Where to Live
About Braintree
Named after the English town of Braintree in 1640, this city is the birthplace to Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, as well as statesman John Hancock and General Sylvanus Thayer.
About Brookline
Brookline's evolution from an agricultural to a suburban residential community began when wealthy merchants purchased farms and built summer homes. As transportation routes were developed, Brookline became more readily accessible to Boston. It is home to world-class hospitals such as Children’s Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Brookline residents can enjoy strolls in local parks and shopping and entertainment in Coolidge Corner.
About Cambridge
Across the river from Boston proper is Cambridge, home of prestigious universities like MIT and Harvard. With several distinct squares (Harvard Square, Central Square and Kendall Square), Cambridge’s diversity appeals to many people. It is also made convenient by the MBTA Red Line subway. Cambridge is home to a variety of unique restaurants and shops, as well as historically and culturally significant landmarks. Surrounding areas include Watertown, Somerville and the famous Charles River.
About Canton
The Town of Canton is a primarily residential community conveniently situated 18 miles southwest of Boston. The town enjoys a prime location with easy and direct access to the state's major highways. Canton provides a high level of municipal services to its residents, including an excellent library, school system and recreation programs.
About Concord
Well known for its historical relevance, Concord has a rich literary history as well. Concord was home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorn and Henry David Thoreau. This significant collection of literary talent in one small town led Henry James to call Concord "the biggest little place in America." Bordered by the towns of Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland and Acton, Concord is only 19 miles from Boston and 23 miles from Nashua, NH.
About Dedham
As the second Town established by the General Court in 1635, Dedham is rich in history and culture and is the site of the earliest surviving framed house in New England, the handsome 1737 Fairbanks House. Dedham offers a very active Community House, Wilson Mountain Recreactional reservation, Home of Nobles & Greenough School, Urusline Academy, Dedham Country Day and the Rashi Jewish Day School.
About Dover
Dover is a rural suburban community southwest of Boston. Incorporated in 1784, Dover relied on agriculture until the late 18th century when mills were developed. Since the late 19th century it has been a residential community with semi-rural character. Dover was ranked #1 in the Boston Magazine/Babson College survey of "the healthiest towns in greater Boston!" Thousands of acres of outdoor recreational areas sprinkled throughout the town.
About Foxboro
Known to its residents as "the gem of Norfolk County," Foxboro prides itself on its small town community feeling. The town is well-known as the home of the New England Patriots National Football League franchise.
About Framingham
The Town of Framingham is located mid-way between Boston and Worcester and is the hub of the Metro-West region. Framingham offers a unique blend of urban and rural qualities. The vibrant retail area along Route 9 lies close by quiet residential areas and the town common. The historic strengths of the town have been its location and its people.
About Franklin
The Town of Franklin is a suburban industrial community on the watershed between the Charles and the Blackstone Rivers and is one of the highest towns in Norfolk County. Franklin named itself in 1778 to honor Benjamin Franklin.
About Hingham
The town's history is reflected in its many immaculately kept antique houses. Hingham is divided into six historic districts which will help the town maintain its unique character in the future. Hingham is proud of its location on the water, and construction of a new harbor park further expands the public use of Hingham Harbor
About Lincoln
Home to Walden Pond and the Minuteman National Historic Park, Lincoln is a small community with heritage in agriculture, land preservation and historical significance. Close to Waltham, Cambridge and Lexington, Lincoln has a commuter rail stop on the Fitchburg line. Lincoln is also home to the famous deCordova sculpture park and museum. Additionally, Boston Magazine named Lincoln-Sudbury High School one of the top 20 public high schools in Massachusetts in its September 2010 issue.
About Milford
Milford offers many advantages to residents and visitors alike: an education system with modern facilities and excellent curriculum, newly constructed/rehabilitated municipal buildings, playing fields and parks for active/passive recreation, major shopping malls, a revitalized downtown, a Cultural Center, a regional hospital and a variety of restaurants and hotels.
About Milton
Milton is an affluent suburban community between the Neponset River and the Blue Hills. Boston investors, seeing the potential of the town and its proximity to the city, provided the capital to develop 18th century Milton as an important industrial site with an iron slitting mill, paper and sawmills and the first chocolate factory in New England in 1764. Milton’s public school system is known for its French Immersion program and the town is home of Milton Academy. Its Blue Hills Reservation recreational area stretches over 7,000 acres.
About Natick
Natick is a suburban industrial center on the upper basin of the Charles and Concord Rivers with an extensive complex of ponds. The town has become an industrial Boston-oriented suburban community with heavy strip development on Route 9.
About Needham
The Town of Needham is located on rocky uplands within a loop of the Charles River, almost isolated from the surrounding countryside. Modern Needham remains a pleasant heavily suburban community with good access to Boston for commuters and a significant number of local job slots.
About Newton
Newton, known as the Garden City, is a diverse, vibrant community comprised of 14 villages. Newton is desirable as a place to live and work due to its proximity and easy access to Boston, its attractive neighborhoods and its high property values. Newton is also highly regarded for its well-run municipal government and a strong, nationally-recognized school system.
About Norwood
Major corporations have found Norwood's proximity to Boston and access to major east coast population centers to be attractive for business. The town is now considered one of the more important manufacturing, suburban-residential, and wholesale and retail trade centers south of Boston.
About Quincy
Known by outsiders as the City of Presidents, Quincy is known by residents as an urban commercial and business center serving surrounding towns. Linked to Boston by rapid transit, Quincy has some characteristics of a suburban bedroom community, while retaining the earmarks of an urban center with its strong commercial and shopping areas.
About Randolph
Fifteen miles south of Boston, lies Randolph, a town whose location has been an important factor in its economic and social history. Today, as Randolph celebrates two full centuries as a town, the community feels itself to be one of the most culturally diverse municipalities on the South Shore.
About Somerville
Somerville lies next to Cambridge and is a lively and fun place to live. With Davis Square and the Minuteman Trail, Somerville offers single and multi-family neighborhoods with metropolitan flare. Davis Square offers live music, restaurants and cultural venues.
About Southborough
With nearly 25% of the town covered by the Sudbury Reservoir, Southborough has retained a low density rural/suburban character. Located in the heart of New England and crossed by major highways, Southborough is a convenient location for both residence and business.
About Stoughton
The Town of Stoughton is a medium sized suburban community with lots of diversity. Stoughton is a very comfortable community in which to live and work and has excellent schools.
About Wellesley
As a part of the Greater Boston area, Wellesley is surrounded by Newton, Weston, Needham, Dover and Natick. It is well known for both Wellesley and Babson College, but also has a well regarded public education service. In 2007 Wellesley High School was ranked the 70th best public high school in the country (U.S. News & World Report). The town has a small Historic District and most of the houses in this district were built around the 1860s, making them protected buildings certified by the town's historic commission.
About West Roxbury
West Roxbury bordered by Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. Its main thoroughfare is Centre Street, lined with great local restaurants and commercial establishments. Today, the neighborhood's tree-lined streets and mostly single family homes give it a suburban feel in an urban setting.
About Weston
Weston is the wealthiest suburb in the Boston area and has the highest per capita income in Massachusetts. Weston is among the 100 most affluent towns with 1,000 or more households in the United States. Weston also has the number one public school system in Massachusetts, according to Boston Magazine (2009). The Town of Weston is an attractive suburban town on the perimeter of metropolitan Boston. The public education services of the town are well regarded, especially Weston High School; in 2007 it was ranked 60th best public high school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, earning a Gold Medal. Historically, Weston was incorporated in 1714 and remained a dry down from 1838-2008.
About Westwood
In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to live in the United States. The 11.1 square miles of Westwood is surrounded by Needham, Dedham, Canton, Norwood, Walpole and Dover. Largely populated by families, Westwood has five elementary schools and a new high school. The high school includes a multi-use artificial turf field and a synthetic track, both of which are open to the public. Westwood is home of Xavarian Brother’s High School. Westwood also boasts the Hale Reservation recreational area, which stretches over 1,100 acres between Westwood and Dover.
About Weymouth
Weymouth is the second oldest town in the Commonwealth and the site of the first town meeting. As a coastal community, Weymouth provides much in recreational activity. The town offers an extensive program in water safety and swimming instruction and boaters can enjoy the waters of Quincy and Hingham Bays.
