The 4 safest college towns in Mass.
Home security firm SafeWise ranked the safest college towns in the country, and four of them are in the Bay State.
While Massachusetts may have earned its stripes as an education hub, only a few towns that host colleges and universities were ranked among the safest college towns nationwide.
Home security firm SafeWise just released its list of the “50 Safest College Towns in America.’’ SafeWise reached its conclusions by reviewing the most recent FBI crime data and safety programs available in each community.
Top honors for the country’s safest college town went to Brookings, South Dakota. But four Massachusetts communities were also ranked among the safest college towns in the U.S., including one in the top 10.
See what these communities and academic institutions are doing to keep residents safe.
36. Westfield
Located near the Berkshires, Westfield is home to Westfield State University. SafeWise praised the city, which was once home to the nation’s buggy whip industry, for pushing for a public Wi-Fi program downtown to promote greater commerce and safety.
Meanwhile, Westfield State University has an emergency response team that works to facilitate efficient communications during an emergency that impacts the community. The team recently offered assistance during the H1N1 pandemic and preparation ahead of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
According to the most recent data available from Zillow, the median home value in Westfield is $206,400. For a meal, stop by Santiago Family Restaurant, which has the city’s highest Yelp score. But please note that WalkScore gives Westfield a score of 27, which means a car is very necessary to daily life there.
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Check out the safest towns in Massachusetts
28. Medford
Medford hosts Tufts University. SafeWise praised the Medford Police for offering a series of safety-focused smartphone apps, including Tip411 and Smart 911 to make crime reporting easier. Tufts has launched its own series of on-campus safety tech features, including Tufts Alert, Tufts Mobile, and Tufts Threat Assessment and Management program, to help keep the community informed about important safety issues.
The median home price in Medford is $433,100, according to Zillow. The city is home to a diverse array of restaurants, including Tenoch Mexican, which gets a very strong score on Yelp. It has an average WalkScore of 63 and offers good public transportation options, including a commuter rail stop.
27. Waltham
Waltham, home to both Brandeis and Bentley universities, was recognized by SafeWise for sponsoring the Waltham Medical Reserve Corps, which trains residents in emergency management and disaster procedures. Brandeis and Bentley offer similar programs that focus on emergency medical services.
Waltham’s Moody Street hosts a wide range of restaurants that offer several culinary choices, including Indian, Mexican, Italian, and more. The Waltham restaurant with the highest Yelp score is Taqueria El Amigo (though it is not located on Moody Street). Zillow puts the median price of a home in Waltham at $451,700, while WalkScore gives the city an average grade of 49.
8. Amherst
Amherst hosts three major institutions, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. SafeWise praised the town’s police department for helping to educate residents about domestic violence, including a bilingual guide and direction on obtaining restraining orders. The security firm highlighted Amherst College’s grassroots efforts to bring awareness to sexual assaults on college campuses.
Amherst is a surrounded by farms but also mixes the feel of a small town and medium metropolitan area. Zillow puts the median home price at $307,500, while WalkScore gives Amherst’s Main Street area a grade of 64, meaning some errands can be completed on foot. With so many college kids in town, it’s probably not so surprising that Antonio’s Pizza gets the highest Yelp score of any restaurant.
Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the location of Palomar College. It is not in Westfield, Massachusetts.
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