Hey guys. So, i've been thinking lately that I need to get out of California in the next few years. Love Cali, however, it is not the most economical place to start a family.

Currently I've been with my same company for the last 7 years (Sept 28) and would like to continue with them. My parent company has 2 facilities out in Boston (Woburn & Wilmington) and am seriously considering taking the plunge.

With that said, i'm looking for any feedback from the locals as to the surrounding cities and recommendations for a young couple to buy a house and start a family.

Currently i've looked at the two obvious choices (listed above), however, i've come across another town called Menthuen? I'm liking the houses i've found out there for two reasons 1. Price 2. Curb appeal.

Can anyone give me any feedback of the area, or suggest other places to look for a middle class range?

I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong section.

 

i would stick with those two towns..methuen is ok...but is close to Lawrence which is old urban mill city..high crime etc ...car insurance also tend to be higher the closer you get to Lawrence. I lived in north andover for 4 years , Andover for a year and Burlington Ma for 2 years. You might also want to consider Andover & North Andover , North reading , Reading , tewksbury

 

Perfect! This is the type of response i'm looking for. Feedback for citities to stay away from due to crime, not so greats schools.

 

good luck if you do decide to pull the trigger, I live in NH now... some people do live in NH and commute to northshore wilmington & woburn can be done in 45-50 mins /Boston in about 1 hr depending upon where in S NH you are.. houses are cheaper but more $$ in property taxes, no sales tax , no income tax...but it you work in MA you have to pay the MA income tax..which is 5.95 percent...to use there roads so it all it how you look at it.

 

How is the commute from NH to Woburn or Wilmington? I dont' mind the driving, i just don't want to commute in traffic that whole time. Everything else is a bonus in most cases. Even though boston has a 5.95% income tax, that is quite a bit less than i am paying now here in Cali.

 

I know alot of people that have made the move from CA to either MA or NH lately. Everyone of them is glad that they did.

 

commutes can be touchy..honestly sometimes depends on the hour..typically when i was commuting to Lowell , MA from Exeter, NH i was averaging about 45 mins ...like any metropolis.. there is gonna be traffic...and i agree with Mike those that i have spoke with have like the move. good site to look at would be http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?regi...=-71.05159&z=2 to kinda gauge traffic

 

That's very nice to know!

 

I live just over the border from mass up in nh....my wife commuted to woburn for a few years...about an hours drive in traffic...nh taxes are lower in general...no sales tax, no state income tax, and MUCH lower car insurance rates...lower housing prices than mass too, but property taxes are higher.....very different ploitical climate too...mass is in many ways the california of the east....NH is live free or die.

 

Very true Zippy depending upon which side of the coin you ar eon...I have found NH to have become very conservative. I tend to be a middle roader LOL..i think thats how i drive too..get out of my way

 

All great points. We are still young (or i think), so i don't want to live super conservatively, but at the same time i still want my family to feel safe. I was talking with the girl and she loves Methuen homes from what we've seen on Trulia so far. We are planning on taking a trip out to Boston this coming year to get a feel for the area. I want to go to all the recommended locations I can to get a feel for the community and see the housing.

She has a dream of opening up a some kind of cafe or restaurant. She is an excellent cook who was born in Louisiana, so she loves her seafood and thinks Boston would be an excellent area to have something.

We both still have things we need to take care of here, so i think realistically, we can be out in the NE in a couple years max.

 

If you can afford it, Lincoln MA.

Waltham or Newton 2nd and 3rd.....esp if schools is a concern for kids.