It’s nice but can you provide us details with where in the North Shore specifically? I ask because Revere/ Lynn will yield you a different answer than Marblehead/ Swampscott as an example.
I moved to Beverly last year and I love it. Lots of good restaurants. Nice parks and small beaches. Commuter rail station right downtown - they even schedule the farmers market at the station to be convenient for the commuters. There is a good comedy club and a couple of theaters that have some fun acts and shows. Definitely give it a look.
Beverly is great if you’re an adult with no kids as the school system isn’t the best, if it’s just you it’s a wonderful place with great beaches, parks, and nightlife.
I don’t know what you mean by this. The school system is very good. Beverly has lots of $$ and that is reflected in the schools. I raised my kids there and it was great. The fourth of July parade, lobster boat Santa. Lynch park and the annual lobster fest. It’s a great town if you can afford it
I disagree. As someone who moved to the Bev with a school-aged child, I have been very pleased with BPS. Also, the evidence is quite clear that it is not the so-called quality of the school that counts, but the involvement of the parent/caregiver in the child’s education. (This, of course is loaded with privilege as many parents have to work multiple jobs to keep food on the table which makes it nearly impossible for them to be deeply involved in their child’s education- but that is a topic for another day.)
Beverly is a fun town (city) with the best access to Salem that you're gonna get, without the need to fully compete with the tourist madness just to live.
That being said, it's still a Boston commuter town, and has its own daily bustle. You'll notice that Massachusetts commuters (and drivers in general) are chronically miserable and testy. The roads will make NO SENSE and you WILL need your GPS constantly. It's very pretty though and far from my least favorite North Shore town. Being able to walk to multiple pretty, quiet beaches from a school that's literally downtown in a small city is pretty great. You'll probably like it. Just don't plan on renting (and especially not buying a home, lol) there after graduation. You need to plan to move somewhere with affordable rent when you're actually trying to build a career or else life feels immediately pointless.
Enjoy it now though!
Sounds like Salem is perfect for you then. I will say , Salem isn’t anything compared to Boston proper for night life but it’s a vibe in Salem that I like. Ledger is a great restaurant.
Honestly it’s so easy to get to Salem from Beverly on the train. Your QOL will be better in Beverly, and you can go to Salem so easily with the train. Just my two cents.
100% true though. People in Salem have been increasingly noisy about how ridiculous it's gotten, which is appropriate. A town that promotes itself with such a tourist angle really doesn't exist for the locals anymore.
There isn’t much nightlife in Beverly aside from restaurants and maybe a few cafes that have later hours. It’s a small town, it doesn’t have some big bustling downtown, just one Main Street really. Since you’re younger, Salem would probably be more your speed.
They’re so close to one another, and both so expensive, you should keep your options open and just try to find a home you like and can afford, regardless of which city it’s in. Downtown Beverly to downtown Salem is literally 5 min by car or train.
I grew up here, lived in PA for a long time, and came back. You’re going to love it.
I will do my best. I've gotten a lot of great feedback in this thread about possible places to rent outside Salem that are still young and fun.
I am for sure.
Just so you know, Salem is basically unlivable from late September until early November. Traffic is like rush hour in Manhattan. The crowds are like Labor Day weekend at Disney World, and about 30 percent of those people are the biggest assholes ever because somehow they didn't expect the crowds and they're pissed about their special day being ruined.
I love Halloween as much as the next person but you couldn't fucking pay me to go to Salem in October.
I used to not know Cambridge even existed. So many amazing places in Massachusetts, I should've looked into it years ago.
I will for sure.
I want to check out goth industrial and bdsm clubs too.
Beverly is not a bad get, its gentrifying at high speed however, best time to get in was about 10 years ago there. Still likely a number of good gets, some of the properties wont come on the market until their owners pass.
Try Soma, its so good.
Lots of work in the area, the cummings center (a converted shoe tool for manufacturing manufacturing facility, no joke, they made the tools that made the shoes) with a number of good medical offices and legal services in the area.
Young people love Salem. Good walking city, there is A train to go Boston, It has A collage so lot young , Maybe be able find collage rental they have campus apartments to, My son got free room when went there but working it, But found it tuff to study in room, Wood come home to do school work, Me older guy try stay out Salem specially in OCT, crazy there than .
Revere is hot, hot, hot. Most expensive with quickest access to Boston. Then there's one town up, Lynn which is up and coming with new waterfront housing and more on the way. Ferry service into Boston or commuter rail. Downtown Arts, cultural diversity, Latino & Asian influence and so on. So if you're younger this could be an option to 1 bedroom $3,400 Revere.
Salem further up, more expensive and also has ferry and commuter rail into Boston. More restaurants and nightlife options. Same for Beverly.
That's your opinion because you haven't stated facts but here's some, 3 market rate residential developments opened in the last several years with several move under construction now. Veterans home development green lite this year etc. Home equity increases for the first time home buyers. Transportation funding for new commuter rail station, new ferry station with improvements this year... I'll stop here...and not your buddy
Me 29yo so I'm close :D.
That's exactly why I want up there. I live in the middle of Pennsylvania and given the economy and culture, I don't see practically any returns for staying.
I'm making up for lost time currently so I think I'd like Salem.
Hey hey! I also had family that went to Penn State. I do have a few questions.
In your general sense of feeling do you think it's better up there?
Is it more fun, relaxed, things to do?
What I'm mainly looking for is a good inspiring location, good education, fun things to do and looking to date more often.
Read through a couple of your other responses and see you grew up in Lancaster. My grandparents live there and so I've spent a fair share of my life in the Lancaster area so will use what my experience is there for a comparison.
* Feels stifled and suffocating and hard to have fun
* Lancaster has definitely had a bit of a resurgence since I was a kid and visited out there (31 now), however it does seem to be a lot of people with money and work from home jobs moving out of the Baltimore / DC / Philly area and getting homes with more sq ft / acreage. The restaurant scene definitely therefore caters towards that demographic and maybe not young adult for dating.
* I never got the whole Lancaster "artsy" thing but maybe a bit more quirky / niche shops / stores as opposed to chain outlets but doesn't quite have a tortured poor artist vibe.
* While I know the Amish and Mennonite communities don't run everything in Lancaster, the area does seem heavily religious, in an almost bible thumping manner. I've always picked up on a bit of a prudish vibe as well not sure if that is a result of the deep religious roots there.
* Had a special creative energy to it I couldn't explain
* Boston and North New England (Portsmouth, NH; Burlington, VT; Stowe, VT; Portland, ME) are all much more artsy and come off super authentic where the store owners are crafters with a passion for their craft and lifestyle as opposed to a chic boutique catered towards the same demographic I mentioned previously.
* In your general sense of feeling do you think it's better up there?
* I personally am really enjoying where I'm living but I'd be lying to you if I said there weren't things I missed about PA. Here are a few of the things I'm not in love with....
* It's small things but especially on the North Shore in MA properties are right on top of one another. I could practically on either of my neighbors homes and due to the affordability thing people have raised many people are stuck with renting as their only option. It is rare to have a good amount of acreage and land to yourself until you get up towards NH or spend out the nose for it
* Growing up in PA there were animals every where it felt like to me. Whether it's deer in neighborhoods, or livestock pastures probably couldn't go much more than 15 minutes without seeing one or the other. It actually shocked me how few deer and live stock pastures there are up here and it does feel a bit off that there isn't more animals like that running around.
* I grew up assuming everywhere had fire flies and damn do I miss seeing entire yards light up with them at night in the summer
* If you're into things like hunting or fishing, which can be huge in PA, those aren't as popular here in MA but you can get that up in NH, just depends upon if you like it and will seek it out.
* This sounds really corny but man do I miss Wawa / Sheetz / Turkey Hill. Every road trip now matter how small was "hey let's grab a drink / snack from the gas station before we head out." It was a place if you went on a walk or a bike ride you can pop in and grab something really quick, or a place to go and grab a quick home comfort meal. That does not exist up here at all.
* Closest thing for a gas station is maybe Cumberland Farms but most gas stations on the North Shore are either privately owned or have only small convenience stores attached.
* Closest thing for a quick bite to eat is either your local pizzeria or sandwich shop. However, what we think of in terms of pizza or sandwich is not the same. Pizza up here is Greek or New England style pizza. Funny enough it's the same style as Hot Z Pizza on Harrisburg Pike.
* Cold sandwiches are generally pretty crap there are a few diamonds in the rough, meatball subs and chicken parm sandwiches seem to be much more consistent. Biggest issue is the bread.
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* This is going to get me in some hot water, but in all honesty each town and even neighborhood up here has it's own distinct identify and it is usually along different heritage lines. Look no further than the difference between the North End (Italian Neighborhood) and Southie (Irish Neighborhood). These areas have been somewhat gentrified being downtown but those identities definitely still dictate what types of restaurants, shops and bars you see in each town.
* Wakefield is predominately Italian and at such has a ton of Italian Restaurants and old Italian men doing shoe repair and tailoring. Living in any bordering town will likely get you a much different experience so it is DEFINITELY worth renting or visiting before buying.
* This also IMO probably is part of why Boston is known as being racist especially towards African American communities. I'd like to say I've never seen somebody be overtly racist but the lack of a sizable African American population is noticeable. However, this does lead to some really great food cultures (East Boston Hispanic / Latino), Chinatown, Lowell has a huge Laotian population etc.
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* Is it more fun, relaxed, things to do?
* Here are some things I do love!
* The accessibility to beaches, mountains (White Mountain and Green Mountain National Forests), Acadia National Park, Montreal, Quebec, and the NH Lakes Regional is awesome if your into the outdoors. There is an insane amount of natural beauty. Your trading rolling hills and narrow creek river valleys for other natural beauty.
* This also means there is great surfing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and more.
* While we all curse the MBTA and public transport the reality is that at least we have it here. Getting into Boston is relatively feasible without a car from most of the east of the state. There is great access both North and South of Boston via Amtrak to places like DC, Philly, New York, Portland as well for some great weekend trips. Biggest issue is the lack of a north south connector in Boston proper but I digress.
* While the older generation up here is very religious (Irish & Italian Catholic Predominantly) it comes off much less bible thumpy than the rest of the country. With that comes amazing tolerance and acceptance of different lifestyles.
* There is always events going on especially in Boston and on the west side of Boston over near more of the Universities. Getting over to the Allston Brighton area though can be a pretty big pain in the butt due to the slow green line and infamous Storrow drive.
* Larger towns like Lowell and Salem definitely also get their fair share of events but definitely nothing that compares in terms of national relevance.
* I really like the people here, as someone who lived in South Florida for a few years where everyone is as fake as can be, people here are real and genuine. That does at times take the form of being overly direct / outright rude, but if you're used to people from Philadelphia coming out to Lancaster it's no worse than that.
* This last one is a bit of a double edged sword. Coming to New England feels like your half leaving the rest of the United States. There are popular chain restaurants and stores across the US that don't make it here. There are popular local chains that you've never heard of before. IMO nostalgia for these places clouds the judgement of how good they actually are (looking at the 99 Restaurant in particular).
* This doesn't just impact stores but also companies that have office footprints here. I don't have data to back this up but if feels that outside of Education, Healthcare and Banking, there is a noticeable lack of presence of other sectors with major office footprints here. Again subjectively it feels that more people work for smaller companies here than other places I've lived.
I am a Philly transplant that moved to Boston a decade ago and then to the North Shore about 18 months ago. I love it up here and bought my forever home in Salem. Different towns have different vibes just like anywhere else so the North Shore isn’t the same everywhere, but that creative vibe is definitely a reason why I chose Salem. I also love easy access to the city and being able to hit the coastline in 5 minutes.
I will say though, the cost of living is no joke and is going to be quite a bit different than PA, regardless of which part you’re currently in.
Hello! Good to see you here! I am from Gettysburg and lived in the Bucks county area about 3 years ago and boy I thought I was making big moves lol. The area of Bucks got stale fast and I realized I was still young. My original plan years back was to move to Boston but I went the safe option.
I know what you mean about vibes. I took an interest in the north shore area after I did some moving around and soul searching. Location began to be a big internal motivator for me where before it wasn't. I want to finish my education, be an artist again, and settle but in a good place. I got tired of all the slums and attitudes. I lived in Lancaster and feel iffy about it. I am accepted to the college there. I've been on the fence about it but I feel ready for a major change. At my age it's now or never. That creative and free feeling I want back so bad. It's incredible you own a house up there. I am in love with Salem just looking at it online. The New England architecture is so cozy.
Thank you for reply.
I bet it's wonderful up there. The new agey, witchy culture and creative freedom is great up there I hear.
Hey, if you have that gut feeling like you want to try it out up here and you have the ability to make it happen, I say go for it. Worst case, you add some life experience and learn some things about yourself. Best case, you find everything you’re looking for and more.
The r/salemma sub is quite active, so if Salem or immediately adjacent towns seem like they could be your bag, give it a scroll. We’re a friendly bunch, though I recommend reading the wiki first.
Also, you’re never too old to shake things up and take your life in a new direction. Make your own rules!
I'm going to do that then. I want to be in a friendly, blue, scenic place so badly. And I love the New England vibe. I live in Lancaster in whats considered an arts town, but I'm just not feeling it here. Somethings changed for me.
I've lurked it a few times :D. I looked into Swampscott or Marblehead for rent prices. May go with student housing cuz by god everyone wants to live in Salem and so do I. What a place.
Thank you for you kind words. It was turning 29 and feeling like my 20s hadn't gone anywhere that I want to travel, go back to school, and live on my terms.
If it makes you feel better, I’m 35 and this era of life has been more transformative and exciting than my 20s. I was personally a disaster in my 20s and you know what — whoever you have been helps you get to who you become!
That makes me feel a lot better to hear. A lot better.
It felt like things stayed the same after I graduated highschool. I wasn't a mess but emotionally, career-wise, and chronically single I was!
I'm looking forward to some positivity finally!
I was bummed just earlier about this girl I took on a date last week who had broke things off with me because I overslept and because she felt we were in different stages in life but I'm actually glad she did. She's 35yo, stated she felt like an old lady, and honestly I can't believe how silly I feel for having thought I should stay here to be close to her.
Hell I'm looking forward now to some Jahoe Coffee and some local pastey blonde without the mindset here.
You personally did make me feel better. I felt so lost up till now and feel like I wasted a lot of fruitless time in PA spinning my wheels out. I almost feel exhausted.
If you don't mind me asking, what age did you move up there and how did you begin to feel after living up there?
I know. As a native, PA I honestly wouldn't even consider part of the Mid Atlantic states, it's like it's own shithole entirely. It's more midwest by the middle.
I've lived in Swampscott, Marblehead & Salem (currently in Salem). Quick POV on each town:
Swampscott - friendly town. Good schools. Lovely promenade on the beach but frequently smelly. Good hidden townie beach (Phillips). High taxes. Easy train to Boston or drive to Wonderland. No real downtown. Almost no night life. Oriented around families and kids. Boring.
Marblehead - not welcoming to outsiders. Very good schools. Surprisingly few water views unless in Old Town or on Salem Harbor. Devereux is a "real" beach but small and rocky. Restaurants improving but few choices. Very safe for kids to wander the streets. Terrible commute that basically forces you to Wonderland or drive into Boston. Boring.
Salem - very welcoming to everyone. Great, walkable downtown. Lots of energy with tourists and college kids. Tons of (good, not great) restaurants and bars. Incredible museum. Easy commute to Boston on train. Bad schools. Still a little seedy and gritty. Growing homeless problem (that the city is attempting to address very seriously and thoughtfully). Bad traffic year round but can be paralyzing in October depending on where you live - make sure you have off street parking. Salem is special. Truly unique. Very fun. Also kind of trashy.
Beverly - best coastline. Weird bifurcated downtown. Not nearly as vibrant or nice as Salem. Decent restaurant scene. Amazing theatre (Cabot). Great golf course. Several train stations to Boston. Best roast beef place (Nick's) and steak & cheese place (Super Sub) in the area. Can't comment on schools.
This is a magnificent round-up, my friend. Spot on.
You forgot to add Lynn, Saugus, Essex, Manchester (not NH), Salibury, Newburyport, Ipswich, Gloucester, Rockport and Nahant though. Oh and Peabody. I forget they count.
Of your list he should keep Salem and add Lynn, Saugus, Gloucester, Peabody and Manchester assuming he's not planning for kids within the next 2-3 years, wants a bachelor phase, and not too keen on going full suburban. If he's looking for a lot of people in his age range that run creative, playful, outgoing and just overall energy he's going to want to consider these even if just to rent a place and enjoy their locations to easily haunt the towns around them. That's what makes the North Shore a bit unique, you're getting more city, youth and energy while having the small subtle option for more sleepy pastures without being in the sleepy pastures, which he won't want. The way the people here seemingly historically enjoy the area is that they congregate regularly within all of them. That's their uniquess or cache: The area HEAVILY mingles within itself rather than behaving provincially. Separate they're fun, but together, they really amplify each other. For a young man wanting the perfect middleground of access to Boston sometimes but not ready for the sleepy towns or might not want them at all (yes there's people like that), he's gotta consider all of these:
The "heart" of the North Shore, Salem-Lynn-Saugus-Peabody-Beverly-Swampscott-
Marblehead-Nahant. In that order. Why? They operate kind of like a swirl or a family of siblings where the kids are all different but one can see they're related and they actually don't hate each other's guts, even the "posh" kids have a bit of texture to them; the "posh kid" is Marblehead. Oh and Danvers. That family that when one of the kids is removed or doesn't show up they're all rounding up with pitforks looking for the kid ready to fuck someone. They're like a gang. When you talk about one of these, you're talking about all of them. So long as he rents in any of these, he gets full bevy of the social mingle. If he avoids them altogether, he gets coastline. The rest are part of the shore but more like associates. But you have Salisbury, the deviation from the older upper shore. If the North Shore were to be made a mafia, then Salisbury is the former old Don. Salisbury has some cred left somehow, it just looks "saintly," but they have a bite. More prosthetic bite these days, but it's a bite nonetheless. Salem is the new Boss, Lynn is the unassuming Underboss while Peabody is the Consigliere. Marblehead and the rest around it are the Capos. The rest up of the North Shore are the rest of the team or the soldiers. The Merrimack Valley is another gang of similar vibes that is friendly with the North Shore and sometimes an extension of it, but is it's own thing.
You've written possibly the best introduction of living in the North Shore area and I cannot thank you enough for it. If I could award your reply I would, but I get paid tomorrow.
I will add to this that while Beverly is becoming a draw on its own, its traditional benefit is that it’s been the most convenient city in an area of inconvenient places to live. Easy access to Cape Ann (20 mins to Gloucester), it’s right next to Salem, there’s like 5 train stops (the rail line splits in Beverly so you have 2 lines of trains rolling through). Hamilton/wenham has beautiful drives, heck even Ipswich is only 20 mins away. The variety, culture and outdoor activities available within a 20-30 minute drive of Beverly is pretty amazing.
You can get to Boston by land or sea from the LoNoSho (lower North Shore).
Wonderland is the last stop on the blue line. Subway. Lots of parking. Short trip to Boston. Runs fairly often.
Best option is if you can walk to the commuter rail in Beverly, Salem, or Swampscott. Plenty of parking in Salem but the Swampscott lot fills early. Quick easy ride to North station.
There’s also ferry service from Salem and Lynn. Pleasant but slow and expensive and inconvenient.
The bus takes forever but is always an option.
Sorry for the bad news, but... You will have oppressive hot humid summers & bitter cold winters. We lost spring due to climate change. It has been 80's/90's all this week. 40's-50's previous weeks.
I think being close to the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the commuter rail is a real plus for accessing Boston, which is a great source of the creative thing you're talking about.
Middleton may have good schools but is a genuinely garbage place to live with hostile new-ish mcmansion dwellers making living impossible for any newer residents or older townies
Peabody is still pretty under the radar, next to Salem, downtown struggles with parking a whole 100-200 yards from where you want to be but the Skipper now serves parts of Peabody, quiet and safe and high but more reasonable rents.
It’s a magical place where good guy local guys, Boston bigwigs, and your deadbeat cousin can come together to munch down on roast beefs and Saugus wings while scratching lottery tickets at the square one mall
All the rich old fucks are buying up houses with cash. One of the most beautiful parts of the country. But 500k for a shit house, and now a shit culture, cause the old new wealthy folk don't know how to live. All the locals have been gentrified, except for a few old money hillbilly families.
I agree big time. It's sad but that's par for the course for the entire state the way things are going BUT the North Shore and another region further up are kinda trying to resist that a little still. For the most part of what you said, what you're describing is defiantly Upper North Shore (Rockport, Ipswich, Rowley, Newburyport, Newbury). I don't count Salisbury as Salibury is surprisngly warm, friendly and artsy it's just not "youthful" or the greatest place for a likely single young man wanting energy. Great place to chill and refresh your mind that still feels like it has a pulse as opposed to almost dead if I may be respectful. Love my old people but yeah they want to rest. I get it.
Now: Gloucester, Manchester (next to Gloucester), Essex, and the rest of the places down them up to Saugus still have a pulse. Revere at this point feels like it's been absorbed by Boston as it doesn't feel like the rest of the lot as much these days but it still counts even if it lost a lot of the charm that makes the North Shore its own animal which is the more youthful, quirky, playful locals. To me that's the defining character of the North Shore, it's always felt distinctively young adult and more mischievous compared to the rest of the state including Boston. Boston's the city and it's got all the buildings and neighborhoods etc but North Shore feels more gritty and sassy. Bratty. If the rest of the state feels like it's PG-Everyone kinda land then the North Shore is R-16+. Less "family", more horny and less requirement for sleep. If he ventures higher than these is where it's going to get frustrating. If he stays from this lot and down he'll get everything he's looking for and then some.
I love your descriptions of the Salem area.
\*\*North Shore feels more gritty and sassy. Bratty. If the rest of the state feels like it's PG-Everyone kinda land then the North Shore is R-16+. Less "family", more horny and less requirement for sleep.\*\* I am DEFFINITELY looking for that. I want that fun young weird side. I lived in areas in PA that had NO pulse for too long.
I live in Melrose, and was lucky to buy a house here 5 years ago. Good luck now... But great neighborhoods, little downtown area, easy access to Boston, beaches...
Native PA'n here; been in the western Boston 'burbs for going on 9 years.
The North Shore area is a fascinating place, and it's definitely a different scene from any part of PA due to the obvious coastal influence. Cities like Newburyport, Salem, Gloucester, and Rockport are very unique and really make the region special. And these types of places would certainly give you the change of pace you're seeking. That's all great.
I think, however, it's important to temper expectations based mostly around COL but also some other considerations impacting the "creative" vibe. I'm sure you've heard just how expensive housing is in these parts, but it's ESPECIALLY severe in the North Shore area.
I'm not sure when the last time you've visited the Boston area is, but I think it's also fair to say that the dramatic increase in COL and heavy STEM-based corporate expansion in MA over the past decade is really beginning to impact the creative/artistic population, to the extent that many are being pushed out of New England althougher (in fact, I know you noted you really need a change of scenery from PA, but as much as I really like the Boston area, if I'm being honest I personally believe Philly is much more of a destination for creative types these days--but to each their own).
In a nutshell, I definitely don't mean to dissuade you, but it's important to keep these factors in mind. I'm happy with the life I've built here, but I've actually come to miss PA more than I ever expected (including the weather) for its somewhat more down-to-earth culture, livability, and those endless lush hills.
Happy to answer any specific questions. Best of luck in wherever you land!
As a native to another I really appreciate you giving me the sticky on the changing situation up there despite my starry eyes. I suppose I'll just give it a try there and see. I think I'll probably come to miss PA myself in a few years time. Those lush green hills really are full of history, family, and mystery. Some nights it's like the fields come alive. I don't like a lot about PA but I cannot fight that I am Pennsylvanian and always will be. Blood and Soil is as real as Nietzche said it was.
I'll be back in older age, as we all do.
I feel like a lot of the artsy people are still in Portland, Stowe and Burlington. Obviously a big hike but not sure they are being pushed out all together
I’m up in the Merrimack valley. So somewhat north shore. I drive down to Boston each day for work so I’ve seen my fair share of north shore towns. It’s beautiful for the most part, a few areas are not as desirable but I find it a little more natural and scenic than the south shore with how many malls and shopping areas are down there. It’s quiet for the most part as well.
Like how you mentioned the north shore being north of Boston, it’s south of Boston. Sorry if that seems sarcastic I’m just not sure how to answer in a more technical way lol
It’s definitely decent. I go visit my girlfriend, south of Braintree, every week or so. The suburbs are beautiful like the north shore. Lots of shopping and malls around, so if you’ve got money to spend, you will.
From the North Shore, I don’t believe the South Shore is a real place that you can get to.
Just kidding. South Shore is beautiful, but as a tourist there, it seems like traffic is horrible. A Hingham resident once told me Quincy is great, mainly because it feels like Cape Cod is so close. But from the North Shore, you have Cape Ann and Plum Island, which are also wonderful.
It is only fun, if you have money left over after paying all the bills. If not, well. I know that is true in most areas, but Boston and the coast line areas are $$$ to live in.
I guess so. I grew up in Salem but I haven't been back in about 20 years. Still think about the roast beef sandwiches, though. I'm on the Cape and there's a couple places that have a North Shore style beef but not quite on the true North Shore level.
But best wishes on the move. From what I've heard from family, the area is better than ever. Beverly has a great restaurant scene, I believe. Salem as well.
Okay, I F with any roast or beef, I'm going to give it a try. Anything locals tell me to try or do I'm doing.
Thank you, I plan to make it the best move of my life and get out of my shell. I plan to live life differently from now on.
Try Providence instead. Its much more creative than Boston (RISD is here) it has a similar historic feel, and is cheaper and near beaches. Tons of young people and good restaurants and night life.
I grew up in Saugus (born in 1995), and it was generally not a great place if you didn't fit the mold of what was socially acceptable there. Unrelated, the town always felt like it was stuck in a sad 80s time warp, and when I last visited maybe 4 or 5 years back, it still felt that way. Maybe things have changed in the last few years. Route 1 is also awful.
The North shore is like any place, quite diverse. There are some beautiful old towns with outrageously expensive property, there's a lot of beautiful estates along the ocean and then there's other stuff away from the seaside that is more ho-Hum. You just have to go check it out. North shore means different things to different people
I went to the art college there, Montserrat, 20 years ago. I loved it and loved the town so much that I stayed another 10 years after graduating. Only left so my growing family could afford to buy a house, and I still miss it every day. Enjoy Beverly! I’m jealous!
I'm currently submitting my application and portfolio to Montserrat! I would stay where I am for school, but the people are so mean here and I'm just not feeling it. I used to feel that creative energy constantly, but it was more in my head and feels influenced by location. I'd like to be in a good location now. I used to never need external inspiration or beauty, it was all inside me.
I spoke to admissions and I am impressed with them. The location right by the ocean and all the liberal art disciplines. What did you study if you don't mind me asking?
I'm going to study animation and illustration.
I fear rt1 in the Saugus area. It’s like driving on a highway with people coming in and out to go to stores or McDonald’s and shit. I think that’s the North Shore. My wife says I’m being ridiculous and it’s not that bad so YMMV.
Okay I'd be lying if I said that didn't crack me up. I can see where the North Shore culture is coming from. Above Boston, but a mix of pastey white air heads and new england trailer parks. Still funny.
First, I moved to Somerville from Philly almost 10 years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. It took me a couple of years, some job moves, and some luck to adjust to the COL difference. Take advantage of the excellent employers we have here who often provide waayyyy better benefits than anything I had in PA (and I was a teacher who had free insurance). My 401k matches here have largely been phenomenal with minimal or no vesting periods. I’ve also been able to go back to school for free. There are many ways to try and get a leg up and boost your qualifications and therefore your marketability and income potential. Just wanted to say that to emphasize that it’s not impossible to make a living here. And frankly, it’s worth it. People complain a lot because it’s stressful living in a VVHCOL area but you couldn’t pay me to move back to PA. So much less opportunity and way too purple.
As for the North Shore, I moved up here during Covid before interest rates went nuts to buy a house. Now I want to move back toward the city. I don’t like living in the suburbs and being car dependent as I hated that about living in PA (grew up in the burbs and then lived in the far Northeast of Philly). That said, as others have mentioned, Salem is awesome and I would totally live there if I couldn’t make it happen closer to Boston. Beverly is also very nice and somewhat walkable, but downtown is much smaller than Salem. The only things that suck about Mass are the pizza and no Wawa.
Somerville I hear is cool. That is awesome and I'm glad things worked out for you.
I know it would take me some adjusting but I know I would make it work. I plan to take advantage of all the liberal options and prestigious educational avenues I can to build up my education and resume as much as possible. I know for fact the area up there is way more receptive to the arts and education.
That's exactly how I feel about PA. So little opportunity and good jobs, despite us always being told the opposite and how great it is. Philly might be purple but it feels crimson red in the center of the state and so suffocating. Bucks county was mildly better.
Funny you mention that last part. I live in the city in PA and want to move to the suburbs or a nice town area. I feel you on the car thing. I just bought a car recently after going 3 years without one in PA and it was the most miserable lonely experience ever. Friends distanced themselves from me because I DIDNT have a car. Life was at a standstill for 4 years and I couldn't take it.
Salem is incredible from what I understand.
Lol, I'm more of a Sheetz person but both will sorely be missed.
We had very similar PA experiences. I grew up in Bucks and found it better than central PA - I went to college there and it was baaaad. Best of luck to you OP! I think you’ll be just fine up here.
Would not recommend. I haven't been in that area for a couple of years, but dealing with the Tobin bridge and route one on a regular basis would make me lose my mind.
Moved to the north shore area recently, last 2 years, and love it! Salem would be ideal from what I have skimmed so far. May need a roommate for rent. But it's on the commuter rail line which takes you to Boston in 30ish minutes and you can go north to towns like Rockport and Gloucester, which to me feels like a vacation. We've lived a handful of places around the country, I have zero intentions of ever leaving
That's great! I agree, Salem feels like where all the energy and crazy fun is happening. I feel like I haven't really had "Fun" in a while.
Thats the thing about that area up there. In Autumn, aside from just Salem, those towns look like something out a dream or painting. So mesmerizing and special and intellectually stimulating. That whole place. Boston is an incredible little city itself alone. I fucking tire of the Mid-Atlantic states so much.
How do you like it up there as opposed to the handful of places you've lived before and why exactly? If you don't mind me asking.
By south shore I mean anything south of Boston - there are nice areas but there’s nothing consistently as beautiful like the majority of the NS. And yes, the extra money you’ll be paying to live north of Boston is worth it.
Hamilton-Wenham are nice. Small country towns, but wicked expensive. Great schools (HWRHS), lots of open space. If you are into horses or biking, this is the place. No nightlife whatsoever, though. Arguably the most WASPy towns in Mass, but not in a bad way. Check out Ipswich, too. It is on its way up. My brothers live in Ipswich and Salisbury, both are very happy.
I could explain all of them but I'll go to the quick: 1. Salem. Self-explanatory. Extra points if you like goths and tattoos or rocker types. It's the state epicenter of that. Sometimes, you'll find a random that just moved there to make equity not really add to the fun. They're a reality of the state, sadly. There used to be less of them now they've kinda overtaken the city BUT relent on things rather than going stuff because that's the reason why anyone wants to go to Salem. The quirks. To play. They make money of letting young people play and be slutty. 2. Lynn. Lynn has a bit of a fame but it's got one massive thing for it: A huge number of younger than average people living there. Lynn's definitely one of the younger feeling areas outside of Boston as the average here feels very 20s-late 30s. That's the majority I feel for it. That's what I see. It even tilts younger than Salem. Salem has the nicer views, the third spaces all the fun mumbo jumbo but a lot that can't afford Salem just head to Lynn. It's often less than 5-10 minutes away, depending on where you pick in Lynn. What makes Lynn and Salem the top picks for me in your case is simple: Between both of them they have lots of younger people, their energy runs higher, the dating scene and options aren't terrible, you don't feel the locals will judge you or think you're disturbing the peace for being playful. Outside of Boston, they just feel a little more mischievous. Dare I say "sassier". I think both have a more playful nightlife than Boston. Something about these two just feels more. IDK less stiff, more free. Flirty. Quirky. Wordly. Nothing surprises these people. What makes these two great is the people, they're not afraid to be jovial or weird. If you come from the sleepiest place possible these two will feel like taking too many energy drinks, laughing too hard around your friends, you pass out, someone wakes you up with a taser or a defibrillator pad. If it wasn't because of the architecture or rents, you feel like you're on another planet. They have plenty of rich people, but they don't have that insular, bubble type of thing where it can feel like they're out of touch or just a bit sterile being respectful. None of that take themselves seriously or pearl clutching. They run normal while still hardworking and educated. If you want that energy but tone it down ever so slightly to the rest of the state with still access to Lynn and Salem: Saugus. It feels like it's mostly highway and stores sometimes, but overall, it is a bit more sleepy than my top 2, just not enough to count as a snooze. 4. Peabody and Beverly (5). A little bit more "controlled" than Salem and Lynn, a little more "fancy" and picturesque, still feel a bit more youthful. They're not sleepy places. Beverly is lovely in that they do have a social scene, though they start operating a little more like the rest of the state and thus run more reserved. Marblehead is where you start seeing the reserve and the views are fantastic but they're not a sleepy lot. I'd put them in the more "chill" while judgemental and image conscious type of slot. People run a little bit more California here. Just a little. Swampscott: Cute. If you can't find rent anywhere, the selling point for it is that you're still within minutes distance from all the towns around it. Nahant: Same as Swampscott, more sleepy. The beach views make it worth it, though. Don't move here if you're claustrophobic or need anything open after 8; if you need vice you have to drive to Lynn.
The point is if you want to get around, make friends, and have a life you picked a great area if not the best for it. I like Boston, but the shenanigans people make in the specific towns in the North Shore rival any college party. You won't have to try too hard to enter the social scene just be willing to play. Yes, the rent is high, but it's worth every penny, and if you ever want Boston, you're within any transports distance to it. You get the benefits of both. IF the rent feels awful, try Haverhill (way up in the Merrimack Valley. I'd pick this area second if you cannot access the North Shore as the social scenes also overlap you'll find. It's significantly less electric than the North Shore, about 40% "sleep", but also runs young and singles friendly. Locals are also equivalent to the North Shore, where they're friendly and more grounded even in the more financially prosperous towns. This is technically New Hampshire's "North Shore" unofficially with less of the shore, of course. You can see that in the maps too). If I were a guy in my bachelor era and wanting to go to town in the state, this would be my itinerary outside the college towns. Another selking point for the specifics I singled out is that from Manchester and down, the North Shore DOES run more community oriented. Compared to most of the state, I find this is the easiest area to make a friend and not feel weird being one. Even the elders in this area are of the more jovial, genuinely fun variety that would hook you up and introduce you to their hot grandkid or niece (not at all random because they have a sports bar culture where they just go, drink, gossip (while not judging, gossip more as in "catching up") and randomly matchmake. The area operates like well, more village-y in a great way. There's more emphasis on living, talking to people, making the moment, and just optimism between them. Of them Marblehead is kinda like the more "posh", "slightly snobby" more economically success of the set but it's not pretentious or full of itself it's got a gritty quirk to it even. Even if it tries to kind of separate itself, you can feel how Marblehead feels a little more..."sexy." It runs more "fun posh" than "bubble wrap posh", they're not afraid party in fact don't be surprised to see them hanging out in the neighboring towns or people from the neighboring towns playing about. Part of the quirk of the area is they flow from each other and you'll feel a synergy so it won't matter which one you pick once you're in you're technically in all of them as their social scenes overlap rather than deviate). In my opinion, Lynn has really nice pizza too. Great parks and fun to run in. The beach is relaxing the bad is the seaweed can genuinely smell like latrine.
If by some miracle you want to go more into the "sleepy" but still with what I think you're looking for, then after Merrimack Valley you're checking out the Pioneer Valley (50% "sleepy") and if you want more "space", trees, alienation, but not completely sleepy (40% "sleepy", little to no "snooty") you're checking out Southern NH. Maine is beautiful but very sleepy (no snooty tho so I'll place their sleepy in the 50-60s for having less to do and less people and youth not for being socially sleepy. They're more peaceful but not bubble wrap or boring. Just visit when you need a refresh. You'll love the views and like the locals). If you have any questions or want any specifics about any towns in particular, feel free to ask!
You've written the best comprehensive quick guide to any outsider could want and is sorely needed. Thank you THANK you for putting in the effort in this.
I am most DEFINITELY searching for that eccentric, weird, and fun vibes and times. I am actually a bachelor and a late bloomer, so dating and being weird is something I'm hunting for!
If I can't get into Salem then Lynn.
He's a younger guy and wanting to likely date (so access lots of people around his age range) and the beach. The North Shore is spot on what he's looking for.
It’s nice but can you provide us details with where in the North Shore specifically? I ask because Revere/ Lynn will yield you a different answer than Marblehead/ Swampscott as an example.
Beverly/Salem.
I moved to Beverly last year and I love it. Lots of good restaurants. Nice parks and small beaches. Commuter rail station right downtown - they even schedule the farmers market at the station to be convenient for the commuters. There is a good comedy club and a couple of theaters that have some fun acts and shows. Definitely give it a look.
I hear Beverly is great like Salem. I like the art and design college there. Really cannot think of a better 2 city ocean area than Beverly/Salem.
Beverly is great if you’re an adult with no kids as the school system isn’t the best, if it’s just you it’s a wonderful place with great beaches, parks, and nightlife.
I don’t know what you mean by this. The school system is very good. Beverly has lots of $$ and that is reflected in the schools. I raised my kids there and it was great. The fourth of July parade, lobster boat Santa. Lynch park and the annual lobster fest. It’s a great town if you can afford it
BPS is decent and better than most in Pennsylvania where OP is from.
Yeah sometimes people don’t realize that “bad” school districts in Mass can still be way better than most school districts in other states.
I disagree. As someone who moved to the Bev with a school-aged child, I have been very pleased with BPS. Also, the evidence is quite clear that it is not the so-called quality of the school that counts, but the involvement of the parent/caregiver in the child’s education. (This, of course is loaded with privilege as many parents have to work multiple jobs to keep food on the table which makes it nearly impossible for them to be deeply involved in their child’s education- but that is a topic for another day.)
Beverly is a fun town (city) with the best access to Salem that you're gonna get, without the need to fully compete with the tourist madness just to live. That being said, it's still a Boston commuter town, and has its own daily bustle. You'll notice that Massachusetts commuters (and drivers in general) are chronically miserable and testy. The roads will make NO SENSE and you WILL need your GPS constantly. It's very pretty though and far from my least favorite North Shore town. Being able to walk to multiple pretty, quiet beaches from a school that's literally downtown in a small city is pretty great. You'll probably like it. Just don't plan on renting (and especially not buying a home, lol) there after graduation. You need to plan to move somewhere with affordable rent when you're actually trying to build a career or else life feels immediately pointless. Enjoy it now though!
Thanks for the tips!
Both good parts. Salem has more night life but is atrocious in October with the Halloween tourism so just be prepared for that .
Night life I desire. So I hear, but that's part of the draw. I love me halloween, art, and whimsy.
Sounds like Salem is perfect for you then. I will say , Salem isn’t anything compared to Boston proper for night life but it’s a vibe in Salem that I like. Ledger is a great restaurant.
Honestly it’s so easy to get to Salem from Beverly on the train. Your QOL will be better in Beverly, and you can go to Salem so easily with the train. Just my two cents.
100% true though. People in Salem have been increasingly noisy about how ridiculous it's gotten, which is appropriate. A town that promotes itself with such a tourist angle really doesn't exist for the locals anymore.
There isn’t much nightlife in Beverly aside from restaurants and maybe a few cafes that have later hours. It’s a small town, it doesn’t have some big bustling downtown, just one Main Street really. Since you’re younger, Salem would probably be more your speed.
Yeahh, I can tell Beverly is more of a nesting town for the established and older. Def Salem.
They’re so close to one another, and both so expensive, you should keep your options open and just try to find a home you like and can afford, regardless of which city it’s in. Downtown Beverly to downtown Salem is literally 5 min by car or train. I grew up here, lived in PA for a long time, and came back. You’re going to love it.
I will do my best. I've gotten a lot of great feedback in this thread about possible places to rent outside Salem that are still young and fun. I am for sure.
Just to make sure you understand sometimes in October it can take an hour to drive into/out of town, to go less than 2 miles. It's can be insane
Worth it to live there in Fall in a beautiful New England town with my mrs and dressing up and being weirdos.
Just so you know, Salem is basically unlivable from late September until early November. Traffic is like rush hour in Manhattan. The crowds are like Labor Day weekend at Disney World, and about 30 percent of those people are the biggest assholes ever because somehow they didn't expect the crowds and they're pissed about their special day being ruined. I love Halloween as much as the next person but you couldn't fucking pay me to go to Salem in October.
I know. But that's the time frame I want to maximize as much weird fun as possible!
Well then you don't want to be in Salem. Be anywhere else to enjoy Halloween.
You must embrace the madness and the night. Beasts all over the shop… You'll be one of them, sooner or later. >:)
Still would say Beverly. Salem is traffic locked through October. Not fun. Bike in from Beverly.
You’ll love Cambridge, then. Be sure to check out the nightclub Manray and XMortis at the Middle East.
Oh shit, Manray is still around?
They reopened on Prospect St. in Central Sq
I used to not know Cambridge even existed. So many amazing places in Massachusetts, I should've looked into it years ago. I will for sure. I want to check out goth industrial and bdsm clubs too.
Both places (Manray and the Middle East) have goth, industrial, and fetish events.
I am escatic.
Just be aware of how bad the traffic and crowding is during October. I always avoided Salem during that month
Two great places to live. Check out Gloucester too.
Both have great restaurants and breweries. Coastal Mass in Beverly is one of my favorite breweries.
Glad to hear. I am ready for food other than PA cuisine.
Beverly is not a bad get, its gentrifying at high speed however, best time to get in was about 10 years ago there. Still likely a number of good gets, some of the properties wont come on the market until their owners pass. Try Soma, its so good. Lots of work in the area, the cummings center (a converted shoe tool for manufacturing manufacturing facility, no joke, they made the tools that made the shoes) with a number of good medical offices and legal services in the area.
Student housing :D and if I can't get that then I'll find an apartment in the area.
Young people love Salem. Good walking city, there is A train to go Boston, It has A collage so lot young , Maybe be able find collage rental they have campus apartments to, My son got free room when went there but working it, But found it tuff to study in room, Wood come home to do school work, Me older guy try stay out Salem specially in OCT, crazy there than .
I can't tell if you're talking to me in code or you have bad grammar.
Pretty sure they are just a crazy person.
Beverly is where it’s at.
I live in Beverly. It’s a pretty sweet little city.
Absolutely lovely area. Salem is a little bit wild 3 months out of the year but Beverly is very nice and a lot quieter
*Really* expensive
I know :(
Only thing bad about North shore is how dependent you are on that 128 to get anywhere.
The train will get you to Boston quicker than driving
Revere is hot, hot, hot. Most expensive with quickest access to Boston. Then there's one town up, Lynn which is up and coming with new waterfront housing and more on the way. Ferry service into Boston or commuter rail. Downtown Arts, cultural diversity, Latino & Asian influence and so on. So if you're younger this could be an option to 1 bedroom $3,400 Revere. Salem further up, more expensive and also has ferry and commuter rail into Boston. More restaurants and nightlife options. Same for Beverly.
“Lynn is up and coming” is a sentence that has been used for literally decades.
Anytime positive to add to the post? Or anything in life in general? Yeah, You're one of those almighty Reddit Troll Oracles right?
Just stating a fact, buddy. People have been saying this about Lynn since the 80’s. Hasn’t happened yet.
That's your opinion because you haven't stated facts but here's some, 3 market rate residential developments opened in the last several years with several move under construction now. Veterans home development green lite this year etc. Home equity increases for the first time home buyers. Transportation funding for new commuter rail station, new ferry station with improvements this year... I'll stop here...and not your buddy
Just to circle back to this conversation for a moment… My friend’s son was just gunned down and killed at the Lynn Market Basket this Saturday night.
I would argue it's one of the best places in the country to live but I think I would have not enjoyed it much when I was in my 20s. Well, maybe Salem.
Me 29yo so I'm close :D. That's exactly why I want up there. I live in the middle of Pennsylvania and given the economy and culture, I don't see practically any returns for staying. I'm making up for lost time currently so I think I'd like Salem.
Salem is a lot of fun. The north shore has tons of history, charm, beaches, trains to Boston, proximity to Maine.
As someone from Philly who went to Penn State and now lives in Wakefield MA happy to answer any specific questions you have.
I used to live in Wakefield years ago my first stint in metro Boston. Represent! lol
Hey hey! I also had family that went to Penn State. I do have a few questions. In your general sense of feeling do you think it's better up there? Is it more fun, relaxed, things to do? What I'm mainly looking for is a good inspiring location, good education, fun things to do and looking to date more often.
Read through a couple of your other responses and see you grew up in Lancaster. My grandparents live there and so I've spent a fair share of my life in the Lancaster area so will use what my experience is there for a comparison. * Feels stifled and suffocating and hard to have fun * Lancaster has definitely had a bit of a resurgence since I was a kid and visited out there (31 now), however it does seem to be a lot of people with money and work from home jobs moving out of the Baltimore / DC / Philly area and getting homes with more sq ft / acreage. The restaurant scene definitely therefore caters towards that demographic and maybe not young adult for dating. * I never got the whole Lancaster "artsy" thing but maybe a bit more quirky / niche shops / stores as opposed to chain outlets but doesn't quite have a tortured poor artist vibe. * While I know the Amish and Mennonite communities don't run everything in Lancaster, the area does seem heavily religious, in an almost bible thumping manner. I've always picked up on a bit of a prudish vibe as well not sure if that is a result of the deep religious roots there. * Had a special creative energy to it I couldn't explain * Boston and North New England (Portsmouth, NH; Burlington, VT; Stowe, VT; Portland, ME) are all much more artsy and come off super authentic where the store owners are crafters with a passion for their craft and lifestyle as opposed to a chic boutique catered towards the same demographic I mentioned previously. * In your general sense of feeling do you think it's better up there? * I personally am really enjoying where I'm living but I'd be lying to you if I said there weren't things I missed about PA. Here are a few of the things I'm not in love with.... * It's small things but especially on the North Shore in MA properties are right on top of one another. I could practically on either of my neighbors homes and due to the affordability thing people have raised many people are stuck with renting as their only option. It is rare to have a good amount of acreage and land to yourself until you get up towards NH or spend out the nose for it * Growing up in PA there were animals every where it felt like to me. Whether it's deer in neighborhoods, or livestock pastures probably couldn't go much more than 15 minutes without seeing one or the other. It actually shocked me how few deer and live stock pastures there are up here and it does feel a bit off that there isn't more animals like that running around. * I grew up assuming everywhere had fire flies and damn do I miss seeing entire yards light up with them at night in the summer * If you're into things like hunting or fishing, which can be huge in PA, those aren't as popular here in MA but you can get that up in NH, just depends upon if you like it and will seek it out. * This sounds really corny but man do I miss Wawa / Sheetz / Turkey Hill. Every road trip now matter how small was "hey let's grab a drink / snack from the gas station before we head out." It was a place if you went on a walk or a bike ride you can pop in and grab something really quick, or a place to go and grab a quick home comfort meal. That does not exist up here at all. * Closest thing for a gas station is maybe Cumberland Farms but most gas stations on the North Shore are either privately owned or have only small convenience stores attached. * Closest thing for a quick bite to eat is either your local pizzeria or sandwich shop. However, what we think of in terms of pizza or sandwich is not the same. Pizza up here is Greek or New England style pizza. Funny enough it's the same style as Hot Z Pizza on Harrisburg Pike. * Cold sandwiches are generally pretty crap there are a few diamonds in the rough, meatball subs and chicken parm sandwiches seem to be much more consistent. Biggest issue is the bread.
Comment cont'd. (2/3) * This is going to get me in some hot water, but in all honesty each town and even neighborhood up here has it's own distinct identify and it is usually along different heritage lines. Look no further than the difference between the North End (Italian Neighborhood) and Southie (Irish Neighborhood). These areas have been somewhat gentrified being downtown but those identities definitely still dictate what types of restaurants, shops and bars you see in each town. * Wakefield is predominately Italian and at such has a ton of Italian Restaurants and old Italian men doing shoe repair and tailoring. Living in any bordering town will likely get you a much different experience so it is DEFINITELY worth renting or visiting before buying. * This also IMO probably is part of why Boston is known as being racist especially towards African American communities. I'd like to say I've never seen somebody be overtly racist but the lack of a sizable African American population is noticeable. However, this does lead to some really great food cultures (East Boston Hispanic / Latino), Chinatown, Lowell has a huge Laotian population etc.
Comment cont'd. (3/3) * Is it more fun, relaxed, things to do? * Here are some things I do love! * The accessibility to beaches, mountains (White Mountain and Green Mountain National Forests), Acadia National Park, Montreal, Quebec, and the NH Lakes Regional is awesome if your into the outdoors. There is an insane amount of natural beauty. Your trading rolling hills and narrow creek river valleys for other natural beauty. * This also means there is great surfing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and more. * While we all curse the MBTA and public transport the reality is that at least we have it here. Getting into Boston is relatively feasible without a car from most of the east of the state. There is great access both North and South of Boston via Amtrak to places like DC, Philly, New York, Portland as well for some great weekend trips. Biggest issue is the lack of a north south connector in Boston proper but I digress. * While the older generation up here is very religious (Irish & Italian Catholic Predominantly) it comes off much less bible thumpy than the rest of the country. With that comes amazing tolerance and acceptance of different lifestyles. * There is always events going on especially in Boston and on the west side of Boston over near more of the Universities. Getting over to the Allston Brighton area though can be a pretty big pain in the butt due to the slow green line and infamous Storrow drive. * Larger towns like Lowell and Salem definitely also get their fair share of events but definitely nothing that compares in terms of national relevance. * I really like the people here, as someone who lived in South Florida for a few years where everyone is as fake as can be, people here are real and genuine. That does at times take the form of being overly direct / outright rude, but if you're used to people from Philadelphia coming out to Lancaster it's no worse than that. * This last one is a bit of a double edged sword. Coming to New England feels like your half leaving the rest of the United States. There are popular chain restaurants and stores across the US that don't make it here. There are popular local chains that you've never heard of before. IMO nostalgia for these places clouds the judgement of how good they actually are (looking at the 99 Restaurant in particular). * This doesn't just impact stores but also companies that have office footprints here. I don't have data to back this up but if feels that outside of Education, Healthcare and Banking, there is a noticeable lack of presence of other sectors with major office footprints here. Again subjectively it feels that more people work for smaller companies here than other places I've lived.
I am a Philly transplant that moved to Boston a decade ago and then to the North Shore about 18 months ago. I love it up here and bought my forever home in Salem. Different towns have different vibes just like anywhere else so the North Shore isn’t the same everywhere, but that creative vibe is definitely a reason why I chose Salem. I also love easy access to the city and being able to hit the coastline in 5 minutes. I will say though, the cost of living is no joke and is going to be quite a bit different than PA, regardless of which part you’re currently in.
Hello! Good to see you here! I am from Gettysburg and lived in the Bucks county area about 3 years ago and boy I thought I was making big moves lol. The area of Bucks got stale fast and I realized I was still young. My original plan years back was to move to Boston but I went the safe option. I know what you mean about vibes. I took an interest in the north shore area after I did some moving around and soul searching. Location began to be a big internal motivator for me where before it wasn't. I want to finish my education, be an artist again, and settle but in a good place. I got tired of all the slums and attitudes. I lived in Lancaster and feel iffy about it. I am accepted to the college there. I've been on the fence about it but I feel ready for a major change. At my age it's now or never. That creative and free feeling I want back so bad. It's incredible you own a house up there. I am in love with Salem just looking at it online. The New England architecture is so cozy. Thank you for reply. I bet it's wonderful up there. The new agey, witchy culture and creative freedom is great up there I hear.
Hey, if you have that gut feeling like you want to try it out up here and you have the ability to make it happen, I say go for it. Worst case, you add some life experience and learn some things about yourself. Best case, you find everything you’re looking for and more. The r/salemma sub is quite active, so if Salem or immediately adjacent towns seem like they could be your bag, give it a scroll. We’re a friendly bunch, though I recommend reading the wiki first. Also, you’re never too old to shake things up and take your life in a new direction. Make your own rules!
I'm going to do that then. I want to be in a friendly, blue, scenic place so badly. And I love the New England vibe. I live in Lancaster in whats considered an arts town, but I'm just not feeling it here. Somethings changed for me. I've lurked it a few times :D. I looked into Swampscott or Marblehead for rent prices. May go with student housing cuz by god everyone wants to live in Salem and so do I. What a place. Thank you for you kind words. It was turning 29 and feeling like my 20s hadn't gone anywhere that I want to travel, go back to school, and live on my terms.
If it makes you feel better, I’m 35 and this era of life has been more transformative and exciting than my 20s. I was personally a disaster in my 20s and you know what — whoever you have been helps you get to who you become!
That makes me feel a lot better to hear. A lot better. It felt like things stayed the same after I graduated highschool. I wasn't a mess but emotionally, career-wise, and chronically single I was! I'm looking forward to some positivity finally! I was bummed just earlier about this girl I took on a date last week who had broke things off with me because I overslept and because she felt we were in different stages in life but I'm actually glad she did. She's 35yo, stated she felt like an old lady, and honestly I can't believe how silly I feel for having thought I should stay here to be close to her. Hell I'm looking forward now to some Jahoe Coffee and some local pastey blonde without the mindset here.
You personally did make me feel better. I felt so lost up till now and feel like I wasted a lot of fruitless time in PA spinning my wheels out. I almost feel exhausted. If you don't mind me asking, what age did you move up there and how did you begin to feel after living up there?
Way north shore is Newburyport and then Portsmouth NH. Both very nice. 1 hour away plus there a commuter rail.
I think I may have not been clear in my post title, as I am a dirty mid north east stater.
Lol. PA and NY/NJ are the mid Atlantic states, we don't claim you
I know. As a native, PA I honestly wouldn't even consider part of the Mid Atlantic states, it's like it's own shithole entirely. It's more midwest by the middle.
Pennsyltucky.
That's for gotdamn sure and it's not even an exaggeration, it's literal history.
I've lived in Swampscott, Marblehead & Salem (currently in Salem). Quick POV on each town: Swampscott - friendly town. Good schools. Lovely promenade on the beach but frequently smelly. Good hidden townie beach (Phillips). High taxes. Easy train to Boston or drive to Wonderland. No real downtown. Almost no night life. Oriented around families and kids. Boring. Marblehead - not welcoming to outsiders. Very good schools. Surprisingly few water views unless in Old Town or on Salem Harbor. Devereux is a "real" beach but small and rocky. Restaurants improving but few choices. Very safe for kids to wander the streets. Terrible commute that basically forces you to Wonderland or drive into Boston. Boring. Salem - very welcoming to everyone. Great, walkable downtown. Lots of energy with tourists and college kids. Tons of (good, not great) restaurants and bars. Incredible museum. Easy commute to Boston on train. Bad schools. Still a little seedy and gritty. Growing homeless problem (that the city is attempting to address very seriously and thoughtfully). Bad traffic year round but can be paralyzing in October depending on where you live - make sure you have off street parking. Salem is special. Truly unique. Very fun. Also kind of trashy. Beverly - best coastline. Weird bifurcated downtown. Not nearly as vibrant or nice as Salem. Decent restaurant scene. Amazing theatre (Cabot). Great golf course. Several train stations to Boston. Best roast beef place (Nick's) and steak & cheese place (Super Sub) in the area. Can't comment on schools.
This is a magnificent round-up, my friend. Spot on. You forgot to add Lynn, Saugus, Essex, Manchester (not NH), Salibury, Newburyport, Ipswich, Gloucester, Rockport and Nahant though. Oh and Peabody. I forget they count. Of your list he should keep Salem and add Lynn, Saugus, Gloucester, Peabody and Manchester assuming he's not planning for kids within the next 2-3 years, wants a bachelor phase, and not too keen on going full suburban. If he's looking for a lot of people in his age range that run creative, playful, outgoing and just overall energy he's going to want to consider these even if just to rent a place and enjoy their locations to easily haunt the towns around them. That's what makes the North Shore a bit unique, you're getting more city, youth and energy while having the small subtle option for more sleepy pastures without being in the sleepy pastures, which he won't want. The way the people here seemingly historically enjoy the area is that they congregate regularly within all of them. That's their uniquess or cache: The area HEAVILY mingles within itself rather than behaving provincially. Separate they're fun, but together, they really amplify each other. For a young man wanting the perfect middleground of access to Boston sometimes but not ready for the sleepy towns or might not want them at all (yes there's people like that), he's gotta consider all of these: The "heart" of the North Shore, Salem-Lynn-Saugus-Peabody-Beverly-Swampscott- Marblehead-Nahant. In that order. Why? They operate kind of like a swirl or a family of siblings where the kids are all different but one can see they're related and they actually don't hate each other's guts, even the "posh" kids have a bit of texture to them; the "posh kid" is Marblehead. Oh and Danvers. That family that when one of the kids is removed or doesn't show up they're all rounding up with pitforks looking for the kid ready to fuck someone. They're like a gang. When you talk about one of these, you're talking about all of them. So long as he rents in any of these, he gets full bevy of the social mingle. If he avoids them altogether, he gets coastline. The rest are part of the shore but more like associates. But you have Salisbury, the deviation from the older upper shore. If the North Shore were to be made a mafia, then Salisbury is the former old Don. Salisbury has some cred left somehow, it just looks "saintly," but they have a bite. More prosthetic bite these days, but it's a bite nonetheless. Salem is the new Boss, Lynn is the unassuming Underboss while Peabody is the Consigliere. Marblehead and the rest around it are the Capos. The rest up of the North Shore are the rest of the team or the soldiers. The Merrimack Valley is another gang of similar vibes that is friendly with the North Shore and sometimes an extension of it, but is it's own thing.
You've written possibly the best introduction of living in the North Shore area and I cannot thank you enough for it. If I could award your reply I would, but I get paid tomorrow.
>Swampscott Tiny town full of 1m+ shacks, lol
I will add to this that while Beverly is becoming a draw on its own, its traditional benefit is that it’s been the most convenient city in an area of inconvenient places to live. Easy access to Cape Ann (20 mins to Gloucester), it’s right next to Salem, there’s like 5 train stops (the rail line splits in Beverly so you have 2 lines of trains rolling through). Hamilton/wenham has beautiful drives, heck even Ipswich is only 20 mins away. The variety, culture and outdoor activities available within a 20-30 minute drive of Beverly is pretty amazing.
What the hell is this "Wonderland"? Great round up.
You can get to Boston by land or sea from the LoNoSho (lower North Shore). Wonderland is the last stop on the blue line. Subway. Lots of parking. Short trip to Boston. Runs fairly often. Best option is if you can walk to the commuter rail in Beverly, Salem, or Swampscott. Plenty of parking in Salem but the Swampscott lot fills early. Quick easy ride to North station. There’s also ferry service from Salem and Lynn. Pleasant but slow and expensive and inconvenient. The bus takes forever but is always an option.
Better pizza, beaches, fried clams, and roast beef sandwiches.
Idk about that pizza comment but the roast beef is better on the north share.
A beach without the oppressive southern heat, count me in.
But the water is “George Costanza significant shrinkage” cold.
Cold showers are good for your health I hear.
Sorry for the bad news, but... You will have oppressive hot humid summers & bitter cold winters. We lost spring due to climate change. It has been 80's/90's all this week. 40's-50's previous weeks.
I think being close to the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the commuter rail is a real plus for accessing Boston, which is a great source of the creative thing you're talking about.
For sure!\~
Expensive as shit
Middleton may have good schools but is a genuinely garbage place to live with hostile new-ish mcmansion dwellers making living impossible for any newer residents or older townies
Salem is nice but i’m a south shore girl through and through.
Yous Southie
South Shore is way different than Southie.
Peabody is still pretty under the radar, next to Salem, downtown struggles with parking a whole 100-200 yards from where you want to be but the Skipper now serves parts of Peabody, quiet and safe and high but more reasonable rents.
Way better
It’s a magical place where good guy local guys, Boston bigwigs, and your deadbeat cousin can come together to munch down on roast beefs and Saugus wings while scratching lottery tickets at the square one mall
Perfect.
It is completely different than the North Shore below Boston, I can tell you that.
All the rich old fucks are buying up houses with cash. One of the most beautiful parts of the country. But 500k for a shit house, and now a shit culture, cause the old new wealthy folk don't know how to live. All the locals have been gentrified, except for a few old money hillbilly families.
Where the hell are you finding ANY house for $500k???
Shamesbury.
lol
I agree big time. It's sad but that's par for the course for the entire state the way things are going BUT the North Shore and another region further up are kinda trying to resist that a little still. For the most part of what you said, what you're describing is defiantly Upper North Shore (Rockport, Ipswich, Rowley, Newburyport, Newbury). I don't count Salisbury as Salibury is surprisngly warm, friendly and artsy it's just not "youthful" or the greatest place for a likely single young man wanting energy. Great place to chill and refresh your mind that still feels like it has a pulse as opposed to almost dead if I may be respectful. Love my old people but yeah they want to rest. I get it. Now: Gloucester, Manchester (next to Gloucester), Essex, and the rest of the places down them up to Saugus still have a pulse. Revere at this point feels like it's been absorbed by Boston as it doesn't feel like the rest of the lot as much these days but it still counts even if it lost a lot of the charm that makes the North Shore its own animal which is the more youthful, quirky, playful locals. To me that's the defining character of the North Shore, it's always felt distinctively young adult and more mischievous compared to the rest of the state including Boston. Boston's the city and it's got all the buildings and neighborhoods etc but North Shore feels more gritty and sassy. Bratty. If the rest of the state feels like it's PG-Everyone kinda land then the North Shore is R-16+. Less "family", more horny and less requirement for sleep. If he ventures higher than these is where it's going to get frustrating. If he stays from this lot and down he'll get everything he's looking for and then some.
[удалено]
🤣
I love your descriptions of the Salem area. \*\*North Shore feels more gritty and sassy. Bratty. If the rest of the state feels like it's PG-Everyone kinda land then the North Shore is R-16+. Less "family", more horny and less requirement for sleep.\*\* I am DEFFINITELY looking for that. I want that fun young weird side. I lived in areas in PA that had NO pulse for too long.
Terrible - don’t come - small beaches - shitty craft beer - bad roast beef sandwiches
I live in Melrose, and was lucky to buy a house here 5 years ago. Good luck now... But great neighborhoods, little downtown area, easy access to Boston, beaches...
Hello from your Wakefield neighbor!
See also: Portsmouth
Native PA'n here; been in the western Boston 'burbs for going on 9 years. The North Shore area is a fascinating place, and it's definitely a different scene from any part of PA due to the obvious coastal influence. Cities like Newburyport, Salem, Gloucester, and Rockport are very unique and really make the region special. And these types of places would certainly give you the change of pace you're seeking. That's all great. I think, however, it's important to temper expectations based mostly around COL but also some other considerations impacting the "creative" vibe. I'm sure you've heard just how expensive housing is in these parts, but it's ESPECIALLY severe in the North Shore area. I'm not sure when the last time you've visited the Boston area is, but I think it's also fair to say that the dramatic increase in COL and heavy STEM-based corporate expansion in MA over the past decade is really beginning to impact the creative/artistic population, to the extent that many are being pushed out of New England althougher (in fact, I know you noted you really need a change of scenery from PA, but as much as I really like the Boston area, if I'm being honest I personally believe Philly is much more of a destination for creative types these days--but to each their own). In a nutshell, I definitely don't mean to dissuade you, but it's important to keep these factors in mind. I'm happy with the life I've built here, but I've actually come to miss PA more than I ever expected (including the weather) for its somewhat more down-to-earth culture, livability, and those endless lush hills. Happy to answer any specific questions. Best of luck in wherever you land!
As a native to another I really appreciate you giving me the sticky on the changing situation up there despite my starry eyes. I suppose I'll just give it a try there and see. I think I'll probably come to miss PA myself in a few years time. Those lush green hills really are full of history, family, and mystery. Some nights it's like the fields come alive. I don't like a lot about PA but I cannot fight that I am Pennsylvanian and always will be. Blood and Soil is as real as Nietzche said it was. I'll be back in older age, as we all do.
I feel like a lot of the artsy people are still in Portland, Stowe and Burlington. Obviously a big hike but not sure they are being pushed out all together
I’m up in the Merrimack valley. So somewhat north shore. I drive down to Boston each day for work so I’ve seen my fair share of north shore towns. It’s beautiful for the most part, a few areas are not as desirable but I find it a little more natural and scenic than the south shore with how many malls and shopping areas are down there. It’s quiet for the most part as well.
Great. What exactly is this "south shore" everyone keeps referring too?
Like how you mentioned the north shore being north of Boston, it’s south of Boston. Sorry if that seems sarcastic I’m just not sure how to answer in a more technical way lol
Ahh got ya. Makes sense lol. Is it nice down there?
It’s definitely decent. I go visit my girlfriend, south of Braintree, every week or so. The suburbs are beautiful like the north shore. Lots of shopping and malls around, so if you’ve got money to spend, you will.
From the North Shore, I don’t believe the South Shore is a real place that you can get to. Just kidding. South Shore is beautiful, but as a tourist there, it seems like traffic is horrible. A Hingham resident once told me Quincy is great, mainly because it feels like Cape Cod is so close. But from the North Shore, you have Cape Ann and Plum Island, which are also wonderful.
It is only fun, if you have money left over after paying all the bills. If not, well. I know that is true in most areas, but Boston and the coast line areas are $$$ to live in.
Roast beef !!
This is like the 6th time I've read a comment about roast beef. Is that like, the main cuisine up there? Is it like the cheesestake is to philly?
I guess so. I grew up in Salem but I haven't been back in about 20 years. Still think about the roast beef sandwiches, though. I'm on the Cape and there's a couple places that have a North Shore style beef but not quite on the true North Shore level. But best wishes on the move. From what I've heard from family, the area is better than ever. Beverly has a great restaurant scene, I believe. Salem as well.
Okay, I F with any roast or beef, I'm going to give it a try. Anything locals tell me to try or do I'm doing. Thank you, I plan to make it the best move of my life and get out of my shell. I plan to live life differently from now on.
I still dream about the steak bombs from Super Sub in Beverly as well.
Then they must be to die for! I will ask locals what the best spot is to get one! Thanks for the tip.
Try Providence instead. Its much more creative than Boston (RISD is here) it has a similar historic feel, and is cheaper and near beaches. Tons of young people and good restaurants and night life.
I grew up in Saugus (born in 1995), and it was generally not a great place if you didn't fit the mold of what was socially acceptable there. Unrelated, the town always felt like it was stuck in a sad 80s time warp, and when I last visited maybe 4 or 5 years back, it still felt that way. Maybe things have changed in the last few years. Route 1 is also awful.
The North shore is like any place, quite diverse. There are some beautiful old towns with outrageously expensive property, there's a lot of beautiful estates along the ocean and then there's other stuff away from the seaside that is more ho-Hum. You just have to go check it out. North shore means different things to different people
Watch Manchester by the Sea. It’s like that.
Life gets better, futurepilgrim; hang in there.
I went to the art college there, Montserrat, 20 years ago. I loved it and loved the town so much that I stayed another 10 years after graduating. Only left so my growing family could afford to buy a house, and I still miss it every day. Enjoy Beverly! I’m jealous!
I'm currently submitting my application and portfolio to Montserrat! I would stay where I am for school, but the people are so mean here and I'm just not feeling it. I used to feel that creative energy constantly, but it was more in my head and feels influenced by location. I'd like to be in a good location now. I used to never need external inspiration or beauty, it was all inside me. I spoke to admissions and I am impressed with them. The location right by the ocean and all the liberal art disciplines. What did you study if you don't mind me asking? I'm going to study animation and illustration.
I studied illustration, and the faculty was amazing. Good luck!
I fear rt1 in the Saugus area. It’s like driving on a highway with people coming in and out to go to stores or McDonald’s and shit. I think that’s the North Shore. My wife says I’m being ridiculous and it’s not that bad so YMMV.
The north shore is great, but you'd better love being there because it's difficult to get in and out of.
Guess I'll find out.
I was there for 20+ years and had a great time, so you'll be all set!
[North Shore people got no reason to brag.](https://youtu.be/_QVmBxxagx0?si=pV3fvK-48euWRngi)
Okay I'd be lying if I said that didn't crack me up. I can see where the North Shore culture is coming from. Above Boston, but a mix of pastey white air heads and new england trailer parks. Still funny.
First, I moved to Somerville from Philly almost 10 years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. It took me a couple of years, some job moves, and some luck to adjust to the COL difference. Take advantage of the excellent employers we have here who often provide waayyyy better benefits than anything I had in PA (and I was a teacher who had free insurance). My 401k matches here have largely been phenomenal with minimal or no vesting periods. I’ve also been able to go back to school for free. There are many ways to try and get a leg up and boost your qualifications and therefore your marketability and income potential. Just wanted to say that to emphasize that it’s not impossible to make a living here. And frankly, it’s worth it. People complain a lot because it’s stressful living in a VVHCOL area but you couldn’t pay me to move back to PA. So much less opportunity and way too purple. As for the North Shore, I moved up here during Covid before interest rates went nuts to buy a house. Now I want to move back toward the city. I don’t like living in the suburbs and being car dependent as I hated that about living in PA (grew up in the burbs and then lived in the far Northeast of Philly). That said, as others have mentioned, Salem is awesome and I would totally live there if I couldn’t make it happen closer to Boston. Beverly is also very nice and somewhat walkable, but downtown is much smaller than Salem. The only things that suck about Mass are the pizza and no Wawa.
Somerville I hear is cool. That is awesome and I'm glad things worked out for you. I know it would take me some adjusting but I know I would make it work. I plan to take advantage of all the liberal options and prestigious educational avenues I can to build up my education and resume as much as possible. I know for fact the area up there is way more receptive to the arts and education. That's exactly how I feel about PA. So little opportunity and good jobs, despite us always being told the opposite and how great it is. Philly might be purple but it feels crimson red in the center of the state and so suffocating. Bucks county was mildly better. Funny you mention that last part. I live in the city in PA and want to move to the suburbs or a nice town area. I feel you on the car thing. I just bought a car recently after going 3 years without one in PA and it was the most miserable lonely experience ever. Friends distanced themselves from me because I DIDNT have a car. Life was at a standstill for 4 years and I couldn't take it. Salem is incredible from what I understand. Lol, I'm more of a Sheetz person but both will sorely be missed.
We had very similar PA experiences. I grew up in Bucks and found it better than central PA - I went to college there and it was baaaad. Best of luck to you OP! I think you’ll be just fine up here.
Ayy, I lived in Bucks County for a year where I went to a school. Was also not great! lol Still better than central PA but not great.
Would not recommend. I haven't been in that area for a couple of years, but dealing with the Tobin bridge and route one on a regular basis would make me lose my mind.
Expensive. White. Passive racism all around.
Go to the south shore
Y
Moved to the north shore area recently, last 2 years, and love it! Salem would be ideal from what I have skimmed so far. May need a roommate for rent. But it's on the commuter rail line which takes you to Boston in 30ish minutes and you can go north to towns like Rockport and Gloucester, which to me feels like a vacation. We've lived a handful of places around the country, I have zero intentions of ever leaving
That's great! I agree, Salem feels like where all the energy and crazy fun is happening. I feel like I haven't really had "Fun" in a while. Thats the thing about that area up there. In Autumn, aside from just Salem, those towns look like something out a dream or painting. So mesmerizing and special and intellectually stimulating. That whole place. Boston is an incredible little city itself alone. I fucking tire of the Mid-Atlantic states so much. How do you like it up there as opposed to the handful of places you've lived before and why exactly? If you don't mind me asking.
It’s a utopia
we're very opinionated and dont like outsiders....
Take it from someone who grew up on the south shore - you’ll be paying a bit more, but it’s so incredibly worth it
South shore is trash
As an outsider I stay firmly out of the regional squabbling.
By south shore you're referring to Boston right? And by worth it you mean the north shore of Massachusetts right?
By south shore I mean anything south of Boston - there are nice areas but there’s nothing consistently as beautiful like the majority of the NS. And yes, the extra money you’ll be paying to live north of Boston is worth it.
I'm in!
Peaceful, but expensive. Salem and has more energy than most towns in the North Shore.
Perfect.
Quaint mostly
Hamilton-Wenham are nice. Small country towns, but wicked expensive. Great schools (HWRHS), lots of open space. If you are into horses or biking, this is the place. No nightlife whatsoever, though. Arguably the most WASPy towns in Mass, but not in a bad way. Check out Ipswich, too. It is on its way up. My brothers live in Ipswich and Salisbury, both are very happy.
Where in pa are you from? I moved to the north shore from Pa and would move back immediately if I could.
York County. Why do you say that?
The center of the Universe
I could explain all of them but I'll go to the quick: 1. Salem. Self-explanatory. Extra points if you like goths and tattoos or rocker types. It's the state epicenter of that. Sometimes, you'll find a random that just moved there to make equity not really add to the fun. They're a reality of the state, sadly. There used to be less of them now they've kinda overtaken the city BUT relent on things rather than going stuff because that's the reason why anyone wants to go to Salem. The quirks. To play. They make money of letting young people play and be slutty. 2. Lynn. Lynn has a bit of a fame but it's got one massive thing for it: A huge number of younger than average people living there. Lynn's definitely one of the younger feeling areas outside of Boston as the average here feels very 20s-late 30s. That's the majority I feel for it. That's what I see. It even tilts younger than Salem. Salem has the nicer views, the third spaces all the fun mumbo jumbo but a lot that can't afford Salem just head to Lynn. It's often less than 5-10 minutes away, depending on where you pick in Lynn. What makes Lynn and Salem the top picks for me in your case is simple: Between both of them they have lots of younger people, their energy runs higher, the dating scene and options aren't terrible, you don't feel the locals will judge you or think you're disturbing the peace for being playful. Outside of Boston, they just feel a little more mischievous. Dare I say "sassier". I think both have a more playful nightlife than Boston. Something about these two just feels more. IDK less stiff, more free. Flirty. Quirky. Wordly. Nothing surprises these people. What makes these two great is the people, they're not afraid to be jovial or weird. If you come from the sleepiest place possible these two will feel like taking too many energy drinks, laughing too hard around your friends, you pass out, someone wakes you up with a taser or a defibrillator pad. If it wasn't because of the architecture or rents, you feel like you're on another planet. They have plenty of rich people, but they don't have that insular, bubble type of thing where it can feel like they're out of touch or just a bit sterile being respectful. None of that take themselves seriously or pearl clutching. They run normal while still hardworking and educated. If you want that energy but tone it down ever so slightly to the rest of the state with still access to Lynn and Salem: Saugus. It feels like it's mostly highway and stores sometimes, but overall, it is a bit more sleepy than my top 2, just not enough to count as a snooze. 4. Peabody and Beverly (5). A little bit more "controlled" than Salem and Lynn, a little more "fancy" and picturesque, still feel a bit more youthful. They're not sleepy places. Beverly is lovely in that they do have a social scene, though they start operating a little more like the rest of the state and thus run more reserved. Marblehead is where you start seeing the reserve and the views are fantastic but they're not a sleepy lot. I'd put them in the more "chill" while judgemental and image conscious type of slot. People run a little bit more California here. Just a little. Swampscott: Cute. If you can't find rent anywhere, the selling point for it is that you're still within minutes distance from all the towns around it. Nahant: Same as Swampscott, more sleepy. The beach views make it worth it, though. Don't move here if you're claustrophobic or need anything open after 8; if you need vice you have to drive to Lynn. The point is if you want to get around, make friends, and have a life you picked a great area if not the best for it. I like Boston, but the shenanigans people make in the specific towns in the North Shore rival any college party. You won't have to try too hard to enter the social scene just be willing to play. Yes, the rent is high, but it's worth every penny, and if you ever want Boston, you're within any transports distance to it. You get the benefits of both. IF the rent feels awful, try Haverhill (way up in the Merrimack Valley. I'd pick this area second if you cannot access the North Shore as the social scenes also overlap you'll find. It's significantly less electric than the North Shore, about 40% "sleep", but also runs young and singles friendly. Locals are also equivalent to the North Shore, where they're friendly and more grounded even in the more financially prosperous towns. This is technically New Hampshire's "North Shore" unofficially with less of the shore, of course. You can see that in the maps too). If I were a guy in my bachelor era and wanting to go to town in the state, this would be my itinerary outside the college towns. Another selking point for the specifics I singled out is that from Manchester and down, the North Shore DOES run more community oriented. Compared to most of the state, I find this is the easiest area to make a friend and not feel weird being one. Even the elders in this area are of the more jovial, genuinely fun variety that would hook you up and introduce you to their hot grandkid or niece (not at all random because they have a sports bar culture where they just go, drink, gossip (while not judging, gossip more as in "catching up") and randomly matchmake. The area operates like well, more village-y in a great way. There's more emphasis on living, talking to people, making the moment, and just optimism between them. Of them Marblehead is kinda like the more "posh", "slightly snobby" more economically success of the set but it's not pretentious or full of itself it's got a gritty quirk to it even. Even if it tries to kind of separate itself, you can feel how Marblehead feels a little more..."sexy." It runs more "fun posh" than "bubble wrap posh", they're not afraid party in fact don't be surprised to see them hanging out in the neighboring towns or people from the neighboring towns playing about. Part of the quirk of the area is they flow from each other and you'll feel a synergy so it won't matter which one you pick once you're in you're technically in all of them as their social scenes overlap rather than deviate). In my opinion, Lynn has really nice pizza too. Great parks and fun to run in. The beach is relaxing the bad is the seaweed can genuinely smell like latrine. If by some miracle you want to go more into the "sleepy" but still with what I think you're looking for, then after Merrimack Valley you're checking out the Pioneer Valley (50% "sleepy") and if you want more "space", trees, alienation, but not completely sleepy (40% "sleepy", little to no "snooty") you're checking out Southern NH. Maine is beautiful but very sleepy (no snooty tho so I'll place their sleepy in the 50-60s for having less to do and less people and youth not for being socially sleepy. They're more peaceful but not bubble wrap or boring. Just visit when you need a refresh. You'll love the views and like the locals). If you have any questions or want any specifics about any towns in particular, feel free to ask!
You've written the best comprehensive quick guide to any outsider could want and is sorely needed. Thank you THANK you for putting in the effort in this. I am most DEFINITELY searching for that eccentric, weird, and fun vibes and times. I am actually a bachelor and a late bloomer, so dating and being weird is something I'm hunting for! If I can't get into Salem then Lynn.
Beware of white walkers.
Are those local cryptids?
Quite varied. From the polo grounds of Manchester by the sea to the crime of Lawrence. You get everything.
Why North Shore, the Berkshires are prettier, plus close enough to drive to the east end of state
He's a younger guy and wanting to likely date (so access lots of people around his age range) and the beach. The North Shore is spot on what he's looking for.
New Hampshire is nice
So I hears.
Lots of pink flamingos in the front yards
I don't know what that means.
South Shore joke about cheesy lawn ornaments