5 things to know about living in Weymouth
Weymouth is the second oldest town in Massachusetts and is the birthplace of Abigail Adams. It played a role in the abolitionist movement during the Civil War and flourished during the Industrial Revolution.
It is a town rife with history, much of it preserved, but has continued to flourish in the present. Its Prospect Hill Drive made The Boston Globe’s 2015 list of the top streets to live on.
“It’s a tight-knit community,” Brian Molisse, broker/owner of Molisse Realty Group, told the Globe. “There are not many sales up there; people tend to stay.”
As a bonus, some scenes from the new “Ghostbusters” movie were just shot here.
Check it out.
1. You’ll live in…
… one of Weymouth’s four villages. The South Shore town notes on its website that “unlike traditional New England towns, Weymouth has no downtown center. Instead it has four village centers, each featuring its own blend of historic buildings, land use, and open space.” The four villages include East Weymouth, North Weymouth, South Weymouth, and Weymouth Landing, but whichever one you live in, it’s a guarantee you are never too far away from some town history.
The Weymouth Historical Commission also catalogs historic homes that are covered under a demolition delay ordinance, meaning all owners of homes on the list have to wait six months after announcing the desire to demolish so the commission has time to research the home’s history.
2. You’ll pay…
… less than other coastal towns. The Zillow Home Value Index puts Weymouth’s median home value at $325,000. Home values have gone up 5.8 percent over the past year and are predicted to rise 1.6 percent within the next year.
For $300,000 to $400,000, you can expect to get a home that is around 1,500 square feet in a variety of different styles ranging from colonial to cape. Weymouth’s WalkScore falls at a 36, meaning most activities in town require a car. Neighborhoods in town that get a slightly better score include North Weymouth, and Weymouth Landing.
3. You’ll hang out…
… in a park. Trip Advisor’s No. 1 thing to do in town is to go to Webb Memorial State Park. The state park is close to some of Boston’s Harbor Islands and has views of the city skyline. There are plenty of places to fish, walk, picnic and grill, along with areas to canoe.
Another way to explore the great outdoors is the Great Esker Park Trail, which is a 1.25 mile hiking trail with views of an estuary. It is also likely you will see some wild birds and other wildlife.
One of the Boston Harbor Island — Grape Island — is also very close to Weymouth, and has 54-acres of space. It is known for its wild berries, birds, and being a spot British soldiers went to during the Revolutionary War.
There are also a variety of historic sites and markers to see while going around town, along with a few historic districts and historic properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
When it’s time to eat, there are plenty of highly-rated options on Yelp. The No. 1 rated spot in town is Lime Leaf, which is a family-owned Thai place. But don’t forget dessert — there is plenty of that to go around as well.
4. Your kids will…
… go to a range of schools. The top-rated school on the 1-10 GreatSchools rating scale is Academy Avenue, a K-4 school in town, which receives an 8. The lowest-rated school in town gets a 2. There are also a variety of private school options.
Weymouth’s libraries have a lot of programming for kids of all ages, including some that will take them outside.
5. You’ll love…
… Abigail Adams’s birthplace. The home was built in 1685 and the future first lady (and mother to a president) lived there for 20 years. The Abigail Adams Historical Society runs the house, which you can visit and tour. The house has been moved around town a few times and also had multiple renovations, most recently from 2013 to 2014.
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