North Attleboro, MA

[mtemm]

does anybody know anything about this area? we are considering a house there but really don't know much about the town. Any input, pro or con, is very welcome.

 

[Crankyshank]

Yes I know it VERY well. I grew up there (actually in Attleboro Falls which is a village of North Attleboro). Still have family there- my family has lived there for 4 generations previous to mine. My parents live 1/10 of a mile from the North/Attleboro border. I can probably get around town blindfolded In fact I was just there this morning.

It's a great town. Close to Boston and Providence. Access to great shopping, hwys, etc... I have 1st cousins that are either still in the public school system or just graduated and their schools were good. The district itself was ranked in the low 90's out of over 300 MA school districts. It's a definite improvement since when I was in the elementary school system in the late 70's/early 80's - my parents put me in the town's only Catholic school.

We call it "Pleasantville" because in a lot of ways it's very similar to the town in the movie Pleasantville. There's a lot of stupid small town politics that go on and narrow mindedness even though population-wise it should be considered a city. It's pretty expensive there. Taxes are pretty outrageous. There's been a huge population boom over I would say the past decade, which has resulted in some gaw-awful subdivisions. The ritziest neighborhood (lots of Patriots moving there) is actually right by the old dump which is still smoldering. Another one (cheapest house is $579k) is on tiny lots on landry ave across from the Martin school. no privacy and lots of traffic for that price tag. If you are getting a house for under $400k it either needs a lot of work, or it's tiny. My cousin is a contractor and has built a lot of the newer homes in the area. They're trying to cram people in as much as possible and are really sacrificing the local agriculture and charm in their greed.

If I could afford it, honestly, North Attleboro or Plainville would be my first choice of towns within the area (and I'm talking both MA and RI). It's a great place to raise a family if you can afford it.

 

[kelljacques@aol.com]

my dad lives there... I don't know all that much about it though.. I know they have every store that I can think of right around there!! resturants too!!

 

[CPM]

My BIL lives in Norton, very close to N. Attleboro, he was in NA but moved to Norton recently.
They loved it there. Everything Jenn said is right on!
I think it's great because you are close to two great cities, Providence & Boston.
Good luck.

 

[jan/cape]

My boss lives there. I'm sure he likes it because he is close to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro to watch the Patriots and The Tweeter Center in Mansfield to see some great concerts. Other than that I don't know much about it. Sorry
What town do you live in now?

 

[aprincessmom]

We call it "Pleasantville" because in a lot of ways it's very similar to the town in the movie Pleasantville. There's a lot of stupid small town politics that go on and narrow mindedness even though population-wise it should be considered a city. It's pretty expensive there. Taxes are pretty outrageous. There's been a huge population boom over I would say the past decade, which has resulted in some gaw-awful subdivisions. The ritziest neighborhood (lots of Patriots moving there) is actually right by the old dump which is still smoldering. Another one (cheapest house is $579k) is on tiny lots on landry ave across from the Martin school. no privacy and lots of traffic for that price tag. If you are getting a house for under $400k it either needs a lot of work, or it's tiny. My cousin is a contractor and has built a lot of the newer homes in the area. They're trying to cram people in as much as possible and are really sacrificing the local agriculture and charm in their greed.

Bingo!

I have a number of friends who have lived there from birth and can't afford to live there any more because of the cost of housing. But the schools are decent, it's close to both Boston and Providence, and it still has a kind of small town feel which makes it desireable around these parts. The town is sparring right now over moving to a more "professional" style of government with a town manager running it instead of elected, part-time selectmen. Like a lot of towns in this area, there are some pretty deep-seeded resentments between the old-timers and the newcomers. They get pretty ugly at town meeting time but it's no different than anywhere else when you have the major booms in population and development.

 

[mtemm]

thank you all so much! I really appreciate the input...it helps a lot.