Moving to Greater Boston Area - Thoughts on Newton?

Submitted by nomjs t3_105rn12 in massachusetts

Hi all!

I posted in r/Boston as well, hoping it’s ok if I post here as well. I got a ton of helpful input, and hoping to get even more!

My wife and I are moving from Arkansas. We will both be working in Longwood Medical Area. We’d like to live in a somewhat more suburban area than Boston, but in a city that is walkable (shops, etc) and an easy commute (~20-30 minutes). We have two children, both less than 5 years old. We are in our mid-30s.

We keep hearing good things about Newton, but I wanted to see if I could get a broader range of input about the city. Specifically, is it a good place for families? Are the schools as good as the reputation they have? Anything else we should know?

Thanks!

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Comments

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therapeutic-distance t1_j3cci2i wrote

Hope you have tons of money. Most people can't afford to live in Newton. It is a very affluent community.

If you can afford Newton, I would also check out Wellesley and Sherborn.

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goPACK17 t1_j3cdmgi wrote

Second this, if you can afford Newton, all of MA is probably an option for you as well. Other walkable yet suburban towns around Boston: Watertown, Arlington, Lexington, Waltham. I think parts of Brookline may fit the bill as well, but that city is generally pretty urban.

Avoid Weston, Dover, Wellesley for the most part. Absolutely beautiful towns and extremely wealthy, but they're mostly residential and you wouldn't have much to walk to.

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nomjs OP t1_j3dkh45 wrote

Wife would not be happy if nothing to walk to, so noted!

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goPACK17 t1_j3dl2kq wrote

Newton does sound like a great option as well though, so best of luck and welcome to MA!

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EconomySeaweed7693 t1_j3jytv3 wrote

lexington and waltham are walkable... that is news to me.

Lexington is less dense than Wellesley and North Waltham which is the expensive part of town is just Lexington lite.

Arlington and Watertown are more walkable though.

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MikeD123999 t1_j3cm9e9 wrote

Newton seems more city like…. More stuff happening and more people. Sherborn seems more country, my uncle lived in dover which is next town over and there didnt seem like a lot to do, just a few stores in the center, less people around.

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nomjs OP t1_j3dkjds wrote

This is the kind of stuff that is super helpful for me as an outsider to know

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Open_Concentrate962 t1_j3dy43n wrote

Newton is better described as a collection of a half dozen villages each with a different vibe and co$t. It is polynuclear in a way that many other suburbs are not. Amenities in one are not found in another. Transit and walkability is also highly varied. Used to live there as a renter but could not afford to purchase there.

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TheColonelRLD t1_j3f9cap wrote

We have "NewMo" now, it's an on-demand municipal transportation service that picks you up and drops you off for $2.50 anywhere in Newton. I've used it a couple times and the drivers have all been super friendly too.

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Redz4u t1_j3ciqj7 wrote

Also try Needham. West Roxbury would also meet your requirements

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nomjs OP t1_j3dkkus wrote

We have added Needham to the list!

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EconomySeaweed7693 t1_j3jyzi4 wrote

>West Roxbury is zoned for Boston Public which is something families need to consider

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Redz4u t1_j3mn7cq wrote

I have found our bps schools to be great and when living in Boston you have access to metro west suburban schools with out suburban housing price tags

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SirCalebCrawdad t1_j3gpzbo wrote

OP, don't go to Wellesley. It's filled with a ton of nosy assholes that constantly want to keep up with the Jones's. Many of the women around the town don't work which gives them even more time to be super nosy. There is absolutely NOTHING to do there and the general vibe is affluent phoniness, all jealous of their neighbors to the north with real, true, and OLD (white) money in Weston.

Wellesley absolutely sucks. Trust me. Lived there for 5 years and couldn't handle people peeking into my world so often.

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nomjs OP t1_j3djc9n wrote

Many thanks for the input!

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BandwagonReaganfan t1_j3cct1s wrote

Yes Newton is one of the premier towns in Massachusetts and probably the United States for that matter. It will tick all of the boxes. No disrespect intended but good luck affording this place

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nomjs OP t1_j3dje47 wrote

This seems to be a running theme in the comments haha

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fruit_cats t1_j3e5h84 wrote

Yeah it’s a really nice place, but it is expensive.

The median income in $164,000 and the average home price last year was 1.3m.

However if you can afford it it’s lovely!

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Thatguyyoupassby t1_j3ehpos wrote

And that median income is honestly a joke. Maybe if it’s per head in a household.

A family of 4 in Newton, owning a house, likely need $350K+/year minimum.

Since OP and his partner are both in Longwood, I imagine they are both in the medical field and will have sufficient income, but yeah, Newton is beautiful, close to Boston, with T access (that even goes directly to longwood), top notch schools, and a decent amount to do within the community, all of which make it wicked expensive.

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wafflekween t1_j3f3bxj wrote

I think it really depends on what their careers are - I worked in Longwood (Children’s) for four years and left making $68k.

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Thatguyyoupassby t1_j3f3iwl wrote

Certainly possible, it just seems like 2 people relocating from Arkansas and working in Longwood, simplest solution is that they are both MDs or researchers. Not a certainty, but definitely the likeliest.

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nkdeck07 t1_j3ea29x wrote

To give an idea what Newton is like I used to live there in a literal mansion. The reason I was in said literal mansion was because my roommates dad had bought the place cause he didn't want a builder impacting his Mom's view and decided to rent it out to keep the place occupied.

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TheColonelRLD t1_j3f912r wrote

I'm renting in Newton, 2 Bedroom, $1950/month. It's a bit of a unicorn, but there are good apartments out there.

I'm not sure if others have mentioned it, but pretty much all rentals go through brokers in MA, and they charge one month's rent. There are a bunch of threads on Reddit you can check out that talk about it. It's definitely annoying, and seems to be unique to the area, but I just wanted you to have a heads up before you wade into the water and think they're all scamming you. They kind of are, but there's really no way around it. I've lived in six apartments in greater Boston and I paid a broker for all of them.

Also, apartments go really fast, especially for the September season. When I'm hunting I go to look at apartments ready to put in an application on the spot, checking with the broker beforehand about any documents I need. A lot of times apartments will be off the market within a day or two of being listed. So acting with urgency when something checks all the boxes is key.

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chengbinzhang2010 t1_j3cgdeg wrote

Wife and I recently moved to Newton from JP (we've also lived all over the state including Quincy, Malden, Allston, Brighton, etc.). So we have a pretty good sample size over 15 years.

- Everyone here will complain about Newton being pricy and it is. But there's a wide spectrum of neighborhoods within Newton. Waban is the most affluent part and you have areas like Nonantum that are relatively less expensive. The beauty is you have access to the public schools which are quite good. A decent condo ~500-600k. For an existing single family home ~$800-1mil+. New constructions can run $2+ million dollars. I would try to avoid any home too close to the I90 or Route 9. It's very loud and has bad resale value.

- We chose Newton because it balances convenience vs public school. There's a green line running through Newton which means you can actually take the T into the city (Longwood) if you want. That's a huge plus because many other suburbs with decent schools don't have access to the T. Brookline being an exception but they're even more expensive :).

- Newton isn't as diverse as Boston. It's predominantly Caucasians and Asians. HOWEVER, it is still MORE diverse than most other suburbs (ex. Weston, Wellesley, Dover, etc.).

- Infrastructure is old so there's always new utilities being updated. The residents generally care about their communities and it's relatively safe. Expect to find a lot of families and kids.

- Annoying thing about living here is people try to price gouge you for any home repair jobs. And neighborhood groceries lack diversity and has a "newton" markup. We do all of our shoppings outside of Newton because it's cheaper and better selections.

In any case - a lot to share so happy to chat more if you DM me.

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rubbish_heap t1_j3cner5 wrote

>we've also lived all over the state including Quincy, Malden, Allston, Brighton, etc.

"all over the state" according to a Bostonian, haha
good info on Newton, though

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divariv t1_j3d0fje wrote

I think your comments are spot on as someone who recently moved to Newton!

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nomjs OP t1_j3djhfo wrote

Great info here!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this up!

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high_gravity t1_j3fbcwb wrote

Also live in Newton, this comment is spot on. DM me if you want a similar perspective.

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anubus72 t1_j3ffz8o wrote

Wow I thought you were crazy saying you could find a single family for 800k, but sure enough there are a couple on Zillow for less than that even. Don’t look too good, though. But I’m surprised

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chengbinzhang2010 t1_j3fi8kp wrote

A single family house down the street from us just went pending at 750k. It's not particularly big or new but you don't need 1 mil to live here. It also helps that I look at listings every day (local realtor).

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Pfordy40 t1_j3clfj1 wrote

I currently live in Newton. I can honestly never see myself leaving. It’s sprawling with 13 different “villages” each with their own charming downtown area. There are tons of great restaurants from any cuisine you can imagine and Boston is literally a 15 minute drive away. The public transportation is fantastic with the green line having 6 stops within the town. The community is thriving and always looks out for each other. The Newton population does not resemble the surrounding towns like Wellesley or Weston. Which is a good thing. As others have mentioned above, the school system is top tier and it’s probably one of the best towns to raise a family in the state, if that’s your plan.

I wouldn’t pay a lot of mind to the people dissing the town because of its wealthy population. Im not wealthy and I rent here. I’ve never once felt out of place. I’ve lived here for many years and people are very friendly. Lots of small businesses and hiking trails. I can’t say enough good things. I’ve lived in many towns across NH, RI, and MA this is my favorite.

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nomjs OP t1_j3djla1 wrote

Many thanks! Super helpful perspective

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Pfordy40 t1_j3dk8cx wrote

It’s a lot different than Arkansas. But I think you’ll really enjoy it. There’s so much to do in the newton and surrounding towns. Not to mention Boston is a stones throw away

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SuperSpartacus t1_j3ddz2y wrote

You have a $100 bottle of wine and high end watches as your most recent posts lol

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Pfordy40 t1_j3df4zw wrote

Wait what? Both bottles I posted were under $30 from a discount wine store in Needham… and the omega watch was a thrift find that I was trying authenticate.

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g_rich t1_j3cg7rn wrote

If you can afford it then Newton is great, close to the city (especially Longwood) and easy access to pretty much all the major expressways. For your kids Newton has some of the best schools in the state which is saying a lot because Massachusetts has some of the best public education in the country.

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meltyourtv t1_j3crb02 wrote

OP my father and his wife were house hunting in Newton in 2018 and both make 6 figures at their jobs. They could afford nothing, median home price in Newton back then was $1.8m, unsure what it is now. Hope you’re well off if you’d like to live there, you’re likely looking at $30-$40k just in property taxes per year EDIT: forgot to mention 33% of Newton residents in 2018 had a household income of $250k+, can cite this stat if you’d like

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Long_Ad_5182 t1_j3dfmci wrote

Just look at the price map on Zillow. Nothing less than 2mil.

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TigerKR t1_j3emxn1 wrote

Newton real estate taxes currently are about 1% of the property value per year. Using your examples, a $1.8m house would have annual real estate taxes of about $18k per year.

$30-$40k in real estate tax would be a home that is valued at $3m to $4m.

Source: know people who own homes in Newton

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goPACK17 t1_j3ccxcw wrote

Newton is considered one of the (honestly many) affluent towns in the Boston metro. Very good schools, great place to raise a family, close proximity to Boston, just expensive is all.

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enyopax t1_j3ceflu wrote

I work at BWH, I'd check your parking situation at work. Idk if you are an incoming resident or not but BWH parking isn't cheap.

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Neil94403 t1_j3cycbu wrote

If you’re both working in Longwood, you should be looking at Newton, Brookline, and maybe the posh portions of Jamaica Plain. These three would set you up long term for walking, bicycling Green line to work. Based on the trolley cars/green line and a bicycle you're set-up for sinking deep into your new “village” and in a good position to make car commuting optional

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theHazard_man t1_j3czbqp wrote

I'd personally add Brighton to that list. It gets slept on but I think it's very nice, feels safe, and is more affordable than Newton or Brookline. Still easy to get to Brookline for the nicer restaurants.

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Revolutionary-Pea576 t1_j3d5zfk wrote

It’s been 10 years since I lived there but I loved JP (Jamaica Plain). It’s part of Boston but there’s a lot of green space for walking/biking/running, etc. Much lower property taxes but the downside is dealing with Boston Public Schools or paying for private school. Worth a look though.

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nomjs OP t1_j3dmrvv wrote

Thanks for tip on Jamaica Plain!

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catdogbirddogcat t1_j3ekxzc wrote

Adding to the commute info for JP- JP to Longwood you can do the orange line to ruggles and take the free (with hospital or university ID) LMA shuttle. Door to door it takes me like less than 30 minutes and it’s so easy.

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cowboy_dude_6 t1_j3d3pcx wrote

This question is like asking “I’m thinking of getting a new car, what are your thoughts on Lamborghinis?” Like, obviously if you’re loaded enough to afford it then it’s gonna be pretty good.

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nomjs OP t1_j3djaet wrote

Sorry - not from the area, so didn’t understand that was the implication.

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cowboy_dude_6 t1_j3dl51r wrote

Just bustin’ ya balls eh? Don’t take comments from anyone here too seriously haha.

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YBMExile t1_j3chx6p wrote

It’s a small city with a bunch of villages, each with its own vibe. Traffic is low level unbearable. Be ready for affluenza, and be ready to raise your kids with that as the background noise, it’s unavoidable. Every positive that comes with being in a very well of town has stressors to go along with it.

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chickadeedadee2185 t1_j3cthve wrote

Newton has some of the best schools in Mass. It is a very nice town. It is close to Boston. It is the home to Boston College. It has public transportation. West Newton has an old theater.

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movdqa t1_j3cr81p wrote

I grew up in Newton and spend a day a week there these days taking care of my mother's home.

Newton is very nice in that it's made up of villages and you are generally no more than a mile's walk to any village for shopping. It also has several MBTA stations (Woodland, Waban, Eliot, Newton Highlands and Newton Center) which you could use to get into the Longwood Medical Area. Or you could take Route 9. There's also ample bus service.

The schools were excellent when I went but that was a long time ago. I would assume that they are still good but others could comment or you could look at ratings and reviews.

Newton is convenient as there's easy access to the Mass Pike and Route 128 so you can go east-west and north-south. There is often a lot of traffic on those highways. There's also Newton-Wellesley Hospital which is part of Partners for medical care if you need it in a hurry or if you want something nearby.

A lot of the homes are older and not necessarily in the best of shape and may require work to get to modern standards. Newton is friendly to senior citizens and many live there.

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nomjs OP t1_j3djr35 wrote

Very helpful, thanks for the detailed write up!

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nattarbox t1_j3cmg9q wrote

Newton drivers are a special kind of insane, watch your shit crossing the street.

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VMP85 t1_j3cqltw wrote

Newton is an excellent town. A great place to raise a family that will allow for a very reasonable commute to Longwood. Yes, it is expensive. But then again, any town that has top tier schools, parks and public services will be.

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Goldeverywhere t1_j3cec35 wrote

Do you have stacks and stacks of money? Are you a recent Power Ball winner? Are you as rich as the Kardashians but more classy? If so, Newton's great. Among the best schools in the state, safe, and lots to do. Not sure when rentals are like but if you ever want to buy a house, you will need $$$$. What would buy a mansion in Arkansas will only be enough for a square foot of grass in Newton. Do a Redfin search to see. If you are renting, maybe it will be good.

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Omphaloskeptique t1_j3ch20e wrote

Best bagels in MA at Rosenfeld’s. You will appreciate moving there, especially if you have children.

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cbandes t1_j3cjix7 wrote

Newton is a wonderful place to live. I grew up there, and I had a great education. The only problem you’ll find is that it’s a pretty expensive place to live, particularly when it comes to housing costs.

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dogs-and-snacks t1_j3cxhch wrote

If you folks are physically active it’ll be a huge help. Getting into Longwood for work, the MBTA will give you fits and traffic plus parking can be just as frustrating.

I think there’s lots of good running in Newton. I like the chestnut hill reservoir personally.

Arlington and Milton are also excellent towns to live in. Many a family has been raised in Milton.

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nomjs OP t1_j3djy8n wrote

Have also heard great things about Milton. Many thanks.

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coral15 t1_j3dz7ld wrote

If you don’t like traffic, you won’t like newton. Milton would be a better pic. Plus less snobby.

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Clollin t1_j3fiorh wrote

I'd like to second Milton. I'm not sure it's got as much going on or as much of a distinct identity as Newton, but I like Milton a lot more. Btw, Buckminster Fuller grew up in Milton. I'm from Canton myself.

Also, if you're thinking more city, Quincy is worth considering. The schools aren't as good, but it's a city with more of a city vibe along Hancock St (though it's less happening than a small southern city like Savannah GA for example, tho that may be because Savannah is a college town).

Newton schools certainly produce lots of stars and high achievers. I've known a bunch. However, I think Milton is probably similar if not as notorious, and if anything I think it'd be nice to get away from the hypercompetitive vibe of Newton.

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S_thyrsoidea t1_j3fujon wrote

I live in Arlington – East Arlington, even – and I would not recommend commuting to Longwood from here.

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WanderingSoupsmith t1_j3d4jlo wrote

I just moved to Newton earlier this year and love it. I have two children also under 5 years old, also both mid 30s. There’s a lot of variety from one neighborhood to the next so depending on what you’re looking for you might find a very different experience in Newton Center vs Waban, for example. Happy to answer more specific questions if you have them!

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nomjs OP t1_j3dw00b wrote

Do the villages have their own “personality”? Like some more / less affluent, more / less diverse?

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WanderingSoupsmith t1_j3e52jr wrote

Yes I think they have their own personalities and I also think some are a lot more residential and less walkable (or vice versa). Like Chestnut Hill has an entire highway running through and a whole mall and other villages might have like one or two restaurants.

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Admirable-Engine4763 t1_j3ezp9o wrote

Architecturally, absolutely. Culturally and demographically…yes, but it has less to do with the “village” than it does the neighborhood’s proximity to Waltham/Watertown or Brighton, based on my experience (grew up in West Newton).

The neighborhoods North of I-90 (Nonantum, for example) tend to be more socioecomically diverse. In the early 2000/10s there was a mix of many newer families of various socioeconomic/educational status, often with 1+ immigrant parent, who moved to Newton for the public schools, and older “townie” families—the type that still visit family in Sicily and played hockey year-round. Also home to lots of Russian- and Hebrew-speaking Jewish folks and innumerable synagogues. The northern neighbs also border larger immigrant enclaves (e.g. southside of Waltham is home to one of the largest Guatemalan communities in the US). When I started visiting friends in other parts of Newton in HS I was surprised by how much whiter it was than in the north.

It’s not like it’s radically different—all of Newton tends to be more progressive than similarly wealthy suburbs (Weston, Wellesley, etc.) yet NIMBYism—especially around zoning and housing developments—is also endemic throughout.

The slow progress on zoning reform in Newton may actually erase what distinctivess exists in the North side. With the broader regional supply crisis in the housing market and inflexible single-family zoning, prices are comically inflated. From ~2010 on there have been constant tear-downs throughout the north of Newton. Small house gets replaced—not with multiple units, but a modern style house that has double the sq footage, and 3x the price. Sweet deal for the developer but has made Newton extra unattainable for almost all young families. My parents bought the upstairs unit in a condo in Newton in ‘99 for a little more than $130k, last year it was worth $550k+. Even adjusting for inflation, that’s absurd. Most of the people my parents see moving in these days are straight up loaded.

Tl;dr

Yes, there is variation in “character” and demographics, especially between the north and south with the former being much less homogeneous. Sadly that uniqueness may not survive the symptoms of foot-dragging on zoning and development reform. :(

Oh and for the record, I feel unbelievably fortunate to have grown up in Newton. My parents sacrificed a lot to keep us in that community and I’m eternally grateful that they did. Peace.

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daviongray t1_j3cdh5n wrote

It's a wealthy town. Great place to live if you can afford it. Good luck!

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fakecrimesleep t1_j3cqq54 wrote

Do you make enough to afford it? Even if you have doctor money it’s still going to be well over a million to get a single family in Newton these days and that will be a stretch if you’re a one income household with kids. If you want under a million for a single family you’re going to have to not be on the MBTA rapid transit lines at all and rely on commuter rail - there’s a shuttle bus from the ruggles station on the providence/stougton line if you don’t want to car commute to get you to longwood or if it’s nice out it’s an easy walk from that station.

Most outer towns in Boston metro are still going to be far more walkable and have better schools than Arkansas by a long shot even if they don’t have the the T (t as in rapid transit subway/trolley lines not the commuter rail)

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JasperDyne t1_j3ecyn3 wrote

Newton is a great place to live. I lived in the Auburndale village for a few years until being priced out of the market after my landlord wanted to retire to Florida and sold our place as a teardown to be replaced by condos. We were on Commonwealth Ave. and had an annual front row seat to the Boston Marathon, which practically ran through our front yard.

Auburndale is very walkable, with trails along the river and a carriage road that parallels Commonwealth Avenue for most of its length.

Newton-Wellsley Hospital is one of the better hospitals, and I know some of the staff. They’re a great bunch of professionals.

Don’t have kids, but my former neighbor did. He made a lot of financial sacrifices to stay in his apartment so his daughter could attend school there. That’s a testament to the quality of Newton schools.

They have a great public library, too.

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TigerKR t1_j3etg69 wrote

Agreed, Newton Wellesley Hospital is really great.

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Chappy_Sinclair_ t1_j3cc9sl wrote

Good schools but expensive. When you close on a house there the town delivers everyone a WBUR (local NPR) tote bag.

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SeaJay1187 t1_j3czgkj wrote

I work in Longwood. Newton, Brookline, waltham, and west Roxbury ( which is technically Boston) would be great locations for you.

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geminimad4 t1_j3d0d6a wrote

How does Waltham fit in this equation? Commute would not be convenient, and their schools aren't "good" like Newton and Brookline's.

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MelissaASN t1_j3etnfu wrote

I grew up in Waltham, so I'm also surprised to see it listed as a viable option. Don't get me wrong, I love Waltham for it's diversity; there are currently 35 languages spoken at the high school, but it's not an affluent or progressive city.

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SeaJay1187 t1_j3ddlo0 wrote

Better than west Roxbury but here we are talking about waltham.

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Tink1024 t1_j3d39pk wrote

If you can afford Newton then yep, it's a great place to raise a family!

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Bostonguy01852 t1_j3dhp3l wrote

Two sides of Newton. Wealthy half and a more middle class side.

It's pricey but the commute to the city isn't bad. Has some decent neighborhods and squares that will have amenities but I don't think I'd call it walkable.

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nomjs OP t1_j3dwx2f wrote

Which villages are considered middle class?

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Bostonguy01852 t1_j3eufvk wrote

It's more the school districts. Honestly its more of a legacy these days as everything in Newton is expensive. Town has two high schools. Newton north and newton south, Newton North would be the better one but they are both highly ranked public schools.

I believe the most affordable part is West Newton. Along the Waltham border.

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Megsmik8 t1_j3djbef wrote

I also live in Newton, it greatly depends on the neighborhood you choose to live in as how expensive it's going to cost you. No matter which neighborhood you live in though, it's super safe and you will have the greatest public education in the country for your children. If you want direct access to the Longwood area via the MBTA you'll want to look in the Newton Centre area. You can be in Longwood within 15 minutes. Which is faster then driving unless you drive at night. Good luck in your search and feel free to DM me if you have any questions!

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IllegibleLetters t1_j3dqanx wrote

I work in Newton, live in a neighboring town. One other thing it has over Needham, Wellesley, Waltham, or watertown is more public transportation. Newton has subway trains as well as the commuter rail and bus stops too. Those other towns have the bus and commuter rail but they are slower and more limited. If for instance you wanted to go to fenway park, you can avoid the $50 game day parking rates by taking the green line. Plenty of people use it for work everyday.

On top of that, Newton has more shopping, so you'll find things closer rather than having to drive to the next town over as often for clothes or restaurants. It's also the only of those with a movie theater.

So sure, as everyone says it's very expensive, but it's also very convenient. There's always a lot of stuff going on in Newton, and it's so easy to get to Boston or Cambridge, it's going to remain a desirable city for a long time.

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nomjs OP t1_j3dwu6k wrote

Love the Fenway example; that kind of stuff is super helpful

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ordinarycitizen41 t1_j3dz2le wrote

I am from Newton. As far as the Massachusetts area goes, it is about the nicest place to live except for Beacon Hill or Back Bay. Newton is a pretty, safe area which is outside of the city but close enough so that you can commute to Boston for work, school, the theater, etc. Moreover, Newton itself has plenty of shops, restaurants, and theaters which will give you fun things to do after hours despite it being in the suburbs.

That said, I do not come from a well-off background so from my own experience the degree of affluence in Newton may be alienating when initially moving there. It is expensive as well. However, if you can afford it and are looking for a nice place near Boston to raise children, it is a fine place to live.

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bobgoblin888 t1_j3e0i4r wrote

I went to college in Newton, and would often walk to Newton Center. Lots of shops and restaurants, very village-y feel but quite accessible to Boston on the D line, or via the Mass Pike or Route 9. Great place to raise a family. I’d love to move back there, but I’m a public school counselor, so that’s a no go for reasons already beaten to death on this thread lol.

I’m on the North Shore now, which has its own charms, plus the beach, but it’s not Newton.

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nkdeck07 t1_j3e6h4y wrote

Newton is lovely and wonderful. Literally the only issue with Newton is it is expensive AF.

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wintersicyblast t1_j3ebut7 wrote

I live in Newton and love it. Great schools-A rated, nice walkability, the trains right into the city. Longwood is a quick drive. Plenty of parks and playgrounds. Lots of young families and working professionals. Each little village has its own center, shops and restaurants...its a nice place to live.

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Dseltzer1212 t1_j3ec22c wrote

You’ll love Newton! Great schools, great community and educated people. Some homes are worth millions

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Kooky_Coyote7911 t1_j3ci8bv wrote

Newton ✓ Watertown✓ Weston✓ Wayland ✓ Lexington ✓ Arlington ✓ Wellesley ✓

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larabair t1_j3dgvir wrote

-Watertown but otherwise true

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Anteater_Reasonable t1_j3e3m2j wrote

Just out of curiosity, wrong with Watertown?

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larabair t1_j3e59e0 wrote

Schools. The rest of the schools on that list are pretty good though. If they didn’t have kids watertown would be great!

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Anteater_Reasonable t1_j3e5rqi wrote

Fair enough. I live in Watertown and really like it, but I’m childless and had no idea the schools weren’t very good.

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Kooky_Coyote7911 t1_j3ecouu wrote

Watertown in in the top 50% of schools in Massachusetts. It's not ranked in the top 10 /~ but it's a well run Town

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larabair t1_j3ed5nl wrote

Unfortunately a top half of schools doesn’t make it a good district, and WPS is nowhere near the other schools on that list. I’m not comfortable going into details here but suffice it to say I now understand why so many families leave as their kids get older.

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ItsOkItOnlyHurts t1_j3d76hh wrote

As someone who grew up in Newton, can confirm it’s a wonderful city to raise a family in. The only problem is how insane housing prices have gotten - I remember looking in a realtor window and all of the properties were over $1mil

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RJC02134 t1_j3f1ay9 wrote

Not far from Newton is Allston. It is a Boston neighborhood.. It is a bit closer to Longwood area. Close to the commuter rail, bus and green line. Near BU and Harvard campuses. Great shops, restaurants in area.

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Clollin t1_j3fjeq5 wrote

If they can get enough space for their family in Allston, I'd also vote for Allston over Newton.

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StrugglesTheClown t1_j3gu07c wrote

"Longwood Medical Area... ...easy commute". I'm not sure that's a thing outside of being walkable. 30 minutes is probably doable from Newton on most days, but if you start going further out it's going to get harder. Brookline is a great choice is you can afford it, but that goes with Newton, but brookline is closer, and the Schools are top notch.

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AffectionateBear2462 t1_j3srdng wrote

Newton,Belmont ,Brookline good neighborhood and schools…outside 128 Weston, Wellesley great schools neighborhoods

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Teampiencils t1_j3d7xr5 wrote

Is it all that good? Yes. But there's a high $$$ to getting in. Lots of posts about buying but if you guys are willing to rent/condo it with your kids being younger, definitely a great place to start.

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Flatout_87 t1_j3de9ad wrote

Ask yourself this: are you rich? If so, sure!

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emdog927 t1_j3dqi8q wrote

Where are you coming from in Ark? I’m familiar with the area so might be able to give you some advice!

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nomjs OP t1_j3dwd9k wrote

Fayetteville!

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emdog927 t1_j3fg53i wrote

Welcome!!! NWA is great. I think needham or natick (a little cheaper) would be great. Westwood or Walpole too if you’re looking for country swanky and more land (maybe Bella vista vibes?). I hope you enjoy your time here! Wherever you land, schools will be great although prices will be very high

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Puzzleheaded_Ad_605 t1_j3du0dl wrote

Acton has the best schools; however it might not be as urban as you’d like

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SmallButMightyStudio t1_j3dxx8o wrote

Since we’re tossing out towns, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale might be interesting for you. Even closer to Boston downtown proper than Newton.

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Dr_Captain_America t1_j3e3v72 wrote

Needham is a great alternative to Newton, for families, schools, and convenience. Just moved out from JP 2/2 enlarging family for the schools.

There’s a commuter rail, but it’s a bit infrequent, so we do have to seive

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shrinktb t1_j3eie0l wrote

The flip side of high ranked schools and safe neighborhoods is some people complain of the high pressure achievement culture in the schools. YMMV

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Interested_Party2000 t1_j3ekkvu wrote

Be prepared for culture shock. Newton is a very different place than Arkansas.

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nomjs OP t1_j3ennno wrote

I grew up in Manhattan until I was 13, so I hope I’m a little prepared lol

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Interested_Party2000 t1_j3fe746 wrote

Oh, phew! I was a little worried 😟Also—I taught in Newton schools years ago and found the socioeconomic stratification of the neighborhoods fascinating—a lot like when I lived in West Hartford CT. One group of Boston Brahmin Protestants, one group of working class Italians and Irish, and one group of well-to-do Jews. I am generalizing and it was a long time ago, but that is what I remember.

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ednamillion99 t1_j3eva2x wrote

If you have the budget for it and you’re interested in minimizing your commute , you should definitely consider Brookline! It’s leafy, directly on the T, but with tons of parks. It has a very walkable, charming downtown (Coolidge Corner) and it’s pretty family-friendly. And you can potentially make your commute a nice walk! Just throwing it out there.

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emnormand416 t1_j3ewcjt wrote

We live in Watertown on the Cambridge border and love it! Close to Boston and may other nice areas but also near wonderful green spaces like Rock Meadow/ Beaver Brooke

1

rhythmchef t1_j3eyin5 wrote

Newton was let go last year. Mac is our QB now.

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pithypitherson t1_j3f1tr9 wrote

Famous people from Newton: Jim Halpert, Joey Tribbiani, the Fig Newton, me. It was a great place to grow up. Real close to a lot of good stuff - hospitals, schools, T stops, Jewish folks. It wasn’t super expensive when I grew up there but it is now. It’s a legit city. You’re not going to get a small town feel except within your area: Newton Center, Chestnut Hill, Waban, Oak Hill, Newton Highlands, etc. If you live near South (1 of 2 high schools), you’re in a good area. Kids can go ride bikes without worrying about pedos or other crime. I liked it, if you can swing it, go for it. The only downside, it’s not near the ocean. Rivers and ponds it has. Good parks too. And the library is nuts. Ramble over.

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BOS_Noonan t1_j3f6qsj wrote

I'd say newton needham and Brookline are your best bets

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Clollin t1_j3fjqjf wrote

From reading through this whole thread, I think Milton and Allston were the best suggestions. Milton is suburbs. Allston is city. I also talked about Quincy in my other comment.

I personally don't like Newton, but you also can't objectively go wrong with it. It's a very wealthy area.

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johngannon8 t1_j3g0vm4 wrote

Newtons a great place to raise a young family. Safe, good schools, hospital, it has everything you really need. Only downside is that it’s a bit of a sheltered experience growing up as a kid, and once the kids are gone you’re probably gonna be bored. That being said in 10 15 years if you purchased a house it’ll probably be worth much more.

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SkeksoUrsu t1_j3gfb24 wrote

I lived in Newton for the last decade, just bought a house and moved away. It’s nice if you can afford it! Safe, great location to the city. Schools are good, good for kids, but … it’s expensive. When I left my 1BR apt rent was 2k. My mortgage is 2k now in my 4BR house.

So yeah if you have money to live in Newton, Dover. Wellesley, Needham, Weston go for it!

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AnteaterEastern2811 t1_j3gqhzy wrote

Rule of thumb for MA neighborhoods/towns, it's super expensive because it checks most of the boxes for things like location/walkability/schools/etc. that's why so many people want to live there.

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[deleted] t1_j3m13tj wrote

I heard Brookline is super easy going with chill laid back people who kind their own business 😂😂😂😂😉😉

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stdaro t1_j3dkpg8 wrote

There's no such thing as an easy commute in the Boston area. The green line is the oldest subway in the country, and that's the only reasonable public transport from Newton into the LMA. And the parts of Newton that actually have walking access to the green line are all the most expensive. If you have Newton money anyway, you might consider moving closer in to Brookline or Brighton.

LMA is kindof a pain to get into however you do it, but if you're planning on commuting by car, you probably want to look at the towns going out Route 9. Wellesley is probably even more expensive than Newton, but Needham, Natick and Framingham are all nice towns too.

0

WinsingtonIII t1_j3dyx3s wrote

The D branch is easily the best of the Green Line branches though as it is a dedicated track and doesn't have to stop at traffic lights or due to traffic. It is also the easiest branch to access Longwood from, it's only a 20-25 minute ride on the D branch from Newton Centre to the Longwood stop.

I agree commuting around the Boston area is generally not the best, but that particular commute is honestly quite easy. But I can see what you mean that if they can afford Newton Centre why not just go to Brookline anyways and be even closer. It depends what OP wants though, Newton is a little more suburban than Brookline is overall, though how dense each is really depends on where you are in each town.

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stdaro t1_j3edwx1 wrote

Yea. I took the B line to work from Allston for a few years. JFC that was terrible. D from Newton Centre is nice, but I'm betting the seats are full by the time it gets there, and its not like there's a ton of housing within a 10 minute walk of the station.

1

aja09 t1_j3e2sk4 wrote

If you’re looking at newton. Weston is probably better for you. More suburbs

0

nomjs OP t1_j3e3nll wrote

Weston is walkable?

2

TigerKR t1_j3esqv2 wrote

Any place outside of the I-95 ring isn't going to be a good choice for the list of priorities that you've highlighted.

One of the reasons that Newton is so bustling is that it is basically the most connected suburb of Boston.

  1. It borders Boston, and shares major passageways such as Commonwealth Avenue (rt 30), Boylston Street (rt 9).
  2. I-90 which is the major east-to-west passageway of Massachusetts (and goes from Washington State to Massachusetts) - passes through Newton.
  3. I-95 which is the major north-to-south passageway of the east coast (Florida to Canada) - passes through Newton.

That unique position means that Newton is the perfect non-urban mixing of people, ideas, cultures, businesses, etc.

Newton is in the middle of a reinvigoration of their village centers - and they are improving safety for bikers and pedestrians while they're at it.

As others have mentioned, Newton has 13 villages and Newton is making some real improvements making the village centers a great place to hang out (for children and people with children).

There are some great wooded parks in Newton such as: Cold Spring Park, Edmunds Park, and others.

Driving through Newton can be a problem during the am and pm commute hours, but any other time of day, traffic is quite reasonable.

Newton is also very convenient for getting to Logan airport (20-30 minutes during off hours) - for when you want to take an airplane to visit Arkansas (and travel anywhere else for that matter). Or for getting to South Station - for when you want to take the kids on the Amtrak train to visit Manhattan (or anywhere else that the trains can take you).

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GrimeyPipes27 t1_j3ekdl4 wrote

Stay on Arkansas...........I'm just kidding Newton is nice......for here ........

0

Kooky_Coyote7911 t1_j3edinr wrote

Well that's a personal choice. In all of the top 10ish school districts, they only cater to the elite students. If your an average student or below, you're shit out of luck

−1

mittens617 t1_j3cyacq wrote

Newton is great. Also consider Concord, Carlisle and Lexington. Concord is a tightknit community that is awesome for families with a killer school district, although a little more rural!

−2

geminimad4 t1_j3d04jt wrote

Concord, Carlisle, and Lexington won't provide the commute that OP is looking for, nor are they walkable (yes, Concord and Lexington have "downtown" areas, but all three are definitely bedroom communities).

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Megsmik8 t1_j3dk1ys wrote

The OP has to commute to Longwood. Are you trying to give him a 2 hour commute?

3

mittens617 t1_j3gneli wrote

to be fair idk where that is so

0

Megsmik8 t1_j3hk7qj wrote

It's in Boston next to the Brighton neighborhood. It only houses the most famous Children's Hospital in the entire world along with Brigham and Women's, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Along with a bunch of other stuff.

1

G2KY t1_j3d8ke0 wrote

Newton is great if you have $2M to buy a home or pay rent around $5k per month. I am living in one of the few rentals in Newton and my rent is crazy.

−3

Megsmik8 t1_j3dkaod wrote

Rent is not $5k here. Not even close. Unless you're looking at one of the luxury buildings built by I-90. Try again. I've lived here now for almost 4 years

2

G2KY t1_j3dlydx wrote

I moved here 4 months ago, before that I lived in Downtown for 5 years. My current rent + other utilities is more than 5k. My rent is around 4.7k. It will increase in the next cycle. And I do not rent a single family home.

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Megsmik8 t1_j3dm2ow wrote

And where do you live in Newton?

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G2KY t1_j3dm85o wrote

Close to Waban.

2

Megsmik8 t1_j3dmuir wrote

Well you live near the most affluent neighborhood in Newton. Also I don't know how many bedrooms, bathrooms, or amenities. This was where you chose to live. I can promise you that there are apartments all over Newton. 1bd start 2k

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G2KY t1_j3do8kh wrote

I live in a 2 bedroom. I am not complaining about the price. For the price we pay, I think we get decent return. But it is good to know about these especially if someone is coming from out of state, especially from Arkansas. There are also other rentals around me, like townhomes, going from 5-6k or single family homes, going from 8-10k.

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Megsmik8 t1_j3dpft8 wrote

Right but there are options for 2bd for 3k not 5k. It's all a matter of what you want and where you are looking. That is my point. Someone from Arkansas sees 5k for a rental and they automatically would be frightened. Even at 3k they would be. There's no prices like that down there. You're perfectly fine with it as you just came from downtown and you're getting more space for probably the same as you were paying in the city, or at least close to it.

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mzzy_ozborne t1_j3dd7rc wrote

This post screams I’m a nimby liberal

−4

nomjs OP t1_j3djtb9 wrote

What is a nimby?

1

enyopax t1_j3dkmxo wrote

"a person who objects to the siting of something perceived as unpleasant or hazardous in the area where they live, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere. "rural development arouses intense suspicion from NIMBYs and conservationists"

1