What Makes Boston’s North Shore a Great Place to Live?

Here are our top ten reasons:

  1. Boston. Drive in or take the commuter rail, which gets you to Boston in under one hour.  There are 18 convenient stops, with terminals in Newburyport and Cape Ann’s iconic Rockport.
    Prides Crossing Train Stop Beverly. North Shore
  1. The Shore. The beaches, both private and public (Wingaersheek and Singing Beaches), are rated among the top on the North Shore.

  1. Quintessential New England town centers, like in Essex, MA. The picture-perfect town with the most antique shops per square mile than anywhere in the US! Don’t miss Andrew Spindler Antiques & Design.
 a
  1. Great schools – both public and private – are available, from pre-school to universities.
  2. Large house lots offering privacy are easy to find.
  3. Lots of family events and activities.
  4. Great farmers markets. If you miss one, you can always catch another—there’s one every day of the week!
  5. The Best Restaurants, whether you are looking for fresh seafood, a local clam shack or a great steak house. If you want to explore, check out the North Shore dining guide.  Our picks:
    Best brunch: A&B Burgers. From steak and eggs to fabulous quiche with great ambience.
    Best breakfast: The Ugly Mug Diner. Old school breakfast with a twist.
    Best martini: Soma
    Best sunset views: Mission on the Bay.

    sunset
    Sunset shot from the bar on Valentine’s Day.
  6. Shopping. From one-of-a-kind boutique shops to healthy grocery stores, there are plenty of choices (see *below).
  7. Centrally located, near the beach but not far from mountains and city

 

What are the “best” towns on the North Shore?

Well, that depends on what you are looking for. Here are a few suggestions:

For Waterfront

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Marblehead, Nahant, Swampscott and Rockport.

singing beach 3
Visit Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and see if the sand really serenades you …

For Horse/Farm Country

Property owners of lovely North Shore farms and equestrian properties in Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, and Topsfield have long employed LandVest’s marketing and conservation planning in the lovely rolling fields and woodlands of Myopia Hunt country.

For the Best Schools

Public
Private
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
View of Market Square in downtown Newburyport, MA, CCO, the Sharpteam

For Close-To, or In-Town Living

*Shopping
  • One-of-a-kind boutique shops. If you’ve had too much of the beach, come explore the boutiques in Newburyport. From specialty dog shops, candy stores, and gift shops to antiques, and clothing, there is plenty for all to see.
  • Looking for healthy grocery shopping? Whole Foods is in Swampscott and Lynnfield, and is coming soon to Beverly! There are local farms and farmers markets that have fresh dairy and produce year-round.
  • The Cheese Shop of Salem. It won the 2016 Best of Award!
  • Butcher in Middletown: http://www.nshoremag.com/fooddrink/Middletons-Organic-Butcher-Shop/.
  • Diamonds in Manchester-by-the-Sea: For the unique designs, Gladstone is your go-to jeweler on the North Shore.

Looking for a little culture? We picked a few of our favorite venues:

The Arts

1

Looking for outdoor activities? Places to hike, ride your horse, or moor your boat?

33 Proctor Boat 5
Boat at deep-water dock in Manchetser-by-the-Sea

Whether you are looking for home on the waterfront, in the country, or are thinking about a dream home on a perfect parcel of land, we’ve got something for everyone. Want to get an insider’s tour or learn more about living on the North Shore? Call our Manchester-by-the-Sea office, they love to brag about their region.