Commuter rail
The Newburyport/Rockport line runs through Lynn, Salem, Beverly and out to Cape Ann, with a branch north through Ipswich. Which branch and which station make a real difference to daily life.
The North Shore, Massachusetts
Bringing people home to the North Shore.
Cape Ann and the coast from Nahant up to Ipswich — harbors, historic downtowns, commuter rail into North Station, and shoreline that people hold onto for decades.
Listings
Homes for sale in the North Shore
Orientation
Find your North Shore
The North Shore changes quickly as you move along the coast. Salem, Beverly and Peabody give you downtowns, rail and a wide range of prices. Marblehead, Swampscott and Manchester-by-the-Sea lean toward shoreline and older, established neighborhoods. Gloucester and Rockport are working and seasonal at once, and the inland towns behind them — Topsfield, Boxford, Wenham — trade the coast for land.
It is worth spending a day driving the shore road before you narrow the list. The differences between these towns are easy to feel and hard to read off a listing.
Roads
Route 128 and Route 1 carry most north-south traffic, with Route 127 hugging the coast. Summer weekends load up the shoreline routes.
On the water
Several communities have moorings, launches or seasonal ferry service. If boating is part of the plan, waitlists and harbor rules are worth asking about early.
Travel times depend on your route, your schedule and the day. We look at them with you rather than publishing an average.
Explore by map
See how the North Shore fits together
Hover or select a community to find it on the map, then open its page to explore homes and local guidance.
Municipal boundaries are shown for orientation. Region names reflect the way buyers commonly explore Massachusetts, not government districts.
Communities
A place to start in the North Shore
Begin with a few of the places that best express the region, then explore every community below.
Salem
Historic downtown, rail and a broad mix of housing
Marblehead
Harbor, Old Town lanes and shoreline homes
Beverly
Several distinct villages plus a working downtown
Gloucester
Beaches, harbor neighborhoods and Cape Ann coastline
Rockport
Village center, granite shore and seasonal rhythm
Ipswich
Marshland, beach and a very old town center
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Harbor village, Singing Beach and commuter rail
Nahant
Peninsula living, beaches and ocean views close to Boston
All communities
Every city and town in the North Shore
Explore the cities and towns that make up the North Shore. If a place does not yet have its own guide, ask us for a local introduction.
Buying here
What to look at in the North Shore
Coastal insurance and flood zones
Near the water, flood zone designation and wind coverage change what a home costs to own. Ask for the flood determination and an insurance quote before you are under contract.
Private wells and septic
Inland and in parts of Cape Ann, homes may be on well and septic. Massachusetts Title 5 requires a septic inspection for most transfers — build the timing into your offer.
Old houses, honestly
Antique homes are common and many are wonderful. Bring an inspector who knows them, and look closely at sills, chimneys, knob-and-tube wiring and past water intrusion.
Bean Group Team
Massachusetts Bean Group Team Members
Bean Group team members licensed in Massachusetts who work with buyers and sellers in the North Shore.
Sharon Bean
Executive PartnerReal Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Susan Penta
Real Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Rhonda Haley
Real Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Common questions
Questions people ask about buying in The North Shore
Where does the North Shore start and stop?
For our purposes it runs from Nahant and Lynn along the coast through Salem, Beverly and Cape Ann up to Ipswich, plus the inland towns just behind them. Everything north of the Merrimack is in our Merrimack Valley region instead.Can I commute into Boston from here?
Many people do, by rail or by car. Both vary quite a bit by town and by time of day, so we look at your actual schedule rather than quoting an average.Is the market seasonal?
Partly. Coastal listings pick up in spring and summer, and some inventory is second-home oriented, especially on Cape Ann. Year-round demand is steady in the rail towns.
Thinking about the North Shore?
Tell us what you are looking for and we will point you at the right towns — including the ones you have not thought of yet.