Andover/North Andover, MA

Welcome to Andover and North Andover

Desirable cities known for their cultural and educational roots

Running along the Merrimack River, Andover and North Andover sit west of Boxford State Forest and Harold Parker State Forest. The Carmel Woods Trail, Bay Circuit Trail, Haggetts Pond Trail, Shawsheen River Trail, and Pole Hill trails run through these cities, adding a woodsy flavor. Homes in Andover and North Andover are mainly single-family and historic, sporting renovated Queen Anne Victorian, as well as Georgian, Colonial, and Cape Cod architectural styles. Residents love the quaint and forested feel of Andover and North Andover, and they love being only a 30-minute drive to Boston.

Andover and North Andover are wonderful cities for the arts, education, and culture. Home to Andover Center for History & Culture, Robert S. Peabody Institute for Archaeology, Addison Gallery of American Art, Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens, and North Andover Historical Society, there are so many options making public art and history education accessible for all visitors and residents. The intersection of Main Street and Elm Street is an excellent part of Andover for boutique shopping and restaurants.

What to Love

• 30-minutes to Boston
• Art and history museums
• Accessible to parks and hiking trails
• Boutique shopping and restaurants
• Harold Parker State Forest

Local Lifestyle

Andover and North Andover Residents love living in an area with highly ranked schools, hiking trails, art and history museums, city parks, and the picturesque Merrimack River running through it. These are wonderful cities for anyone appreciating education, art, and culture — all of the perks a major metropolitan city has to offer without living directly in one. And if residents do crave a bustling downtown, Boston is only a short drive away.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

LaRosa’s Café and Bar is known for their creamy pasta like their cascatelli, served with amatriciana, toasted garlic, Calabrian chili, and guanciale. Jade serves fresh sushi and Japanese dishes like shrimp and veggie tempura with white rice. The Loft Restaurant & Pub is the place to go for a perfectly grilled steak or thoughtfully mixed craft cocktail like their rose gin & tonic, prepared with Glendalough’s Rose Infused Gin.

Or if it’s craft brews you seek, Oak & Iron Brewing Company offers seasonal, locally brewed ales and a small food and snack menu. CRACK’D Kitchen & Coffee serves coffee and espresso drinks, smoothies, a lunch menu, and a breakfast menu with hearty breakfast sandwiches with cage-free eggs like The Irishman, prepared with cage-free eggs, Swiss cheese, corned beef, hash brown, and BAM sauce on a brioche bun. If it’s a home-cooked meal you’re after, Butcher Boy Market is a foodie’s paradise selling fresh and local produce and meats and boasts an in-house bakery and deli. For shopping needs, Andover Village Square offers boutique shops and restaurants.

Things to Do

Feaster Five Road Race, a Thanksgiving Day 5K run or walk, attracts hundreds of participants and runs through Andover each year. It is a sight to behold or a fun event to participate in. Weir Hill, a tall peak with stunning views in North Andover, can be reached via a beautiful trek up Stevens Trail. The picturesque Pomps Pond offers the loop trail of Foster’s Island Nature Trail, Lawn Tennis Courts, and Andover Recreation Park. Andover Country Club is a great place to connect with Andover and North Andover’s community and enjoy a day of golfing. Or do it at Indian Ridge Country Club, just west of Andover Country Club.

Schools

Andover and North Andover serve Andover Public Schools. Schools of note include:

• Phillips Academy — Andover
• Andover School of Montessori
• Abbott Academy
• St. Augustine School
• The Pike School
• Andover High School
• Henry C. Sanborn Elementary School