Would you buy a house next to an elementry school?

[CBB]

We've been looking for a house for the last 6mo, and have been very depressed. Here at Boston, houses are ridiculously expensive and old (not to mention no AC in a lot of them). Last weekend, we saw a house that has one of the best school systems in MA (Wellesley, MA). The house is not nearly as perfect as we want, but we do like the neighborhood. The problem is the backyard opens to the field of an elementry school. In a way it's good because DD will have lots of place to play and run. But there is definitely a noise factor. We are planning on checking it out again when school is open. We are also concerned that we may have a problem saling the place few years later because of the school. I just want to hear you ladies' opionion. Would you buy a house if it's next to an elementry school?

Thanks very much!

[new_mommy25]

We don't live right next to a elementary school but we are within a 5 minute walk. We can sometimes hear them playing during recess but it's brief and has never bothered us at all.

ETA: I love that we are right by the school if we do decide to send DS to public school. It makes life a lot easier and I think it is a plus to live so close.

I live very near an elementary school- my neighbor's house across the street backs up to the school. I've lived here almost 2 years and really like the proximity to the school. But here are the pluses and minuses as I see it:

PLUS-
-Walk to school (& walk to school events, it is always hard to find a place to park) and the kids are home quicker.
-school has a nice play structure, basketball hoops, and room to run.
-school has a track that I could walk or run on for exercise.
-in my state it is a BIG fine if you possess drugs in a school zone, so I am hoping that means less drug activity around here.
-people have to drive slower in a school zone, so my kids are safer playing outside.

MINUS-
-noise from playing kids, buses coming and going, etc. (it's actually not bad at my house though).
-school's soccer field is used by local kid's teams on weekends in the fall and spring. Leading to a bunch of traffic and people parking in front of my house.
-on 4th of July people use the school parking lot to light off fireworks, which could be a fire hazzard and is loud.

I'm happy where I am at, and thought being near the school was a big plus... and I don't have kids that go there! My oldest is in Middle School and it will be 4 years before my youngest goes there :)

The only type of school I would consider living near is an elementary school. It sounds like your house is behind the school, as opposed to next to it, is that right? I think that is even better because you wouldn't have to worry about increased traffic on your street at pick up and drop-off time - I think that would be a concern to some people when you went to sell the house.

I would find out what time the school starts and also what time is recess and go back to the house at those times. That will be the times the noise would be the loudest.

If it was on the same street as the house I would pause to think about it due to the traffic, but from what your set up sounds like that's not an issue. In that case I would seriously consider the house and not worry too much about the noise factor.

p.s. I grew up in Wellesley! My parents still live there. Which school does it back up to? Feel free to PM me if you want.

ETA: I would definitely buy in Wellesley. We live in a similar town in another state. I didn't even look in another town because I wanted the school/town/location. My parents have been there for over 30 years and if I moved back to MA I would only live there!

[momathome]

Our house backs the field of an elementary school and it has not been a problem in the 3+ years we have lived here. It is nice to be able to walk the girls over to the playground there during the summer time and noise has really not been an issue. Given Boston real estate, I would jump all over a house in Wellesley - as you pointed out, schools there are excellent and it is a lovely area. :) Good luck!

[jk3]

That would not be a deterrant for me. We live a few blocks from an elementary school + it's great. Kids are always around + the park is nearby. The only problem will be at drop-off and pickup time but if your house backs up to the school you should be okay.

As a sidenote, I love Wellesley! Be sure to look into the Child Study Center at the college - a fabulous preschool. The town is beautiful + there are lots of amenities. If we move to Boston, Wellesley would be my top choice.

Jenn
DS 6/03

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030603/2/5/1/-5/.png

[momma_boo]

I don't know much about living near a school (elementary or others) but I'd definitely prefer an elementary over a middle or high school.

I actually went to Wellesley College and the town seems really nice (although it can be annoying to be in such an affluent town when you're a poor college student). Living in Wellesley, it would be easy to find good baby-sitters at the college (I baby-sat a lot while there). I think the Child Study Center's preschool is also highly regarded. (we used to go and observe the kids playing for my intro psych class).

[C99]

Yes. The house I grew up in was 1 house down from the elementary school yard (which took up 7/8 of the block) where I attended K-2 (it later closed and became a park). I was rarely at school on time because of proximity, but it wasn't a problem with kids, etc. I also live about 5 houses away from the highway here, and that is more of a problem with ambient noise, but I really do not notice it much during the daytime.