Recs for small second home in coastal area for empty nesters (Boston: real estate, how much)

[rtt]

We've lived in the Southeast for the past 20 years although we're from the Northeast originally. We're thinking of downsizing our home here, and buying another small one somewhere in Mass. or Rhode Island where we can be near family and friends. We'd like a nice walkable area close to shops and restaurants ...The Cape comes to mind but I almost don't want to be that far "out" with the traffic....we'd probably live there 5 months of the year, Summer into Fall. Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

[CaseyB]

Plymouth? There are some cute areas on the South Coast, too.

[Dm84]

How much money are you willing to spend?

[BostonMike7]

What's your budget?

[tysmith95]

Newburyport, Rockport, Gloucester.

[GeoffD]

With infinite money, Portsmouth, NH and Newport, RI top my list.

I sail. I kind of like warmer water so north of Provincetown is less desirable than points south & west of there. Newburyport, Gloucester, and Rockport were good suggestions but the cold water and no destinations for sailing doesn't work for me. When I lived in Portsmouth, NH for a decade, Isle of Shoals as a destination got kind of old.

The 1% or less property tax towns on my list:
Falmouth, Ma
Westport, Ma
South Dartmouth, Ma
Little Compton, RI
Jamestown, RI

Slightly higher property tax towns on my list:
Wickford Village, North Kingstown, RI
East Greenwich, RI walkable to Greenwich Cove
Barrington, RI
Bristol, RI
Marion, Ma
Mattapoisett, Ma

Westport and Little Compton are quite rural and won't have your walkable to shops & restaurants. Falmouth has the summer Cape traffic issue but Falmouth to the Bourne Bridge isn't as awful as trying to cope with the Mid-Cape Highway.

I picked South Dartmouth but I'm from there so it was easier to simply go back home. I'm comfortable with the heavy Portuguese/Azores influence of New Bedford and OK with living a couple miles from a 20% poverty rate city. Unless you're buying waterfront, property prices are low because the local economy is a basket case and it's not easily commutable to Boston. It's great sailing, bicycling, walking, and pretty good beaches. It's an hour to Boston when it's not rush hour and 30 minutes to Providence so I have access to all the culture without paying Boston real estate prices. I'm walkable to a small harbor village with some shopping/restaurant options but most things require either a car or a bicycle.

Here's "small second home", coastal Southern New England style:

[rtt]

Thanks so much .Our budget 500-700k

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by rtt

Thanks so much .Our budget 500-700k

With that budget: Marblehead.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

With that budget: Marblehead.

yup

[robr2]

You could be in Manchester By The Sea for that money - and what a nice downtown.