Essex Homes for Rent

Essex started as a shipbuilding community and still holds on to its historic coastal feel. Of all the quaint Cape Ann towns, it is probably the sleepiest and most true to its original roots. "Homes in Essex have really good value and are part of a great school system," says Holly Fabyan, a local Realtor and Vice President with J Barrett & Company. "But there's not a lot of build-ups, and the locals don't necessarily want there to be — they want Essex to retain its authentic feel." The demand for homes in Essex increased in the early 2000s when the school district merged with Manchester-by-the-Sea. "The market took off when we regionalized, and families pulled their children out of private schools and enrolled them in the Manchester Essex Regional School District," Bernier says. Younger kids attend the local Essex Elementary School, which gets a B-plus grade from Niche. Then, the kids head over to Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, rated A-minus, and the Regional High School, rated A. "The high school offers many AP classes since we regionalized," Bernier says. "That's been a big draw for people." Closer to the heart of town, homes tend to be smaller and older, with colonial