Anyone familiar with Maynard, MA?

[MountainLaurel]

Mr. Laurel and I are thinking about moving to New England from DC, and the Boston area is one of our targets. We can't afford to be too close to town, though. One of the towns in about the right location that seems to have reasonable housing prices, compared to DC, is Maynard. It's not far from Concord. Our guess is that it's more affordable because it's not directly on the rail line.

However, I was wondering if any of my fellow DUers might have more information about this particular community. Is there a federal prison there, or a Superfund site, and that's why the houses are cheap?

Thanks in advance, ML

:toast:

[jackster]

1. maynard is a nice town I think....

don't know much about it but it seems quiet and it's pretty accessible to everything.

It's in Middlesex county that was just named the 10th most expensive county in the country.

Check it out at

http://web.maynard.ma.us/

[AllieB]

2. It's an old mill town.

it's kind of off the beaten path from the major highways. When I was growing up, it had the reputation as kind of a hick town, especially compared to the hoity-toidy neighboring towns (Sudbury, Concord, Stow).

DEC/Compaq used to have a presence there back in the '90s.

[paineinthearse]

3. Maynard is a decent town

The old mill was taken over by DEC (Digital Equipment Corp). When DEC went down during the tech bust, the property values declined, but it was taken over by Wellesley Management and turned into scores of smaller office suites, lots of start-ups and small companies.

The commuter rail line passes within 5 miles (South Acton and West Concord).

The local Dem party is strong and relatively progressive.

The Sit n Bull has great ribs and live blues/folk/rock music. There are several ethnic restaurants, including Thai and Indian.

It's also home of the high school radio station that is being taken over by the fundies - search in the Mass forum for details. Hope you move here and can help save the radio station.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Thank you, everyone!!

These are just the sort of details we were looking for. It sounds like it might be an OK place: I'm really not much for hoity toity, and I love Indian food.

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Hope you'll settle in Massachusetts . . . and welcome!

Here's some website help, some fairly heavy-duty stuff while others not:

1.) http://dorapps.dor.state.ma.us/la3/home/home.asp

2.) Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, real estate recording office online for Maynard,
http://www.cambridgedeeds.com/ ... left-hand column, top, hyperlink - "Search our Records Online Index 1974-present Images 1986-present" You'd most likely want to search by "property" file tab, but if a search by person then I strongly suggest that you enter "both" as to grantee grantor index, and "recorded land"

3.) http://web.maynard.ma.us/gov/

4.) If you have children or intend to have children live w/ you:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/Assess/

5.) http://tinyurl.com/qoe6a (will jump to .gov website)
(Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board)

6.) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=158&topic_id=8131&mesg_id=8165

This list is not comprehensive. Instead, just a short list, if you will. Hopefully, you'll find a great place to live, inexpensively; however, the home prices in Massachusetts go beyond the pale of civility. You may find such a place in and around Maynard since it's around the Route 495 loop -- out far enough from Boston and yet not too far from Boston. Again, good luck and welcome to Massachusetts.

And, oh, BTW. It's "Bawe-stun" as in "awe" and "stun" and not as in "aah" and "ston" . . . drop those "r's" at the end of words and in the middle of words but add "r's" to words ending in "a." Oh, you'll get used to it!

[Cobalt Violet]

13. And Maynard has Route 27 and 117 going through it.

That's pronounced Root 27 and Root 117.

[unhappycamper]

6. You won't have any problem finding things to do up heah.

Finding things to do around here is not hard.

Freedom Trail:
http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/home.htm
Maparium:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Massachusetts/Boston-794476/Things_To_Do-Boston-Maparium_Christian_Science_Center-BR-1.html
Duck Tours:
http://www.bostonducktours.com/
Charles River:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/charlesR.htm
Arnold Arboretum:
http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/
Jamaica Pond:
http://www.taylorhouse.com/jppond.html
MFA:
http://www.mfa.org/
The not-so-famous MOBA:
http://www.museumofbadart.org/
Black Heritage Trail:
http://www.afroammuseum.org/trail.htm
John Adams’ home:
http://www.nps.gov/adam/
BSO:
http://www.bso.org/
John F. Kennedy Library & Museum:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Cemeteries:
http://www.mountauburn.org/
http://www.foresthillstrust.org/about.html
Salem, MA:
http://www.salemweb.com/guide/roger.shtml
Battleships and whales:
http://www.museumsofboston.org/southofboston.html
Beaches:
http://duxburybeachpark.com/
http://www.drbeach.org/drbeach/massachusetts/beach_massachusetts.htm
Cape Cod:
http://www.nps.gov/caco/
http://www.allcapecod.com/
Martha’s Vineyard:
http://www.mvy.com/
Nantucket:
http://www.nha.org/
Lobstah (Ogunquit Lobster Pound is the best)
http://www.phantomgourmet.com/Showpage.aspx?content=GreatAteDetails&greatateid=93
Whale watching (May~July):
http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/whalewatch/index.htm

[paineinthearse]

8. You forgot the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum!

American Sanitary Plumbing Museum 39 Piedmont Street Worcester, MA 01610 [phone]

www.oddnewengland.com/state_ma/plumbing/plumbing.htm

[Rockholm]

7. Massachusetts Would Welcome You!!!!

This is without a doubt the best state in the union, contrary to what our governor might say.

Om edit: May I inquire as to "why" Maynard? Is it to be close to employment? Do you need a good school system? Do you want quiet and woodsy? Rural....Would you prefer to ocean? Just some questions.

[MountainLaurel]

12. Why Maynard?

Mainly, because we might actually be able to afford a SFH with a yard there. It's far out of town enough that it's more affordable and lots are bigger and yet still close enough that we could commute into town if necessary. We need greenery, and the town seems to be close to a wildlife refuge. School system isn't a consideration at present time. We could go either way on the ocean issue.

[Rockholm]

14. Then move to the North Shore.

Cape Ann (Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea)is at most a 45 minute commute to Boston. Great schools, somewhat affordable and on the ocean. It is a vacation YEAR-ROUND. I would be happy to discuss the area with you at length. PM me if you want.

On edit: Commuter rail into the city is excellent.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

9. Come to the Cape

and buy my house! only a 60 mile commute to Boston.
Privacy, close to multi-use trails- a mile from
the beach. Pretty landscaping- hot tub.
3-4bdrms- 2bath

[MountainLaurel]

11. Only a 60-mile commute?

Thanks, but no thanks.

:hi:

[Cobalt Violet]

10. I live about 15 minutes from there.

No federal prisons there, no Suerfund site that I'm aware of. It's seems to be a pretty safe town. It maybe cheaper because there is no major highway going threw it.



There are lots of things to do with in 1 hours drive as others have already mentioned in this post. Also there is the rest of New England with in a few hrs. drive. The White Mountains in NH are really awesome most of the year and make a nice day or weekend trip.