Methuen

Just east of the historic stone walls and lively downtown of Methuen is Merrimack Valley, a swath of homes between the Merrimack River and Interstate 495, giving residents both an easy commuting connection and quick access to river recreation. The residential pockets in Merrimack Valley straddle a packed thoroughfare, Route 110, which is the home of a vast majority of the stores and restaurants in the neighborhood, with the outskirts of the neighborhood are home to a number of townhouse and condo communities. “Families have been here for many years,” says Realtor Juliette Bergeron with RE/MAX Innovative Properties in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, who has served the area for over 20 years. “We all know each other around here. It’s a very friendly area.” The homes all around Merrimack Valley line quiet, winding blocks. Most properties include front and back lawn space, which residents keep well-manicured. “Lots tend to be a lot larger than a lot of other cities,” says Rick Coco, a Re/Max Partners broker who has served the community for over 48 years. The atmosphere in Merrimack Valley is also conducive to relationships among neighbors, with afternoon conversations in the backyard and over garden fences. Homes can range from colonial revivals and split-level homes to condos and townhomes, with condos ranging from $300,000 to $450,000 and single-family homes ranging from $475,000 to $700,000. Depending on their street, Students may go to either Comprehensive Grammar School or Donald P. Timony Grammar School, which earn a B and B-minus rating on Niche, respectively. All students then move on to the B-rated Methuen High School, which is the only high school in the district and serves around 1,900 students. Due to the larger lots and yards in Merrimack Valley, residents have all the recreation they need in their own homes, from pools to playsets just beyond the back porch. However, Schruender Park offers a respite by the Merrimack River for residents who want to be closer to nature. This tiny hidden park provides access to the water under the shade of red maple and cherry trees. Local athletes can use the small baseball diamond at the quiet Sargent Field or one of the four larger diamonds at the nearby Edward S. Alekel Veterans Memorial Park for a weekend game of softball or little league. Route 110, also known as Merrimack Street, places an array of eateries and other businesses outside residents’ doors. Locals can stop for fresh-cut meats and premade sandwiches at Borrelli’s Italian Deli, which has been a part of the community for over 50 years. Residents can also pop into one of the many pizza joints like the Methuen House of Pizza or Mediterranean restaurants such as Yalla! along the same road. For a sweet treat, Mann Orchards is closer to downtown Methuen and is known “for wonderful fruit pies, produce, and vegetables,” Coco says. Groceries can be found at the Market Basket at Westgate Market Place, just 3 miles north of the neighborhood. Merrimack Valley offers a premier spot for residents. “The neighborhood is at the junction of 495 and 93,” Coco says, “it is a prime commuter location.” Residents here can use that artery to drive south toward Boston, a trip of just over 30 miles. Route 213 links with I-495 near Merrimack Valley, too. Those who live in Merrimack Valley can use Route 213 to head west into Downtown Methuen. Trips not reachable by road can be found at Logan International Airport, which is about 30 miles away, and Holy Family Hospital is less than 3 miles away to to west. The city is home to a number of events that locals and visitors alike can join. Methuen Day takes place in October each year, and residents can meet up with friends and neighbors as they stroll past vendors, booths for local organizations, and a variety of stages and games for the whole family to enjoy. In the week before and after Thanksgiving, residents can visit the Methuen Tree Festival, where residents donate trees, wreaths, and decorations to be appreciated by the 30,000+ visitors attending each year, alongside visits from Santa and seasonal raffles. Since its start over 30 years ago, the festival has raised over $2 million for historical preservation and scholarships for communities around the area.

What was once a historic mill town producing textiles and shoes since 1725, Central Methuen is now a car-friendly neighborhood that’s highly connected to modern amenities by major roads. “There is a little bit of everything here,” says Trevor Gearin, a realtor with Lamacchia Realty who has served the community for over 18 years and has lived in Methuen his whole life. “You have the Merrimack River, two highways, and the city borders New Hampshire, so you have access to major airports as well as commuting options.” Here, the streets are lined with multifamily and single-family homes dating as far back as the late 1800s that are just a short drive away from downtown, which is full of trails and historic sights ranging from a towering pipe organ to the ruins of a local castle. The neighborhood is also close to shopping and dining options around the city and in neighboring areas along the river. Central Methuen is car-friendly and popular with commuters, especially since Boston is only 29 miles south and Manchester is 25 miles to the north. Interstate 93 runs along the west end, while Interstate 495 runs along the east. Both roads are connected by State Route 213, which Gearin says is commonly known as “the loop connector.” Those who wish to take public transportation can head to the Lawrence commuter rail station just south of the neighborhood. Holy Family Hospital’s Methuen branch lies on the eastern side of the neighborhood, and Boston Logan International Airport is 31 miles away. Near the schools there is Edward Alekel Veterans Park, an all-ages haven in Central Methuen and certainly its biggest park. There are walking paths where neighbors walk their dogs, plus a playground and facilities for baseball and outdoor hockey. Joggers and bikers can enjoy the views of the Spicket River from the 2 ½ mile Methuen Rail Trail that cuts through downtown. Greycourt State Park sits right behind city hall and preserves the history of the Tenney Castle ruins for residents to enjoy under the shade of mature maple trees. “It is very serene and has beautiful stonework all around,” Gearin says. Central Methuen offers a healthy mix of both multifamily and single-family units on smaller plots of land. The streets are lined with varying heights and styles, with small Cape Cod constructed in the mid-1900s sitting alongside larger and older Triple Decker units built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Colonial Revivals and split-level homes are other common architectural themes commonly seen throughout the neighborhood, with many homes also sporting wood or vinyl siding. Condos and townhomes range from $200,000 to around $400,000, and single-family homes cost between $400,000 to $800,000. Timony Grammar School covers K-8 and earns a B-minus rating on Niche. Across the street is the B-rated Methuen High, a large institution with over 2,000 students and courses taught at three different levels, from College Preparatory to Honors and Advanced Placement. Private school options can be found at St Monica's School, right next to the city center, which teaches grades K-8 and is unrated by Niche. Ye’s Table is a newer restaurant just east of Central Methuen. It offers Asian fusion cuisine in a modern setting, from grilled shrimp to katsu and is “becoming really popular very quickly,” Gearin says. Sweetheart Inn is a historic spot to the west of the neighborhood that recently reopened under new management. “It has an awesome prime rib and has been around for years and years,” Gearin says. Groceries can be grabbed at one of the two Market Basket locations to the east and west of the neighborhood or at The Loop Shopping Mall on the neighborhood’s eastern end. Methuen Day is one of the larger events in the city that takes place in October each year, where residents can meet up with friends and neighbors as they stroll past vendors, booths for local organizations, and a variety of stages and games for the whole family to enjoy. In the week before and after Thanksgiving, residents can visit the Methuen Festival of Trees, where residents donate trees, wreaths, and decorations to be appreciated by the 30,000+ visitors attending each year, which kicks off with a Santa Parade and seasonal raffles. Since its start over 30 years ago, the festival has raised over $2 million for historical preservation and scholarships for communities around the area. One of the large draws for visitors to Methuen is the Methuen Memorial Music Hall. The hall is home to a number of events and performances throughout the year but is most well-known for The Great Organ, which was built in Germany in 1863 and is the first concert organ in the United States. The music hall was constructed around the organ, with over 6,000 pipes, some of them being 64 feet long.