Boston Nesties
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

Does anyone live west of Boston?

Hi! We are looking to relocate from the west coast and my husbands work will be in North Andover. Can anyone recommend towns that are nearby that have good school districts?We are hopefully looking to buy and would love to have a single family home with 3-4 bedrooms and a backyard. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Re: Does anyone live west of Boston?

  • North Andover (which is north of Boston) is a nice town itself. The towns east (aka the north shore) and south (Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield) of N. Andover are nice too. The north shore can get pretty pricey, so it depends on your budget. Avoid Lowell and Lawrence. Methuen is eh (good shopping center with movie theater though). Most of the towns along 495 south of Rt.3 are good too: Chelmsford, Westford, Littleton, Acton, Boxborough.

    GL! Let us know if you have more specific questions.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • imageMrsC968:

    North Andover (which is north of Boston) is a nice town itself. The towns east (aka the north shore) and south (Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield) of N. Andover are nice too. The north shore can get pretty pricey, so it depends on your budget. Avoid Lowell and Lawrence. Methuen is eh (good shopping center with movie theater though). Most of the towns along 495 south of Rt.3 are good too: Chelmsford, Westford, Littleton, Acton, Boxborough.

    GL! Let us know if you have more specific questions.

    Ditto all of this.  We live in Chelmsford and have for over 2 years now - we have no complaints.  It's a great town that's close to a lot of stuff and it has a lot to offer.

    image

    image

  • Also, if you don't mind my asking - what is your price range?  Just to have something for you to compare against, our house is just under 2000 sq ft, 3/4 bedrooms (technically 4, but we use one has an office), with two-thirds of an acre on a nice dead end street and we paid $375k for it in May of 08. 

    Also, one of my favorite sites for house listings in this area is www.nemoves.com

    image

    image

  • If you want to stay close to North Andover, I'd look in North Andover itself, Andover (expensive but great schools), Middleton/Boxford/Topsfield (all go to the same regional high school), Georgetown, and possibly Haverhill.  I would stay out of Lawrence and Methuen.  It's hard to say without knowing your price range, because a 3-4 bedroom home with a nice back yard can get pretty expensive in some of these towns. 
  • Thank you for all the helpful info! Does anyone know anything about Westwood? We are now thinking that we might want to live close to our parents in RI and then my husband would just commute to North Andover.Someone had suggested Westwood being a good town? We are probably looking to spend around 450k and would love 3-4 bedrooms and a backyard if possible! Thanks again!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imagejuly29bride:
    We are now thinking that we might want to live close to our parents in RI and then my husband would just commute to North Andover.

    I don't know anything about Westwood. But that would be a looong commute. Google maps says 52 minutes from Westwood to North Andover, but traffic on 95 during rush hour is pretty bad. It will definitely take him longer than an hour each way.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • That would be a horrible commute.  Horrible!

    If you're going to go south to be closer to RI, stay along 495 instead of 95/128.  The commute isn't as bad.  Hopkinton is a nice town, right on 495 and it's a straight shot right up 495 to N Andover.  Westborough is also really nice - that is where I grew up.  Also right on 495 and within 45 minutes of the RI border

    how close is "close" to your parents?  What part of RI are they in?  


    image

    image

  • My parents are in Narragansett. I guess looking at towns closer to 495 is better for both his commute and getting to Narra. He said that he wouldnt mind a 40 min(ish) commute...i know traffic can be awful though. I will def. take a loom at Hopkington and Westborough!! Thanks!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • You probably can't really look any further south than Hopkinton if he's hoping to stay 40ish minutes.  Even Hopkinton is closer to an hour drive to N Andover.  I live in Chelmsford and we have family in N Andover and it takes us a solid half hour to get to their house, with no traffic
    image

    image

  • Thanks so much for the help! I am sure Ill be back once we have it narrowed down!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I would honestly look to live closer to where your DH or you will work, as the commutes here can be unbearable. I live in Canton, MA on the south shore and visited my friend in North Andover on Thursday and it took me 1.5 hrs to get home in the beginning of rush hour. Hopkinton is a great town, but your budget won't get you a 4 bedroom classic colonial, but you'll be able to find a house there. Adding 2-3 hours onto the work day can be stressful, and honestly if your DH wants a 40 minute commute you are best looking on the north shore. Wakefield, Melrose, Reading, North Reading, Danvers, Beverly are great towns.

    If you are considering using the commuter rail that is also an added expense as well. We live in ZOne 3 and the pass is $163/month plus parking which is $4/day. Luckily DH works 4 miles from home so that is great.

    image The way life should be-
  • imageMrsT2008:
    You probably can't really look any further south than Hopkinton if he's hoping to stay 40ish minutes.  Even Hopkinton is closer to an hour drive to N Andover.  I live in Chelmsford and we have family in N Andover and it takes us a solid half hour to get to their house, with no traffic

    Us too...30-35 minutes on a Saturday to H's cousin's house in N Andover. 

Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards