A rural New England town in the scenic countryside
Located along Interstate 95 just 25 miles north of Boston, Boxford is a rural town that feels light years away from the city. "It's a hidden gem. It's rural in nature, so it's nicely spread out. Boxford is almost 25 square miles, so you can get to major highways pretty easily but also be removed and have privacy and quiet," says Andrea Anastas, a Realtor with RE/MAX 360 who has sold several homes in the area. The town of approximately 8,600 residents has little commercial activity, with two general stores that serve as gathering places for the community. The natural, undeveloped beauty of the area lends itself to activities like hiking, horseback riding and kayaking. Residents enjoy the town's serenity while benefitting from convenient access to local schools and nearby towns that offer more shopping opportunities. While Boxford is full of large, secluded lots, it maintains a close-knit community feel with annual events, such as the Apple Festival, bringing residents together to celebrate their town and enjoy each other's company.
Thousands of acres of wilderness to explore
Boxford's rural nature and vast swaths of undeveloped land mean that residents have plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. "Part of the beauty of Boxford is the Boxford Trails Association and Boxford Open Land Trust. There's a lot of open land that will never be built on. You have many hiking trails, so it's wonderful if you like to do outdoor stuff," Anastas says. Popular destinations include Boxford State Forest, which has over 1,000 acres of land available for hiking, horseback riding and hunting. The Boxford Rail Trail is a popular hiking and biking area that passes through Kelsey Arboretum, a four-acre plot of ornamental trees and shrubs. Stiles Pond is a popular spot to spend summer days, with activities including a swimming beach, basketball and volleyball courts, playground and concession stand. The pond is open to Boxford residents only, offering a relatively private place to spend a warm day.
Bringing the community together at local general stores
While Boxford has little commercial development, there are general stores on either side of the town that function as convenience stores, restaurants and community gathering places. "Boxford Community Kitchen has been there forever. They have the post office and the bank right there, and it's where people gather for breakfast or lunch," Anastas says. "On the other side, you have West Village Provisions, which is a little venue, and you have the legendary Benson's Ice Cream." Boxford Community Kitchen and West Village Provisions each offer classic American fare, as well as coffee, small grocery items, gifts and more. Benson's Homemade Ice Cream is a local ice cream stand open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, serving a variety of flavors and desserts. For a full grocery haul, residents can head to nearby Georgetown to shop at Crosby's Marketplace or the Stop & Shop in North Andover.
Bite into local heritage at the Apple Festival
Boxford residents come together every fall for the annual Apple Festival, boasted as an event that is "New England to the core." This yearly event features local arts and craft vendors, homecooked food, live music and tours of the historic Holyoke-French House. The town's east side shuts down for the day as residents stroll through town, snacking on apple pies and crisps and enjoying fresh apple cider.
Traditional New England homes on large, secluded lots
Homes in Boxford typically come on spacious, tree-covered lots on rural roads. Anastas says residential lots in the town must be at least 2 acres, giving residents plenty of room on their property. Houses include traditional New England styles like Colonial Revivals, with some ranch-style homes and some contemporary modern structures. Homebuyers should be prepared to pay more in Boxford than in nearby towns, with a median home price of $942,225, which is up 4% over the past year. Homes sell in an average of 25 days, much quicker than the national average of 42 days.
Highly rated schools serving the Tri-Town area
Students in Boxford will likely attend Boxford Public Schools, which is part of the Tri-Town School Union. The district is rated an A-minus by Niche and serves approximately 739 students, with a student-teach ratio of 11-to-1. Students will attend Harry Lee Cole School before moving on to the Spofford Pond School for grades three through six. Middle and high schoolers attend Masconomet Regional Middle/High School, which serves Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield. The school offers academic pathways in computer science, media and STEAM.
Hit the highway for a quick commute to Boston
Due to the town's rural nature, residents drive to get where they're going, whether heading to the general store or commuting to Boston. Interstate 95 is conveniently located on the town's east side, giving residents a straight shot into downtown Boston. The 25-mile drive takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Lower crime in rural Massachusetts
Boxford has a crime rate that is significantly lower than both the statewide and national rates. According to data from the Boxford Police Department, there was just one violent crime in 2022, which equals a rate of 12 crimes per 100,000 people. To put that in perspective, the violent crime rate for Massachusetts as a whole in 2022 was 322, while the national rate was 380.7.
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Meet the Team!
· Wendy Willis/Team Leader & Partner, Willis & Smith Group: As a former accountant, I bring a unique financial perspective to the home selling equation. My focus is to maximize my clients profit utilizing my market knowledge, tenacious negotiating skills and Keller William’s premium services and gold-standard marketing concepts. I will keep my client’s goals first and foremost, and through consistent communication, resourceful problem solving, attention to detail and follow through create a truly superior real estate experience.
· Elizabeth Graves, Buyer Specialist/Team Manager: Elizabeth has been a licensed realtor for over 30 years and as a buyer specialist builds strong relationships with her clients. Elizabeth loves real estate and uses her extensive experience on the North Shore to assist her clients in obtaining the best property for their needs. She is also the team manager and executive assistant to Wendy handling all the paperwork and transaction details.
Why Willis and Smith Group? We are in the top 1% of groups internationally. In 2022 Willis & Smith Group completed over 188 transactions with a closed volume of over $139,900,000. Our listings were showcased in the best light possible, earning our team a 105% list to sale price ratio and an average of 27 days on the market!
Who do we help? Anyone who needs to list or purchase real estate, however our specialties include waterfront, luxury, equestrian, new construction, developments and of course 1st time buyers!
Wendy can be reached at (978) 270-1872 (cell) or wendy@willisandsmith.com
Elizabeth can be reached at (978) 944-0341 or elizabethgraves@kw.com
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
