I explored "parts" of Massachusetts Yesterday.

[DawnCt1]

Yesterday I printed off a few real estate listings for the addresses and price and headed east. My first stop was a large, hilly neighborhood in Hopkinton. Some of the streets had an individual appeal, others were just a lot of houses that looked essentially the same within the same neighborhood. I stopped to talk to a woman who just put her child on the school bus and told her we were considering relocating. She did point out that Hopkinton is a longer commute to Cambridge which I knew. I asked her about other towns in the area, specifically Ashland, Franklin, Wrentham and Norfolk. She told me that she was a snob and essentially turned her nose up at all of them. , particularly Ashland and Wrentham. I drove to another area of Hopkinton that had some older homes and then an area that had million dollar plus homes that while nice, didn't seem to fit into the environment. Out of our price range there. From there I headed to Ashland. I found it congested and too commercial so I didn't follow up on any of the addresses I had to see houses. Time was limited. I then drove to Franklin. My first impression driving into town was too commercial but I barely got through town when I turned off to the left from Rte 140 and found some very nice neighborhoods. From there I headed to Wrentham and Norfolk. I loved them both. They were more rural, treed but I didn't feel like I was "in the woods" like I did in Hopkinton. They reminded me of parts of Ct that I am familiar with. Then I headed into Foxboro but didn't have much time to look. I put Cambridge into the GPS. It popped up 26 miles and 48 minutes. I didn't drive it. From there I headed down Rte 27 towards Wayland. I liked every town on the way; Walpole, Medfield come to mind. Wayland is nice and expensive. I headed home via Rte 20 through Sudbury. When we lived in Marlborough 34 years ago, it was a nice drive. No more. Totally overbuilt and commercial. I wouldn't ever consider Marlborough now. I can see that this is going to take a long time. Who knows, maybe we will run out of time and end up staying in Ct.

 

[MerMom60_94]

Dawn, my DDs high school is in Walpole. I went to visit the other night and thought of you as I was driving through town. I don't live there but I think it is a very pretty community. Maybe next time you should go the other way on Rte 27 for a little bit. I have driven through Sharon and thought, like Walpole, it looked like a nice town. Good luck where ever you land. You may want to make note, if you are in the area on 9/26 there is a Dismeet going on. Details are on the Unplugged Podcast board.

 

[okeydokey]

Have you looked at Holden? It is really a nice area. Also W. Newbury (not Newbury) has a bit more of a rural feel with large lots of land.

 

[DawnCt1]

Believe me when I say this. I appreciate any and all suggestions!

 

[npmommie]

I know you think its too expensive, but I think you would be surprised at what you can find right now, but I still stick with my original rt 2 communities.
concord, lexington, even going out as far as Acton.........
they are nice, communities with a rural feel and easy commute to cambridge for hubby,

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I grew up in Westport and Dartmouth. That is home to me. LOL! Great beaches, Dartmouth has a little of everything in my opinion. Westport is smaller.

 

[DawnCt1]

I know you think its too expensive, but I think you would be surprised at what you can find right now, but I still stick with my original rt 2 communities.
concord, lexington, even going out as far as Acton.........
they are nice, communities with a rural feel and easy commute to cambridge for hubby,

That was his original thought. No doubt he still feels that way. He stays overnight some times at Hanscom AF for $35 when he has an early a.m meeting. Cheaper than driving 2 hours home

 

[3boymthr]

Walpole is definitely nice. Sharon and stoughton are also good. A little more expensive than Wrentham but also closer to Boston and each has their own train stop. I used to work in stoughton and there are some areas that are very rural. There are a number of working farms in the area. Same with Wrentham, Norfolk and Sharon. Sharon and Stoughton downtown are more commerical than wrentham or norfolk, but no where near as commerical as Franklin, especially if you don't buy right downtown. There are commerce centers in Stoughton and Sharon and Walpole - Routes 138 and 27 have a lot of stores. Plus Walpole has a ton of commerce along Route 1. But all of those towns do.

Also, I'm not sure if your religious persuasion factors into your decision. There are Catholic churches in all of the towns mentioned; if you are Jewish there are several temples in Sharon. I believe there is also a Baptist church in Sharon. We know one of the ministers at the church - her kids used to go to daycare with mine and she's really nice. There is an Episcopal Church in Wrentham as well as a Congregational church. Norfolk has the Federated Church and Walpole has a slew of different churches.

Norfolk will be becoming much more commerical in the not too distant future. If you went downtown you may have noticed that there is a giant moonscape off to the south as you drive down main street. From what I recall of recent discussions there is going to be a major shopping center going in there which includes a grocery store.

Wrentham has a major commercial center too - it's called Wrentham Village Premium Outlets and drives a lot of traffic on Rt 1A in the spring summer and fall and forget Christmas. Don't drive down that road on a Saturday.

If you thought Franklin was too commerical avoid Mansfield - the businesses are taking over the town. It's sad really.

I live right off Rt 140 and I will say it's a very good location with regard to the highways and train stations. But it is a long commute to get to Cambridge.

 

[okeydokey]

Walpole is definitely nice. Sharon and stoughton are also good. A little more expensive than Wrentham but also closer to Boston and each has their own train stop. I used to work in stoughton and there are some areas that are very rural. There are a number of working farms in the area. Same with Wrentham, Norfolk and Sharon. Sharon and Stoughton downtown are more commerical than wrentham or norfolk, but no where near as commerical as Franklin, especially if you don't buy right downtown. There are commerce centers in Stoughton and Sharon and Walpole - Routes 138 and 27 have a lot of stores. Plus Walpole has a ton of commerce along Route 1. But all of those towns do.

Also, I'm not sure if your religious persuasion factors into your decision. There are Catholic churches in all of the towns mentioned; if you are Jewish there are several temples in Sharon. I believe there is also a Baptist church in Sharon. We know one of the ministers at the church - her kids used to go to daycare with mine and she's really nice. There is an Episcopal Church in Wrentham as well as a Congregational church. Norfolk has the Federated Church and Walpole has a slew of different churches.

Norfolk will be becoming much more commerical in the not too distant future. If you went downtown you may have noticed that there is a giant moonscape off to the south as you drive down main street. From what I recall of recent discussions there is going to be a major shopping center going in there which includes a grocery store.

Wrentham has a major commercial center too - it's called Wrentham Village Premium Outlets and drives a lot of traffic on Rt 1A in the spring summer and fall and forget Christmas. Don't drive down that road on a Saturday.

If you thought Franklin was too commerical avoid Mansfield - the businesses are taking over the town. It's sad really.

I live right off Rt 140 and I will say it's a very good location with regard to the highways and train stations. But it is a long commute to get to Cambridge.

Ooooooh, my favorite place!

 

[SNylund]

You are totally thinking in the wrong direction, try further south.....to Florida!We will be relocating to Florida in the next year or so, can't imagine why anyone would want to "move" to anywhere else. Of course we LOVE the beach and that is the main motivation, plus Orlando. I can't imagine moving further inland.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I would give Marlborough another look. They are listed in the top 50 schools of Massachusetts. They also have several private schools and a charter school in the city. Carisbrook area, near the Sudbury line is very nice. You can easily find the house you are looking for in your price range. Im kicking myself that I didnt move there, but 10 minutes down the road, paying triple the property taxes.

Westboro would also be a nice place for you to look. They have many more of the neighborhoods you are looking for, without the commercial downtown area.

Keep in mind the GPS is probably estimating on your driving at 7:00pm on a Sunday night. It averages the miles and speed limits on the streets it will take you through. It doesnt know that grammy or 10,000 commuters are trying to get to the city M-F in front of you.

 

[beattyfamily]

Norfolk will be becoming much more commerical in the not too distant future. If you went downtown you may have noticed that there is a giant moonscape off to the south as you drive down main street. From what I recall of recent discussions there is going to be a major shopping center going in there which includes a grocery store.

I live in Norfolk and am quite familiar with the 'moonscape'.

They are only adding a Walgreens, which I think is LONG overdue. I was in HEAVEN when they finally opened the Dunkin Donuts a few years ago and now a Walgreens. I may faint when it opens.

No grocery store though. That fell through.

So Norfolk will have two chains soon; Walgreens and Dunkin Donuts...and our bank is Sovereign Bank. Oh, and we have a Mobil gas station. That's all I can think of. Not really commerical at all.

We would love a chinese place or an ice cream shop.

 

[Epcot luvr]

I grew up in Cambridge, right off of Harvard Square. I think Lexington, Concord and Carlisle might surprise you with regard to price. Whenever I hear Walpole I think of the prison. Good luck with your search.

 

[npmommie]

You are totally thinking in the wrong direction, try further south.....to Florida!We will be relocating to Florida in the next year or so, can't imagine why anyone would want to "move" to anywhere else. Of course we LOVE the beach and that is the main motivation, plus Orlando. I can't imagine moving further inland.

because florida is too darn hot in the summer!! lol
because everyone else is moving there LOL
just kidding.
florida is nice to me in the winter, thats about it. we lived there for several years when dh was stationed there, and they can have that hot humid summer weather.

my ideal situation is up here in the summer and down south in the winter

 

[DawnCt1]

I grew up in Cambridge, right off of Harvard Square. I think Lexington, Concord and Carlisle might surprise you with regard to price. Whenever I hear Walpole I think of the prison. Good luck with your search.

When I was little we lived with my grandmother at 139 West Canton St in Boston. Right off of Tremont St. I used to go to the Clarandon St. Baptist Church. I can't remember the name of my school however. DH thinks of the prison too when he thinks of Walpole. I then reminded him that we have a prison in our town! We just do not see it. Its at the 'edge' of town. The benefit? It keeps our property taxes down a tad. I have been looking in Lexington and Concord on line and to match my house in terms of property and amenities, we are up over a million. There is definitely a price shock even from 100 miles away.

 

[DawnCt1]

I would give Marlborough another look. They are listed in the top 50 schools of Massachusetts. They also have several private schools and a charter school in the city. Carisbrook area, near the Sudbury line is very nice. You can easily find the house you are looking for in your price range. Im kicking myself that I didnt move there, but 10 minutes down the road, paying triple the property taxes.

Westboro would also be a nice place for you to look. They have many more of the neighborhoods you are looking for, without the commercial downtown area.

Keep in mind the GPS is probably estimating on your driving at 7:00pm on a Sunday night. It averages the miles and speed limits on the streets it will take you through. It doesnt know that grammy or 10,000 commuters are trying to get to the city M-F in front of you.

I gave it as much of a look as I was willing to yesterday. It was extremely congested driving up Rte 20. I turned onto Hosmer St to see the apartments that we used to live in 34 years ago when DH was in school and I was working at McLean Hospital in Belmont. The skinny drunk with abdominal ascites staggering down the street seemed to fit in better than I did. The character of the town seems to have changed over the years and not for the better. Schools aren't an issue for us anymore, except in terms of resale.

 

[DawnCt1]

You are totally thinking in the wrong direction, try further south.....to Florida!We will be relocating to Florida in the next year or so, can't imagine why anyone would want to "move" to anywhere else. Of course we LOVE the beach and that is the main motivation, plus Orlando. I can't imagine moving further inland.

Actually, that is a near distant plan which is why I would like to not have a mortgage.

 

[PatriciaH]

You are totally thinking in the wrong direction, try further south.....to Florida!We will be relocating to Florida in the next year or so, can't imagine why anyone would want to "move" to anywhere else. Of course we LOVE the beach and that is the main motivation, plus Orlando. I can't imagine moving further inland.

Because There are 1 million + people out of work in Florida and even finding a $7/hour job is tough.
Beacuse electric, groceries, insurance and taxes are insane here. We paid less in MA and my parents paid less in NYC.
Homes are abandoned and some neighborhoods are empty due to everyone bailing There are even abandoned homes here in Celebration.
The summer is disgusting and gets worse every year.
The beaches are getting dirty and get Red Tide.
Orlando's crime is out of hand. Even in 2006 it was #13/300 in the country in violent crime. NY was #140/300!

http://www.crimetrends.com/id4.html

I like a lot of things about FL but love MA/NH too. Many people are leaving FL now in droves. Some out west, some back north, many to GA, TN, NC.

 

[sunnyday123]

If you move, would you change your name to DawnMa1?

 

[Lynn CC]

If your going to look in Cambridge which is a great area and I'd live there over the other places your looking at...why not look at Beacon Hill, It's the place where I LOVE the most of anywhere in Boston....I grew up there.
Both Cambridge and Beacon Hill (especially Beacon Hill) are very walkable cities. From Beacon Hill you can walk to the North End, Newbury Street, Downtown Boston, The Financial District, Chinatown, The Charles Street /Charles River Area you name it you can walk there in every direction. I can't say enough about it.People are nice, and right now there are some great deals on houses. Cambridge would be my second choice.

Why not come to the Cape! We could be neighbors

Good Luck on your search