The peninsula town of Hull, Massachusetts, is known as an excellent summer home location. In fact, quite a few movers-and-shakers have called Hull home during the warmer months; these include Calvin Coolidge, several members of the extended Kennedy clan, and the former mayor of Boston, John F. Fitzgerald, better known by the locals as Honey Fitz.
Hull is a little town located on the Massachusetts Bay, right at the entrance of the Boston Harbor (you remember this famous landmark and home of the Boston Tea Party from high school history, right?)
The peninsula town of Hull, Massachusetts, is known as an excellent summer home location. In fact, quite a few movers-and-shakers have called Hull home during the warmer months; these include Calvin Coolidge, several members of the extended Kennedy clan, and the former mayor of Boston, John F. Fitzgerald, better known by the locals as Honey Fitz.
Hull is a little town located on the Massachusetts Bay, right at the entrance of the Boston Harbor (you remember this famous landmark and home of the Boston Tea Party from high school history, right?). The coastal city functions as a bedroom community for those commuting into the larger nearby cities of Boston and Dorchester. Hull has a history of life saving; an estimated 1,000 people have been saved from shipwrecks by members of the Humane Society in Hull over the years. If you're into the beach, you'll love living in Hull, as it has one of the nicest beaches in New England, complete with boardwalk and beautiful homes just yards from the sand.
Moving to Hull
If you will be moving to Hull, it's important to realize that the prices for rental apartments are among the highest in the country. With that said, they pale in comparison to the prices for some of the more upscale beach towns in Massachusetts and other areas of New England. So if you look at it that way, the prices are actually quite reasonable for the area that you'll be moving to. While there are a few complexes in Hull, chances are good that your apartment search will lead you to a lot of multifamily homes. Many of these homes are older but still in excellent condition.
Before looking for an apartment for rent in Hull, decide ahead of time how much you can spend, then take a look at your income to be sure that it will support your budget. General wisdom says that you should spend a maximum of 30% of your income on rent. In some cases, it might be more feasible to try to rent with a roommate if possible; instead of looking for a one-bedroom apartment for rent, try expanding your search to two-bedroom apartments.
Neighborhoods of Hull
Hull can be broken down into three main neighborhoods, each encompassing a different part of the peninsula town.
Town Center: The town center of Hull is made up of the northernmost third of the peninsula, as well as Spinnaker Island. This is where homes are the priciest, and you will enjoy some great views from any of the waterfront homes here. On the island itself, you can grab some fresh veggies at the Hull Farmers Market, or cross the bridge and take a stroll through Mariner's Park.
Nantasket Beach: It has been said that Nantasket Beach is one of the best beaches in New England, which is a pretty lofty designation! The sand is fine and nearly white, and the boardwalk is quaint and fun. Stop in at Paragon Grill for dinner after a day on the beach, or hang out for a while at Beachfront, where you can people-watch while enjoying a few cold ones.
Strait's Pond: This section of Hull is the furthest south and features the most affordable prices. If you want to live in Hull but are afraid that your checking account might not support living in the northern section, this area is not only reasonably priced, but has a very low crime rate. There aren't a lot of local amenities here, but you can grab a coffee at Marilou's News without leaving this section of town.
Life in Hull
Obviously, one of the biggest draws of this seaside community is the sea! You'll be able to go sailing in the summer, and you can watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the water, depending on which side of the peninsula you call home. You'll want to visit the Paragon Carousel and Museum, which has been restored in its original location from the early 20th century. You also won't want to miss seeing the Old Water Tower at Fort Revere Park, nor the Hull Lifesaving Museum.
Are you artsy, or do you wish you were? You'll find painters on Nantasket Beach quite often, and there's also an art gallery, where you can check out the work of the locals. If sports are more your thing, catch a youth baseball, football or basketball game on the weekends. Of course, you might want to root on those Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins or the New England Patriots, if you're more interested in the major league sports of baseball, basketball, hockey or football.
Speaking of Boston, the major city is only about 45 minutes away by car, if you don't run into any of those legendary Massachusetts drivers. Since it's likely that you will hit traffic, you might be better off taking the MBTA bus or even the MBTA commuter boat.
