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Many of
these suburbs represent some of Massachusetts' most desirable
living environments, blending remnants of picturesque farmland and
sprawling open spaces with truly elegant estates and charming neighborhoods.
Rustic ambiance blends effortlessly with metropolitan sophistication
in these towns.
Considering
the cultural, employment, and recreational amenities available in
nearby Boston, the suburbs represent the ideal mix of sophistication
and relaxation. Convenience is another factor, since most residents
can find shopping, services and recreation facilities close to home.
Strict zoning laws, careful planning and a cooperative spirit between
residents and local government have worked together to protect the
area’s natural beauty in the midst of considerable growth and
expansion.
The quality
of public education in the Boston suburbs is so highly acclaimed that
this factor alone entices a significant number of newcomers. Healthcare
throughout Greater Boston is enhanced by the cutting-edge research
and development programs in the globally acclaimed hospitals and medical
centers.
Regardless of where you settle in Boston’s attractive suburbs,
you can look forward to an exceptional quality of life on the periphery
of one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan centers.
Acton
Acton is a suburban community located 25 miles northwest of Boston.
Although Acton's population has almost tripled in the last three decades,
the town has retained much of its rural New England character, as
evidenced by the traditional town center and green, with fine examples
of historic architecture, and the stone walls and tree-lined country
roads. However, Acton is well prepared for the 21st century. Acton
affords a full range of services to its residents and businesses,
including an active town government, top-notch libraries, a nationally
accredited police department, a full-time fire department, and local
and regional school systems that are ranked among the top in the state.
Commerce continues to thrive and grow in Acton due in large part to
its prime location along Routes 2, 27 and 111, the commuter train
stop, and its proximity to Route 495. A wide range of retail stores
and services, a community theater, various types of commercial recreation
and several museums can all be found in Acton.
Arlington
Arlington, founded over 350 years ago, remains proud of its history,
even as it has grown into a thoroughly modern community. The birthplace
of Uncle Sam, the location of the first public children's library,
and the site of most of the fighting when the British marched through
it returning from the Old North Bridge at the start of the Revolutionary
War, Arlington has preserved many of its historical buildings and
even recreated its town common. Once a thriving agriculture and mill
town, Arlington's excellent access to metropolitan Boston has made
it a very desirable place to live. Its diverse population has demanded
good schools and recreation facilities, making it attractive to families.
Commercial development centers along Massachusetts Avenue, which traverses
the Mill Brook valley. Residences are located on the flat, former
agricultural land in East Arlington or on either side of the slopes
of the east-west "Mass Ave" corridor. Townspeople have recently
instituted a visioning process to articulate the community's goals
as it continues to adapt to ever changing times. Population diversity,
education, business, care for the environment, encouragement of culture,
and citizen involvement have been reaffirmed. Just seven miles from
Boston, Arlington is a firmly established and highly developed bedroom
community. It is well known for its strong spirit, keen cultural appreciation
and active involvement in civic and social organizations. An outstanding
public educational system and expansive recreational facilities adds
to its attraction. The town has many tree shaded streets with single
family and multi family homes.
Bedford
Bedford is located 15 miles northwest of Boston. The town was founded
in 1729, and has retained both natural and architectural beauty. Visitors
to Bedford find an attractive historic district and town common in
the center, the famous Bedford Flag on display in the library, the
1790 Job Lane house and several national historic landmarks. Annual
celebrations include "Pole Capping" in April, when the Bedford
Minuteman Company re-enacts a Revolutionary era tradition, and "Bedford
Day" in September, celebrated with a parade, street fair and
dancing. Bedford residents enjoy many services. Education is a top
priority, with the schools well known for scoring competitively by
all standards. The library serves everyone and has active children's
programs. A senior center, open daily, offers health and leisure services.
An in-town minibus service runs weekdays. There are recreation programs
for all ages, including after-school day-care, and summer day camp.
Outdoor facilities include a swimming pond, a lake for boating, a
bike path to Cambridge, and walking trails through conservation lands.
All services are voted by the residents at Bedford's open town meeting.
The town is home to a mix of business and industry, which with Middlesex
Community College, a veteran's hospital and Hanscom Air Base, employ
some 23,000 people. The unique quality within Bedford is its community
spirit. With diverse ethnic, religious and special interest groups,
Bedfordites make a conscious effort to be inclusive.
Belmont
Belmont is a pleasant, residential suburb, which has unexpectedly
achieved international notoriety as the childhood home of the bride
of the Crown Prince of Japan. Residents report polite but persistent
Japanese tourists knocking on likely doors hoping to discover the
Princess's former house, and international tour guides persist in
planning tours of the affluent community. Before the Prince found
his Cinderella, Belmont was a quiet community on the western suburban
corridor of Boston, situated on the divide between the watersheds
of the Charles and the Mystic Rivers. The town was largely agricultural
until the early 19th century when the turnpike and railroad linked
the area to Boston, stimulating the creation of several large suburban
estates. Although there were extensive market gardens in Belmont,
the town underwent rapid subdivision development when trolley routes
connected it directly to Boston. A Belmont farmer was the first to
import and breed Holstein cows, and historians note that the conservatories
on an estate in Belmont sparked the first use of hothouses to grow
fruit and vegetables commercially. This was done so successfully that
huge Belmont market gardens under glass produced enough fruit to make
the town first in the country in the value of its fruit products and
second in the country for vegetables during some years in the 19th
century. A small town of about 4.6 square miles, Belmont residents
are proud of their quiet, well-mannered community and appear unexcited
by its present fame. Belmont is strategically situated in close proximity
to downtown Boston, Cambridge and local highways. Rich in culture
and conveniences, Belmont harmonizes the advantages of social and
retail amenities with the quiet charm of a suburban lifestyle. Belmont
offers an excellent a vibrant town center, educational programs, and
recreation facilities.
Burlington
Originally part of Woburn, Burlington became a precinct of Woburn
in 1730. Burlington was incorporated as a town on February 28, 1799.
Burlington is sited on the watersheds of the Ipswich, Mystic and Shawsheen
Rivers. It is now a suburban industrial town at the junction of the
Boston-Merrimac corridor but for most of its history it was almost
entirely agricultural, selling hopes and rye to Boston and supplementing
that income with small shoe making shops. Early railroad expansion
passed the town by, limiting its early development, and Burlington
continued to cure hams for the Boston market and produce milk, fruit
and vegetables. This picture changed drastically, however, as soon
as Route 128 was built. The highway kicked off an enormous expansion,
and between 1955 and 1965 Burlington was the fastest growing town
in the state. In one five year period, its population tripled as residential
and commercial retail development exploded creating the town's present
character. Burlington has a fine balance of residential areas, expansive
retail sector and a flourishing industrial base. The community’s
convenient highway access and extensive transportation options make
it ideal for commuters. Housing choices range from older homes in
the heart of town to newer styles in planned developments.
Carlisle
Just north of Concord, Carlisle is younger and less populated than
its historic neighbor. Carlisle is a rural community that has preserved
its country atmosphere. Mostly residential, Carlisle requires a generous
minimum acreage for housing lots, this encouraging the construction
of spacious and attractive homes. There are no highways or industrial
complexes in Carlisle. Carlisle is rich in wildlife conservation,
hiking paths, cross country skiing and riding trails. The Town of
Carlisle offers peaceful residential living located within a short
ride of Boston. Carlisle maintains a rich tradition in the preservation
of open space and scenic ways and almost 20% of the town's 15 square
miles is dedicated conservation land. The town serves as the home
of the only working cranberry bog in Middlesex County and also offers
residents and visitors the beauty of Great Brook State Farm Park,
numerous hiking trails and open fields. Carlisle maintains a small-town
atmosphere with the enthusiastic support of its citizenry. The town
operates by the historic open town meeting form of government and
its residents volunteer their time to serve on the town's boards and
committees. Carlisle also offers an excellent elementary school system
and is joined with the Town of Concord to offer a quality high school
education.
Concord
Named in 1635, Concord is an old historic town on the western axis of suburban
Boston. Located at the junction of the Concord/Sudbury/Assabet Rivers,
Concord was settled early by the English as a frontier outpost of
the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was the first interior, non-tidal
water town in Massachusetts. The community had also been the site
of seasonal Indian camps because of the plentiful runs of shad, salmon
and herring. Concord still retains many well-preserved colonial houses,
nine of them on or near Concord green and witnesses of the famous
Battle of Concord. In this historic battle which ushered in the Revolutionary
War, a column of British infantry was badly mauled by colonists during
a 16-mile long running battle that saw 273 British and 95 American
dead. Concord also has a significant literary history, having been
the home of the leaders of the intellectual movements of 19th century
America. Louisa May Alcott, Bronson Alcott, Emerson and Hawthorne
lived in Concord at one time or another and Thoreau wrote his internationally
known philosophical treatise at Walden Pond in Concord. Concord evolved
from a frontier town into a prosperous regional center with a mixed
society including small yeoman farmers, affluent gentry and immigrants
from Italy and Norway. There are high-style, handsome houses as relics
of this affluent society along with some country estates. One of the
well-preserved sights in the community is the Victorian Gothic state
prison built in 1878 and still housing prisoners. Skyrocketing land
prices in the real estate boom of the 1980's resulted from Concord's
proximity to Boston and the 128 technical/industrial corridor, coupled
with a vigorous regional economy. Rich
in history Concord has preserved its historic landmarks and it’s
tradition of character and independence. A quiet, comfortable suburb
with active community involvement, Concord features convenient commuter
rail service and a vibrant downtown shopping area. Outstanding schools
guarantee a quality education. Recreational amenities include golf
courses, boating on the many rivers, country clubs, and national park
trails.
Lexington
Few towns typify the New England spirit like Lexington. The Town of Lexington
is an affluent community that prides itself on the beauty of town
land, the safety of its residents, and the excellence of its public
school system makes it one of the state’s finest. The town has
numerous parks, conservation lands, museums and libraries that provide
exceptional opportunities for recreational and cultural activities.
The town's physical location, residents feel, is ideal, allowing easy
access to Boston, the Atlantic ocean, the White Mountains and many
important historical sites in the state. Lexington's citizens are
especially active in town affairs. The representative town meeting
is comprised of 199 members and over 50 standing committees ensure
that the desires of the community are heard and addressed. Particular
attention is given to preserving the town's strong historical importance
as the birthplace of the American Revolution. The annual Patriot's
Day celebration in April, complete with a re-enactment of Paul Revere's
ride and the battle with the British, is one of the town's most popular
events. Preservation of land is of utmost importance to its townspeople.
Recreational facilities abound with indoor ice skating facilities,
tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, conservation trails and
bike path.
Lincoln
The
Town of Lincoln is a small suburb west of Boston with a strong sense
of place. It began as a rural farming community made up of pieces
of land nipped from adjacent towns; hence its nickname was once "Niptown".
The town also became a popular site for country estates, of which
some have become schools, museums, town buildings or parks. Retention
of open space and protection of its rural character against an encroaching
age of urban development are extremely important to the community.
To that end, Lincoln was one of the first towns to create a Conservation
Commission that has, with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, acquired
key parcels of land throughout the town. Significant areas of the
town are now preserved against development, providing protection for
wild life and water supply and creating conservation trails for use
by the public. Residents note that Lincoln is a quiet pretty place
to be whether to visit a museum or walk in the woods all year round.
Sudbury
Sudbury is a charming community located approximately 20 miles west
of Boston, along the major highways of Route 20 in the south and Route
117 in the north, and bisected by Route 27. Rooted deeply in history,
Sudbury is known for Longfellow's Inn, including The Redstone Schoolhouse
where Mary brought her little lamb, the Grist Mill and the Martha
Mary Chapel. The town is also noted for its excellent domestic underground
water supply, excellent schools and well-managed government. Sudbury
is one of the older towns in the New England area, being incorporated
in 1639, and it has one of the oldest and longest-running open meeting
forms of government.
Waltham
Waltham
is a metropolitan city of 57,000, situated nine miles from Boston,
encompassing a total area of 13.6 square miles. The Charles River
cuts a path through the southern section of Waltham used throughout
history for transport, water, and industry. Today, the Charles River
has given way to Route 128 as the main economic center in the city.
In the Greater Boston area, Waltham has the second largest office
market behind Boston. Waltham has a diverse housing stock, with dense
multi-family housing in the southern section of the city and larger
lot single-family housing in the northern section. The City also boasts
large park and open space facilities such as Prospect Hill Park an
the Robert Treat Paine Estate. With an aggressive revitalization program,
Waltham is witnessing the rebirth of its historic downtown and is
providing better public access to its greatest natural resource, the
Charles River.
Winchester
Conveniently
located just eight miles northwest of Boston, the Town of Winchester
has developed from its seventeenth century colonial village beginnings
into a thriving residential community noted for its fine public school
system, beautiful homes and easy access to Boston. Settled in the
early 1600's by citizens from Charlestown, the village was first known
as Waterfield and became part of Woburn, the neighboring city to the
North. Originally an agricultural community with upland farms on the
western side of town near Lexington, the tiny village of 200 settlers
evolved into a bustling mill town, with the advent of the Middlesex
Canal and the Boston and Lowell Railroad (now Boston and Maine commuter
rail) in the early 1800's. Grist mills, tanneries and small factories
along the banks of the Aberjona River created a lively industrial
village. The Village declared its independence from Woburn in 1850,
and the town fathers honored a local gentleman, Colonel William P.
Winchester, by giving the new town his name. The late 1800's saw the
development of Winchester as an affluent suburban community, as wealthy
businessmen from Boston moved out to "the country" and built
substantial homes. The town's character is still largely reflected
in the beautiful houses built just before and after the turn of the
century. The village atmosphere remains, however, fueled by the unusual
civic spirit of Winchester's residents. The citizens of the town take
a deep interest in the management of the town's affairs and in its
continued improvement and beautification. Local organizations produce
annual events which have become traditions and part of the Winchester
way of life. A serene setting, three lakes and an outstanding school
system are just a few of the attractions this town has to offer. Homes
are available in a pleasing range of prices and architectural styles.
Lush parks offer a wealth of recreational opportunities.
Woburn
Once a small town, Woburn has evolved into a well balanced city. Excellent
transportation services and highway options make Woburn a desirable
choice for commuters. Woburn’s school system provides quality
education. They have excellent recreational opportunities including
lakes, golf and country club, sports fields, ice skating rink and
walking trails. The City of Woburn occupies 13.1 miles of the Fells
Upland and is a suburban industrial city located along the upper Mystic
Valley. Incorporated in 1642, Woburn became an early manufacturing
center, tanning leather and making shoes. Production was large enough
so that during the King Philip's Wars, town taxes were partially paid
in shoes. The smallpox epidemic of 1675 cut deeply into the town's
population. The Middlesex Canal from Boston opened in 1803 and the
Boston and Lowell Railroad in 1835. Woburn continued to make boots
and shoes and in 1855 made $280,000 in footwear, but by 1865 there
had been a shift away from manufacturing shoes and toward the production
of leather. In that year alone, the tanneries of Woburn shipped $1.7
million of leather and Woburn was at the head of the tanning industry
in the country. Immigrants from Ireland, Nova Scotia and Canada moved
to Woburn to take the jobs in the tanneries and in 1884, 26 large
tanneries employed 1500 men producing $4.5 million worth of leather.
Henry Thayer of Woburn originated chrome tanning, which took the place
of bark tanning, in 1901. The tan yards clearly supplemented the city's
subsistence farming from the earliest settlement times. By 1915 there
was some diversification in the city's economy and residents were
making ice cream, machine tools, mops and paper boxes among other
things. Woburn developed as an early English town settlement and has
a notable early burying ground. Suburban growth began in the mid-19th
century and has continued
Information
from Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.
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