According a recent Yahoo! article: Haverhill is one of the seven best places to move in the country along with such famous cities as New Orleans (awesome, but too hot), Houston (Texas? cmon), and Philadelphia (where it is always sunny).
I found this picture on the internet
They cite the lively bar and restaurant scene and low housing prices as key factors:
“You can buy a brand new mid-level executive style home in the mid $380,000 to $450,000 range or find a first time buyer move-in condition property at around $170,000,” says Lisa Johnson, vice president at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Haverhill. “Condominiums can be found in the $50,000 to $60,000 range.”
Johnson says the area has a lot of great perks, from a thriving bar/club scene to a downtown restaurant district that can rival those of big cities.
So, if you don’t yet live in the Shoe City – you better hurry up before we fill up.
I am one of these people from the mission where your coauthor is visiting right now, but a great pastime of ours is fantasizing about cheap and awesome places to live, and this seems like it has some real potential. Can you surf at any of the beaches that look like they are nearby? How far to Boston, Portsmouth, etc.?
When we first rolled into town I jokingly gestured around to a tag-covered building on Capp and said to my husband “Welcome to Haverhill West.”
But, seriously, Haverhill is just starting to get really cool, and my dream is that it’s heading in a distinctly Mission direction.
You can “surf” not too far at all. I’m not going to lie- it’s not quite the same, but I know a few die-hards that do it.
Boston is 45 minutes driving (with medium flow traffic) and about an hour by commuter rail. Portsmouth is only about 20 minutes the way I drive. 😉 Even closer is Newburyport, which is more upscale and not quite as arty, but is great for shopping and just wandering around.
We need YOU! (bring friends) If you ever have any more questions about Haverhill, feel free to email me!