Annapolis MD or Newburyport MA

If it were a choice between just these two, I'd consider the following, for starters:

-Newburyport will be a lot colder in the winter than Annapolis (definitely expect snow, possibly a lot) at the former, while Annapolis will likely be a lot warmer in the summer.

-Both are within striking distance of a major city or two (Annapolis to Washington DC and Baltimore, Newburyport to Boston).

-neither will likely provide much relief in cost of living compared to California.

-Annapolis is a bit bigger than Newburyport, and will have more to do, more interesting architecture, and better restaurants. Annapolis is also a college town (Navy, St. John's College) and a state capital city while Newburyport is neither.

-Newburyport is closer to beach areas than Annapolis but will have a shorter summer to enjoy one.

Wow, what a move! I would hesitate to advise such an important decision because there are so many factors involved, e.g., just where does your family live. We live in Missouri but have been to Newburyport (daughter lived there) and Annapolis (on vacation) and both have their charm. But so do so many other places on the East coast. Both of these places have lots of boating and sailing, that's for sure. But there are so many neat spots along the Maine coast or in the Chesapeake Bay area out of Annapolis. Good luck!

Ozarksbill walongman@yahoo.com

Thank you for your responses. I currently live in the Monterey Bay area and prices here are the same as San Francisco. I have been looking into house prices and while they are expensive, they are far more affordable than here. We have family in Upstate NY, New York City, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

I will look more into Maine and Chesapeake Bay, thank you for the suggestion.
BTW Ozarkbill - I did post this under Maryland and Mass

I think that winters are something to think about.

What is the nicest part of Annapolis?

Thank you!

I love the center of Historic Annapolis (near the City Docks) and were I to live in Annapolis, that's where I would want to be. It's built on such a human scale; one could WALK from there to do your daily errands I suspect. Plus there's the bonus of being surrounded every day by early-13-colonies charm. I haven't investigated it, but I'm sure you'll get less space for more $$$ there.

If you prefer rolling green lawns a la suburbia, this may not be what suits you though. But I have no hesitation in saying that that's where I'd want to be.

My two cents. Daniel

Can only speak to Annapolis but on the good side:

Art
Ballet
Symphony
Theatre
Good food and shopping
Water sports/boating

Downtown prices are super high. There are some interesting, diverse pockets but you really need to meet with a realtor.

Downside:
Not California weather (hot summers/cold albeit short winters)
Traffic can be bad
Development on the perimeter includes 3 different sets of condos, one of which can be seen from miles away!

If you see any particular area named, say what it is and I can more easily tell you about it.

Just to converse, in a nutshell Annapolis has history and Newburyport has quaintness...but that's too trite...both are very charming indeed. Yes, each is different weather wise and also different from California that's for sure.

But we did enjoy our visit last summer to your area...back to back Elderhostels: Carmel Bach Festival and Dickens Universe (study) at UC Santa Cruz. And previously some delightful stays in San Francisco, Big Sur, Sonoma Valley. Can't quite see why the big move since you really aren't that close to a dispersed family. As oldsters we are pondering a move from Missouri to Cambridge, Mass. but this puts us in one son's locale and at his invitation.

I detect certain factors at work in your lives making you restless. Not sure that's the basis for such a dramatic relocation unless you are really unhappy (saying this as a retired clergy).

Ozarksbill walongman@yahoo.com

I forgot to mention the Naval Academy and St. John's College as assets to Annapolis and am seeing that bachslunch did so I agree with her/him. The middies and johnnies have a great croquet match each year!

S/he also mentioned proximity to DC and Baltimore where there is lots of stuff. It's a fabulous place to take advantage of culture. Easy train or bus ride to NYC as well.

Is the weather a factor for you? Are you familiar with Savannah and Charleston? They are very charming and the weather would be more moderate.

Thank you for the replies. This area is really wonderful. Unfortunately, to buy a home in the area we would like would cost us over $650,000 (fixer upper). We rent a tiny 2 bedroom one bathroom home and it is over $2100. It also takes us almost a full day to travel to see our families. My husband works from home and I am pretty sure I could find work anywhere. Restless, maybe a little bit. Interested in the adventure, yes. More importantly my hubby and I want to start a family therefore we want to be closer to family

Harsh winters may factor in but would not be a deal breaker. Annapolis sounds like it may have everything we are looking for. I do love the small town idea of Newburyport though. We are starting to investigate Williamsburg, VA and Portland Maine too. (Maine, Burrrr I know)

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give me their opnions, thank you!

Newburyport is actually classified as a small city. It has commuter rail into Boston, although the train must take at least an hour or so. It also has a wildlife refuge with one of the prettiest undeveloped beaches I've ever seen. Most of that particular beach gets closed part of the summer due to the piping plovers nesting, but believe me, it's worth the wait and you would still have the town beach.

MA is expensive to live in, but it sounds as though your area (housing anyway) is even more so. I've lived in another North Shore community for 8 1/2 years, and think it's an amazing area to live in.

I do keep going back to Newburyport. Something about the pictures and what I read about it just draws me in. We are planning a trip in the spring and will spend a few days in each place. I do like small city over big city.

Thanks for the feedback

You should visit Newburyport in January if you plan on moving up here (I say that because I am a transplant to the North Shore from the southern US). It's easy to love almost anywhere when you are there in the spring.

Of course, not sure when in "spring" you plan to visit, but spring up here arrives in mid to late May and seems to last about 2 weeks!

Excellent point Cranachin! As a native Chicago person, a 2 week spring sounds lengthy

While I love the sound of Newburyport, I am not sure my hubby is loving the idea of snow. While it is not a deal breaker for my, apprently it may be for him.

Tdudette- In Annapolis, it sounds like nice areas are Murray Hill and Eastport? I love the idea of being able to walk to many places but do not need to be in the center of it all. I would not mind being right on the outskirts of the city, maybe close to the water or a park?

Thank you

If you're interested in Newburyport, you should also check out Portsmouth NH. It's only 20 min north and NH doesn't have any income tax. It's smaller than Newburyport but very picturesque with a great restaurant scene.

I also meant to add, I wouldn't expect to pay less than $2100/mo for a 2 bed/2 bath in Newburyport (or Portsmouth for that matter).

One other thing to bear in mind with Annapolis, and also with Newburyport. Hurricanes are not unheard-of along the middle to northern part of the East Coast, and Hurricane Isabel caused a strong tidal surge that devastated low-lying parts of Annapolis in 2004, including the Annapolis Maritime Museum in Eastport. See this article with pictures:

http://www.amaritime.org/isabel.htm

There have been some large and damaging hurricanes in New York and New England as well. Most recently, Hurricane Bob caused notable property damage on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and coastal Rhode Island in 1991. But compared to the so-called Great Hurricane of 1938, Bob was a pussycat. See this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_England_hurricanes

Should you decide to move to any east coast city on the water, bear in mind how low-lying the area is where you're thinking of buying.

Yes, xTx. Both are very close to downtown.

Murray Hill is filled with early and mid-1900s homes with amazing character and the good "bones" designers talk about. The previous site of Annapolis' hospital has been converted to condos and I believe they started with $1 million prices. I daresay the average price in that area would be in the $400,000s. Anyone else have a good idea?

Eastport is more mixed and more nautical. There are expensive condos/townhomes on the Bay and on the Severn. Here you have a better chance of lower-priced home but, in general would need more work. Lots of local flavor (pubs, restaurants) in this immediate area.

Both of the above would be reasonable walks to down town Annapolis. From Murray Hill, if you walk the main street (West) you will pass hotels, galleries, restaurants and banks.

From Eastport you would cross a drawbridge or take the water taxi.

As you move away from down town to the west, West Annapolis has lots of character. Interesting shops and galleries. Wardour is in this area and it's very expensive as many of the homes are on the Severn. Still walkable and I think a bus goes through this area. It is nearer the Naval Academy stadium. The area behind the stadium (I think is called Germantown) has some good looking older homes but not quite the calibre of Murray Hill.

Across the Severn River from the Naval Academy is Pendennis (sp?) Mount-again, some nice places there and pricier as one nears the water. To the SE is Bay Ridge/Thomas Point and surrounding areas. Runs the gamut of prices I'd say but there are some nice places.

No one has mentioned employment. With several colleges, state government and county seat and nearby DC and Baltimore, there are many opportunities. Or, you could become a fisherperson (lol)! 2.5 hours to the ocean (traffic can get miserable on weekends).

If you can spend a few days here first, it would make sense before you leave that weather! As someone else suggested, come in January so you can experience the coldest times.

TDuddette - Thank you SO much for the feedback. That is exactly what I need to know. I do love where we live, it is beautiful and the weather is amazing! But, with our our family back east and so many having babies, I want to be closer. Also, no matter what, we will never be able to buy a house here where we want to live. Although, I do play the lotto, so never say never, right? My dinky little house which is in dire need of repair would cost us over 1 million to buy. The location is awesome but you pay for it.

I like that Eastport has local flavor, that is important to us. Murry Hill may be just out of our price range to buy. Great to know about West Annapolis, I had no idea. It that area called "West Annapolis"?

I think we will need a winter vacation there and then a spring/summer vacation before we commit.

Thank you

I lived in Annapolis (downtown) for 6 years and now live in Newport, RI . Yes, we're Navy. As a matter of fact, I've lived in Monterey as well. I know the prices you are trying to escape!! I prefer the small towns of the North East to Annapolis...I LOVED Annapolis!! There is much more open space here that you may miss terribly when you leave CA. I had a young son when I lived in Annapolis. We walked everywhere...I never wanted to leave the downtown area!! Once you do, you are in the DC traffic and Suburbs!! It's so sad, really. My son had memorized all the plaque colors depending on when the homes were built...1740's etc..So romantic!! Mass and RI are very nice. So many farms here on the Island...It's wonderful! I love all the green space. And being surrounded by water is unbelievable!

The weather is just that. Weather. I remember winters in MD that were worse than the winter we had last year. Although I froze to death in Monterey!! So it is what it is...

Not much help, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in.

Now you've explained a little about what might prompt such a cross continent move, i.e., now living in small rental property, where to raise a family, somewhat nearer more Eastern family...and it seems home-based employment. I still don't see why move from your nice area to another area completely strange. However, I have known more than one Californian (usually dry southern) who did move to some unfamiliar place in the green and hilly Ozarks for instance.

Oh of course...there are many attractive towns in the Newburyport and Annapolis areas...we've enjoyed places like Ipswich MA and Oxford MD and many more so scenic. You have lots of free advice!

Ozarksbill

...." called "West Annapolis"? " Yes, it is. More quiet than Eastport (in general).

One rant about Annapolis is parking. Many tourists come away frustrated about not finding a place to park and with parking tickets in hand from staying more than 2 hours in a residential area!

On the eastern side of the Bay, Centreville, Easton, Chestertown, and Denton are the county seats of 4 Eastern Shore counties close to Bay Bridge. You would be about 1.5 hours to Philly airport and about 45 minutes to Wilmington amtrak station (cheaper fare to NYC from there). On Annapolis side of the Bay, you are about 45 minutes to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall and Amtrak.

Many busses to NYC along the Rte. 95 corridor. Megabus is getting big raves lately with $1 fares if you order early enough!

Will be interested to hear what you decide!