Peabody

Just a stone’s throw away from Downtown Peabody and Salem, South Peabody offers a quiet, suburban reprieve from its busier neighbors. “This area lends itself to family-oriented homebuyers, and homes here have yards, unlike those downtown,” says Realtor Kate Fabrizio with J. Barrett & Company, who has over 40 years of experience in Peabody. Complete with a few restaurants, plenty of park space and accessibility to Interstate 95 and Route 1, South Peabody epitomizes suburban living right outside of a small North Shore city and about 20 miles from Boston. South Peabody includes plenty of outdoor spaces, such as the 7-acre Lakeshore Park, resting along the edge of Brown’s Pond, which has a boat launch. Raddin Park has tennis courts and athletic fields, and MacArthur Park is known for its playground and paved walking trails. The Spring Pond Nature Trail leads through trees along the water, with some small foot bridges and a few benches. There are plenty of nearby conservation areas just south of the neighborhood in Lynn, home to the second-largest municipal park in the country, Lynn Woods Reservation. The neighborhood also spotlights an 18-hole public golf course at The Meadow at Peabody. While Lynn Street Mini Mart sells some everyday essentials and Tillie’s Farm Stand has seasonal produce, larger grocery stores are located outside the neighborhood. Stop & Shop is about 3 miles away, and Walmart, Shaw’s and Market Basket are within about 4 miles. Northshore Mall, about 3 miles from the neighborhood, features major retail storefronts, including Macy’s and Nordstrom. Most restaurants are downtown, apart from a few staples. Just in Time Café serves coffee, breakfast sandwiches and a la carte items, and Capone’s Restaurant and Lounge offers dinner and live music. The Wardhurst Restaurant & Bar is a family-owned establishment that serves hand-cut lamb and fresh seafood, and Eva’s Pastries bakes authentic Greek sweets, including baklava and almond cake. The Torigian Family YMCA offers programs for youth and adults, and the Peabody Institute Library South Branch has monthly book clubs, conversation circles and creativity labs. The city of Peabody hosts multiple festivals throughout the year, as well. Its signature celebration is the International Festival, held each September for over 35 years. The event celebrates local businesses and cultures from across the world through food, dance and music. Children can attend Peabody Public Schools, beginning at South Memorial Elementary and J. Henry Higgins Middle, which both score C-plus grades on Niche. Peabody Veterans Memorial High earns a B and has five Career Technology Education programs, including Medical Assisting and Criminal Justice. “Kids here can walk to school, which brings in and benefits young families. The system is also expanding, with the new Samuel Brown Elementary School in the neighborhood,” Fabrizio says. Several private options are available nearby, including St. John the Baptist School and the Catholic-based Bishop Fenwick High, which has an A-minus on Niche. Most homes in South Peabody were built between the late 19th century and mid-20th century and sit on larger lots than other parts of the city. Cape Cods, ranch styles and some colonials can be found on the market and often have vinyl siding. Most single-family homes sell between $600,000 and $850,000, though outliers can be found on either end of the range. Townhouse and condominium complexes are also available, where two-bedroom units are typically in the $500,000 and $600,000 ballpark. Most properties have private parking in either garages or driveways, and front lawns and backyards are common. The overall community is not considered walkable, as not all streets have sidewalks, and most errands require a car. Interstate 95 runs along South Peabody’s northwestern border, with Route 1 nearby, as well. While there are some Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (T) bus stops nearby in Downtown Peabody, the closest commuter rail is about 3 miles east in Salem. The Logan Express also provides transit to the Boston Logan International Airport, about 15 miles south. Locals do not have to travel far for churches, a Masjid or synagogues, which all have locations within about 2 miles of the neighborhood. Health care is also easily accessible at Salem Hospital.

West Peabody, 30 minutes from Boston, prides itself on its residents, its most valuable resource. West Peabody and the surrounding area was once part of Salem but was named Peabody after the father of modern philanthropy, George Peabody, in 1868. In 1916, the community was incorporated into Essex County. “The city grew around West Peabody,” says Darryl Ann McCarthy, administrative assistant to the mayor and resident of Peabody. Peabody’s main source of income was in the leather tanning industry along with redware pottery until the 1900s. “The last leather factory is shutting down,” says McCarthy. Now, Peabody’s primary source of revenue is Centennial Industrial Park, a business park housing manufacturing, technology and healthcare companies, as well as Northshore Mall. West Peabody is separated from the business park and mall by a highway and is mainly residential. Homes in the area consist of 1900s Cape Cods and 1950s ranch styles, along with classic split-levels and Garrison Revival-style homes. Most properties are situated on spacious lots with beautifully landscaped yards and shaded streets. Condominiums and townhouses, some converted from colonial houses, are also available. Homes range in price from $400,000 to $850,000. Large homes go from $900,000 to $1 million. Residents shop for essentials at Big Y World Class Market , and the neighborhood is home to multiple fast-food chains such as Wendy’s, Dunkin and Sonic Drive-In. Red’s Kitchen and Tavern, a staple of the area, has an extensive omelet and sandwich selection. Santarpio’s Pizza is a family-owned establishment that serves New York-style pies. In The Game Peabody is a restaurant and fun center just east of the neighborhood with laser tag, an arcade and a rock wall. Fun for adults and kids alike can be found at The Children’s Piazza, an indoor playground for younger children with a coffee shop serving brew, smoothies and baked goods. The facility also hosts private parties and special events. For other necessities, the Peabody Place shopping mall has department stores and several chain restaurants. For school, children attend John E. McCarthy Elementary School, which receives a B-minus on Niche. Students move on to J. Henry Higgins Middle School, receiving a C-plus. Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, receiving a B rating, offers a career and technical education program that includes education in cosmetology, culinary arts, early childhood education, electronics, medical assisting and criminal justice. “Our mayor promotes open spaces and recreation,” says McCarthy. West Peabody has several public spaces for connecting with nature. As part of a nature restoration, Crystal Lake offers a gazebo, benches and other lakefront amenities. Ross Memorial Park features a bike path, playground and pond. Symphony Park and Corbeil Park include tennis courts and athletic fields. There are also freshwater fishing spots, such as Suntaug Lake and the banks of Winona Pond. Most residents drive cars, and West Peabody is easily accessible by U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95. Central Peabody is across the highway if residents wish to access public transit or explore other restaurants and amenities. There is a large commuter population in Peabody since many residents work in the biotech industry in Boston or nearby locations. Most events are hosted in the central or downtown area of Peabody. One of the larger events in the area is the International Festival, where Peabody celebrates its diverse population through food, art and dance from all over the world. There are celebrations for every season, from a St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast to a tree lighting in the winter. Due to the lakes and rivers running in and around West Peabody, flooding is something to be aware of during storms. The city has implemented retention ponds and barriers to mitigate this.

Rich with history and brimming with activity, Downtown Peabody embodies the quintessential North Shore town about 20 miles from Boston. “It’s a great community for first-time buyers. Prices have become more affordable, and the town offers a lot in terms of parks, restaurants, events and schools,” says Realtor Kate Fabrizio with J. Barrett & Company, who has over 40 years of experience in Peabody. While most people here own cars and commute to work, Downtown Peabody is considered the most walkable part of the city. With a housing market full of apartments and a Main Street populated with shops and restaurants, the city has an urban tinge with less congestion than nearby cities, like Salem. The slew of restaurants in Downtown Peabody are easily accessible by foot, and many authentic cuisines are available along Main Street. Holy Ghost Society and Central Bakery both serve up traditional Portuguese dishes and pastries, and Caribe Restaurant is known for its Dominican fare. Petrillo’s, which Fabrizio dubs “the best Italian on the North Shore,” brings Tuscany to the East Coast in an intimate atmosphere. Downtown Peabody has a few spots for picking up essential items, as well. The neighborhood includes a CVS and Walgreens, as well as Vitoria, New England and Michelle’s meat markets, which offer select groceries along with fresh cuts. Stop & Shop is also right outside of the downtown area, while the closest Target, Walmart, Market Basket and The Home Depot are within 3 miles. The Northshore Mall is about 2 miles away and features major retail storefronts, including Macy’s and Nordstrom. Locals can explore Downtown Peabody’s past at the George Peabody House Museum and the Peabody Leatherworkers Museum. Both are open during select hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For younger residents, the North Shore Children’s Museum educates and entertains. The museum offers special musical and storytelling events, in addition to its 14 regular exhibits. Downtown Peabody also hosts holiday events and the annual International Festival, drawing massive crowds to celebrate cultures from all over the world. Just past the Northshore Mall, Brooksby Farm has pick-your-own-fruit events, bouquet-making sessions, storytelling, hayrides, a petting zoo and a play yard. “The city runs and owns the farm, so we have access to fresh produce and many seasonal events,” Fabrizio says. The most popular park in the neighborhood is Leather City Common, which hosts regular events, including a summer concert series. East End Peabody Veterans Memorial Park is another small outdoor space with benches and tables, walking paths and boards for chess or checkers. For a larger park option with open field space, Emerson Park is right outside the neighborhood, adjacent to the Peabody Dog Park and Tanner Skatepark. Mack Park also offers more green space and a playground just east of Downtown Peabody. Students are served by Peabody Public Schools, consisting of eight elementary options, one middle and one high school. Center Elementary sits right outside of the downtown area and scores a C-plus grade on Niche. J. Henry Higgins Middle earns a C-plus, and Peabody Veterans Memorial High has a B. High school students have the opportunity to participate in five different Career Technology Education programs, such as Medical Assisting and Criminal Justice. Peabody also has several private options nearby, including St. John the Baptist School for prekindergarten through eighth grade. The Catholic-based Bishop Fenwick High, which scores an A-minus, is also within 2 miles and ranks in the top 2% for high school athletics in America, according to Niche. While some single-family homes occasionally pop up in the market, most properties are smaller-unit condos or apartments. Many of the single- and multi-family residences are historic constructions from the 19th century or converted business buildings. Homebuyers can find unique features, including cathedral ceilings and aged brick. Colonials are common, as well, and most homes have vinyl siding, which is customary in New England architecture. Condos in complexes, such as Walnut Place or Upton Manor, and apartments above storefronts typically sell in the $300,000 range for one-bedroom units and the $400,000 ballpark for two bedrooms. Single-family houses often fall between $400,000 and $550,000, while an entire multifamily property may start around $600,000 and surpass $1 million, depending on the number of units. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (T) bus system has a few stops in Downtown Peabody, though the closest commuter rail is about 2 miles away in Salem. The Logan Express Peabody makes trips to the Boston Logan International Airport, around 20 miles south, every hour from 3:15 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., seven days per week. Interstate 95 runs nearby, as well, along with the Yankee Division Highway toward Route 1. Routes 107 and 1A are also not far, flowing through Salem.