Anonymous wrote:Spring valley has a very Greenwich CT look to it. Op check it out.

Um, no. Not really. Not at all, actually.

NP here. OP, I am another NE transplant that will tell you that I am sorry you are making the move. I know Andover, I am from west of Boston.

This post is meant for OP, not locals. If you are local, you can move on.

People from here are just very, very different. I will leave it at that. I loved it for the first few years, but after that, I have had one foot out the door, so to speak.

The town vs. county thing may not seems big deal until you own property and see how backward everyone is. Andover is likely more expensive than most places here (as you have seen). Locals seem to think it is the be all and end all - surprise! They have likely never been taxpayers win other metropolitan areas of the U.S. This area kind of has it for NYC and NE, FYI. You might not discover this right away. They absolutely do not know what to do with snow, but you will get a day to work from home. You might notice a certain contrary mentality and/or stereotype of certain workers....

There are a TON of strip malls, townhouses and condos (we call them seeds, they sprout everywhere because for a long time the developers did what they wanted)......

D.C. area drivers make Boston drivers look impeccable. No, really.

Area schools constantly brag about being the best and will produce articles upon articles to try to back up their point. Know it alls abound. Needless to say, NE'ers don't really have to resort to this (as you know) and take a lighter perspective, though often more accomplished and educated.

Anyway, I don't intend to discourage (really) but you are comparing apples and oranges, at best.

What is your price range and we can go from there? Are your expectations that it be similar to Andover - how much?

There really are not nice college towns such as Andover here. I miss the parades, marathon, sports (and everyday life) passion....I could go on.......

Frankly I am over the bloom where your planted BS from those who have not resided (key word: voting, driving, resident) elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Here's what you get for $500-$600K in Dedham, where OP lives:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/315-Walnut-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36115-64112

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1041-High-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36552-42059

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Patty-Lee-Ln_Dedham_MA_02026_M42974-43784

And here's what you get in Arlington, VA for the same price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5615-Wilson-Blvd_Arlington_VA_22205_M50457-42436

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4943-25th-St-S_Arlington_VA_22206_M52643-44455?ex=VA552817234

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6019-18th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_M63086-68781

And in Bethesda:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6011-Ryland-Dr_Bethesda_MD_20817_M64661-51841

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2808-Blaine-Dr_Chevy-Chase_MD_20815_M52429-66736

That's a bit apples to oranges though because Dedham is a distance to Boston (like 20 miles). So maybe more equivalent to Reston or Olney or somewhere farther out than Bethesda and Arlington.

We moved from mass last year and I have to say I love it here. The weather is tremendously better. We live in Vienna and think it is just great, all around. One thing about the schools here vs. Mass schools is that at the elementary level the school are pretty comparable unless your child is in aap in fcps or in an immersion program because quite splurge those programs are not offered in mass. However, I really think the county system for school pays of at the middle school and high school level...just so many more options. Also, I think the easiest way to feel like you are part of the community is to join a good pool.

Don't get me wrong, we do miss many things about Mass especially the charm effect, but I really think the positives of this area are huge!!!

Spring valley has a very Greenwich CT look to it. Op check it out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.

Your friends have nice housing to hang out in. Much nicer than what they would buy here for the same money (see above links).

But I can assure you that it is rarely zero degrees, and certainly not in October (or November).

Even if it isn't zero degrees, it's still significantly colder there than here. I'll glady take a few months of heat for the milder winter and glorious Indian summer.

If you think 90 degrees in October is glorious, you can have it. It's all yours.

Falls Church, VA

Palisades, DC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.

Your friends have nice housing to hang out in. Much nicer than what they would buy here for the same money (see above links).

But I can assure you that it is rarely zero degrees, and certainly not in October (or November).

Even if it isn't zero degrees, it's still significantly colder there than here. I'll glady take a few months of heat for the milder winter and glorious Indian summer.

Anonymous wrote:It cracks me up that people in VA think of Vienna as having a small town feel. It is mainly Route 123 and strip malls. Nice strip malls, mind you but...?

You're being a pompous ass. People also mention it because it has an older area on Church Street, is in fact a separate town, and has a lot of community activities like Viva Vienna, Fourth of July fireworks, and a Halloween parade down Maple. No one is claiming it looks like Newton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.

Your friends have nice housing to hang out in. Much nicer than what they would buy here for the same money (see above links).

But I can assure you that it is rarely zero degrees, and certainly not in October (or November).

I am sure I will get lots of snark, but check out the Kentlands neighborhood in Gaithersburg, MD - very much a tight knit community, with lots of community events, walkable little area with a diner, shops, restaurants, ice cream- bands in the summer, etc. Also Garrett Park, MD.

OP, please visit DC, Capital Hill, Navy yard, etc., and form your own opinion. Everyone here is very opinionated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.

I would say more like November to March, and it is rare that it is zero degrees in Boston. More like 30's in winter. You are thinking Maine/Vermont/NH.

I grew up in Mass and went to school in Maine.

And at least you can dress for cold.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.

This is true. No location is without its drawbacks.