Boston is one of the most historic and picturesque cities in the country. It’s home to the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and so much more. It’s one of the country’s most desirable urban areas, with charming neighborhoods and unique features you can’t find in any other U.S. city.
Undoubtedly, Boston has a lot to offer its residents, but for some families, the suburbs are a better option, at least as far as where to buy a home. They’re quieter, less expensive, and you can get a house with a yard.
With that in mind, below are details of the best suburbs and commuter communities around Boston that are appealing to families. Ask a professional if you need to learn more about Movers Newton MA.
1. Winthrop
A lot of families decide to look for houses for sale in Winthrop, MA. Winthrop has a population of just under 20,000, and it’s in Greater Boston. It’s at the north entrance to the Boston Harbor, and it enjoys convenient proximity to Logan International Airport.
Winthrop is one of the country’s oldest communities, having been settled in 1630. This community can be pricier than some others nearby, but it’s beautiful, coastal, and safe.
2. Wayland
From Niche, Wayland gets an A+ for livability. Wayland has very highly rated public schools, making it great for families. Located in Middlesex County, it’s often ranked as one of the state’s best places to live.
In 2021, Wayland was ranked as one of the top 100 small towns to raise a family in the U.S. based on schools, cost of living, jobs, and other factors.
Wayland High School was ranked as one of the best public high schools in Greater Boston by Boston Magazine, and it’s ranked as one of the safest small towns in the country consistently, with some of the lowest violent and property crime rates in the country.
3. Lexington
Lexington is around 30 minutes outside of Boston. It’s a medium-sized city, and it’s known for having excellent, award-winning schools and stunning and often historic homes. Lexington is also part of American history as the location of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle, officially of the American Revolution.
Lexington today is home to around 33,000 people, and many of those are families. The cost of living could be the downside for some families—it’s around 90% higher than the national average.
Residents find that it’s worth it, though, because they have a quiet environment to live in but easy access to one of the main cities on the East Coast.
There are four historic districts in Lexington, and in those areas, if you want to make changes to existing structures, they have to be approved by the Historic Districts Commission.
WalletHub recently named Lexington as the number one best small city in America for education and health.
4. Cochituate
Cochituate ranks well for its schools, low crime, amenities, and employment. Where it doesn’t necessarily do as well as the cost of living, but even so, it’s one of the most sought-after suburbs of Boston for families for the other reasons listed.
The median household income in Cochituate is around $162,400, and the median home value is nearly $820,000. The population is under 7,000 in this small town.
Around 26% of the town’s residents are children under the age of 18, compared to 20% for the state of Massachusetts.
In the community, most people have a commute time of between 30 and 45 minutes. More than 86% of residents commute to work.
5. Newton
Newton is another community that’s a Boston suburb, and it’s often ranked as one of the state’s best places to rank a family.
The population of Newton is around 88,000, and there are a lot of parks and shops around town.
Some of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in Newton include Newton Upper Falls and West Newton.
6. Hingham
Finally, Hingham has a median household income of nearly $230,000. It’s a coastal town, and many people feel that it should take the top spot as the best place to raise a family in Massachusetts.
Hingham is a coastal South Shore town, and it’s part of the outer Boston Harbor. If you head to the Hingham Shipyard, you’ll find entertainment, shops, and restaurants.
There are seven historic districts in Hingham, which are well-preserved, maintaining a sense of charm for the town, going back to the 17th century.
On the weekends, you can spend time at World’s End, which is a park with views of the shoreline. There’s also nearby Wampatuck State Park and Weir River Farm.