5 things to know about living in Weston
Weston was recently ranked the “least worst place to live’’ in the Bay State.
Weston recently ranked dead last on a “worst places to live in Massachusetts’’ list, which should give you a pretty good idea as to what it’s like to live here. The wealthy suburb has the ninth highest concentration of millionaires in the state, is the 11th safest city in the Bay State, and is the home of baseball player David Ortiz.
1. You’ll live in…
…a historic home, most likely. According to the Weston Historical Commission, “much of Weston’s charm derives from the diversity of its architectural heritage.’’ In fact, the commission notes that Weston’s oldest home dates back all the way to 1695. The homes from the second half of the 19th century tend to be more modest and middle class, but by the 20th century, wealthy Boston businessmen began to move to the suburb and built larger country estates.
Many of the homes are classic New England Colonials, but you will also find Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, Bungalow, and International Style.
2. You’ll pay…
… quite a lot of money for just about everything. The current Zillow Home Value Index puts Weston’s median home price at $1,356,100 as of October 2015. The Boston Globe points out that Weston has just about the highest property tax bills in the entire state, as the average for 2015 was $18,059. If you’re lucky you can find a medium sized condo in the $450,000 to $550,000 price range, but most homes in Weston go well above the million-dollar mark.
3. You’ll hang out…
…in the great outdoors. The top rated TripAdvisor thing to do in Weston is to go to Cat Rock Park, which is a large dog park with a lake and plenty of open space to hike.
For winter outdoor fun, you can go to the Weston Ski Track where you or your kids can learn how to cross country ski or snowshoe.
If you are looking for an educational experience, Weston is home to the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History, which was founded in 1960 and is on the beautifully wooded Regis College campus.
Head to the downtown Weston area to find many local businesses, where as the Globe reports, many of the owners will know your name. Highly rated Yelp eateries include Dumpling Daughter, Off Center, Theo’s Pizzeria & Grill, and Ye Old Cottage Restaurant. For dessert, Dairy Joy is a place to grab some frozen yogurt.
The median age in Weston is 45, so expect to see families around town.
4. Your kids will….
…go to some pretty excellent schools. Weston High School, along with the middle and elementary schools, all get an 8 or above on the GreatSchools 1-10 ranking system. Weston is also home to private schools: The Gifford School, Meadowbrook School, The Cambridge School of Weston, and The Rivers School.
The Weston Public Library also has a variety of interesting programs for children and the Weston Community Children’s Association has many events for kids in the community to meet other kids, along with their parents.
5. You’ll love…
…the abundance of historic charm. Ten historic districts in town are on the National Register of Historic Places and eight properties on Crescent Street make up a Local Historic District. This does not even include the 26 Historic Areas, which are neighborhoods or streets that are at least 50 years old and are recognized by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the number of scenic roads, and the many individually recognized historic properties.
Though the Weston Historical Commission is run by the city, you can join, volunteer, or visit the Weston Historic Society.
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