Choosing a Boston area town to relocate (Newton, Brookline: sales, schools)

[SnowDay2011]

Friends of ours are looking to relocate from Santa Monica in the next 6-18 months. Money is not really an issue, I think the could afford to spend at least $1 Million on a house, probably more. Here is there criteria.....Any suggestions?


town in/close to boston with great schools
- public or private are fine for us -- just need to be good
- green/leafy town -- feels like you are not surrounded by concrete
- funky/artsy vibe (a la Venice) instead of stuffy
- on a t-line so we can get into city fast
- in Boston or north so we save time to and from maine

[kmann-sherborn]

I'm thinking Newburyport or Rockport.

[capecodcathy]

I second kmann-sherborn.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

I second kmann-sherborn.

Third

[gf2020]

People frequently ask about a town in the Boston area that compares to Venice and the truth is that there isn't one.

Venice has a population of over 40,000 people. For example, Newburyport is about 18,000 and Rockport is only 8000 people. Both towns offer some artsy similarities to the West Coast community but they are dramatically smaller with fewer amenities and services overall. That is typical of most New England towns. Boston has a population of 600,000; Los Angeles is over 4 million. Things are just on a different scale.

[Valerie C]

Given the information that you shared, I would recommend Newburyport and Marblehead. Rockport is a great little town, but being on the far-east edge of Cape Ann, it's not easy to get to Boston OR Maine. And while it certainly fits the bill of being 'artsy', I wouldn't consider it a funky vibe. I mean, until 4 or 5 years ago, you couldn't even order a glass of wine with dinner (dry town) and as far as I know, there are no liquor sales other than restaurants. Not that booze is a necessary ingredient, but... Newburyport is a fun town, with a great walkable downtown, lots of funky little shops all throughout the downtown plus along the route to Plum Island. You should definitely take a ride to check out NBPT for them. I can post lots of NBPT pictures if that would be helpful. And if they are boaters, there are lots of marina's along both sides of the Merrimack River where they can access the ocean from (although be warned, the mouth of the Merrimack can be quite tricky with the fast moving tides!)

Originally Posted by gf2020

Boston has a population of 600,000; Los Angeles is over 4 million. Things are just on a different scale.

Thank goodness things are on a different scale! Most folks I've worked with who come to New England from LA are looking to trade in the pressure cooker/elitist atmosphere for something less hectic, a little more down to earth.

[seeriously]

What's with the Santa Monica/Boston connection? First Whitey Bulger and now there's a hoard of ex Bostonians on the news who've relocated to Santa Monica. I just find this interesting.

[Beantown_mama]

I think Newton or Brookline would also fit your criteria and they are way closer to the city than Newburyport - which is a great town, but quite the haul into Boston. Marblehead is also a cute town, but no public transport to Boston. None of the above though help in the commute to Maine....

Have you looked into Portsmouth, NH? That is also a fun town but much further from Boston (but closer to Maine). Really cute town.

[Nanseev]

When I originally read your post, I thought Newton or Wellesley. After reading the responses of Rockport and Newburyport...I agreed with Newburyport, but wanted to add Marblehead.

Then I remembered the town I grew up in. Manchester-by-the-Sea. Ahhh...absolutely lovely.

Ultimately, the deciding factors are how close to the city you really need to be versus the north shore. In order to get the quaint feel that it seems like you're looking for (which I do think Newburyport is probably the closest), you're further away from the city.

I would check out:

Newton
Wellesley
Newburyport
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Marblehead
Rockport

I personally find Rockport too out of the way for my liking..but it may be what you're looking for.

Newton may be too city-like, so Wellesley might be a better choice.

I still think Newburyport and Manchester will be ultimately the best choices.

[nancy thereader]

I would want to be on the T line if at all possible. (I am relocating too).