
If you want to, PM me. I still have plenty oif friends in the area and can always hit them up on FB if you have specific questions on an area etc :)
That would be great, thanks so much!!!
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| Posted 2/6/17 10:16 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
I'm only familiar with Boston/Cambridge and very close in suburbs. I do know that Groton and Phillips Academy are some of the best college prep schools in the country. Could you potentially teach there and maybe your kids can attend those schools? They will blow away any public school in the same area.
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| Posted 2/6/17 10:33 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Bridex100
I'm only familiar with Boston/Cambridge and very close in suburbs. I do know that Groton and Phillips Academy are some of the best college prep schools in the country. Could you potentially teach there and maybe your kids can attend those schools? They will blow away any public school in the same area.
I've heard of them. I really don't know if there are teaching opportunities but that might be something worth looking into at some point. Thx
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| Posted 2/6/17 11:26 PM |
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Otherme
Square head cutie pants
Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Im really only familiar with South Shore, but if your area that you're looking at changes, let me know!
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| Posted 2/7/17 12:34 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those familiar with MA - Town Info
Posted by Otherme
Im really only familiar with South Shore, but if your area that you're looking at changes, let me know!
Thanks!!
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| Posted 2/7/17 1:32 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Those familiar with MA - Town Info
I lived in Westford growing up. Was a tiny town back then but that was probably 35 years ago. But definitely nice and good schools.
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| Posted 2/7/17 3:54 PM |
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