Duxbury

Miles from Boston 33

Population 14,248

Median house price $615,000 (January to August 2005)

Tax rate $10.14

Transportation Routes 3, 3A, 14, 53, 139; MBTA; commuter bus service from Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co.

MCAS Duxbury's public school system ranked 55th out of 373 systems statewide, the same as Richmond, according to a Globe analysis of 2004 MCAS results.

Census facts Median family income is $106,245, compared to a national rate of $50,046, and 60 percent of residents held a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to a national rate of 24 percent.

Website www.town.duxbury.ma.us

DUXBURY -- There is a Help Wanted sign, figuratively speaking, hanging in front of Town Hall here.

Since 1987, only two people have held the full-time job as town manager, and when Rocco Longo (the man who had recently held the position) departed in May for Billerica, what seems like a very good job became available.

Consider the description of this South Shore town included in the job description posted on the Duxbury website: ''The town is considered an affluent suburb of Boston where many residents commute to managerial and executive positions in the metropolitan area. Duxbury is a town of choice for families seeking excellent schools, outstanding community services and a pleasant residential atmosphere."

That pleasant residential atmosphere has generated a steady interest in construction. In August alone, $1.9 million in construction permits were issued from Town Hall, according to town records.

It was not managerial jobs in metro Boston that drew the Pilgrims here, it was Duxbury Beach, its shellfish, and Duxbury Bay, the safe harbor nature created long before Myles Standish and John Alden arrived and helped found this town, which was incorporated in 1637.

Today, beach and bay still yield shellfish, with the harvesting regulated by the town harbormaster. Duxbury Beach provides year-round recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, over-the-beach vehicle access, swimming, and fishing.

Education is a critical issue for residents, who allocate $24 million out of an annual budget of $51.8 million in fiscal 2006 for the school system. Some 93 percent of high school graduates move onto higher education, according to town records.

The salary for the next town manager is not yet set, but Longo was earning $110,000 when he left, enough to afford to live in town.

On a recent week, Realtor.com listed 161 single-family homes, ranging from $275,999 for a two-bedroom, one-bath, 1,011-square-foot home to $5.6 million for a six-bedroom, five-bath, 5,800-square-foot home set on 30 acres.

JOHN ELLEMENT

60 Buckboard Road One-family Colonial, built in 1969, 2,522 square feet, 8 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, on 43,996-square-foot lot. $610,000

28 Chapel St. One-family Colonial, built in 1925, 1,356 square feet, 6 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, on 15,682-square-foot lot. $685,000

228 Crescent St. One-family Colonial, built in 1970, 2,656 square feet, 8 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, on 40,075-square-foot lot. $775,000

98 East St. One-family Cape, built in 1970, 1,584 square feet, 6 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, on 58,806-square-foot lot. $469,500

334 Lake Shore Drive One-family Cape, built in 1962, 1,344 square feet, 7 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, on 34,848-square-foot lot. $424,000