Newton, a town rich in residential development and commercial activity is located just six miles west of Boston. Also known as "The Garden City," Newton lies within the so-called Boston Basin, a tiny structure of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Originally part of Cambridge, Newton was settled in 1630 and incorporated in 1688 with the first settlement in Newton Corner.
The Boston and Worcester Railroads established depots at what later became Newtonville and Auburndale in 1834. Newton is bordered on three sides by the Charles River and is a diverse town comprised of 14 villages, each with a unique character: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Four Corners, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thomsonville and Waban.
Newton is a vibrant community that is a desirable place to live and work due to its proximity to Boston, nearness to various highway and public transportation systems, attractive neighborhoods and high property values, well-run municipal government, and a strong, nationally-recognized school system. Newton has an abundance of parks, bicycle and hiking trails, golf courses, a public pool and lake.
The town's Parks and Recreation Department maintains over 1000 acres of land. During the summer and early autumn, an outdoor farmers market is held. Newton has a new, state-of-the-art, award-winning library that offers lectures and exhibits. Another point of interest is the Jackson Homestead Museum, a nationally-accredited museum on Jackson Road and Washington Street. Newton also offers a variety of arts and cultural organizations that sponsor activities. Newton has a symphony orchestra, resident theatre groups and an Arts in the Parks Program.
The community has been designated one of three cities nationwide to participate in a pilot tree bank, planting 6,800 seedlings. Newton has an extensive Institutional Network communications system which connects sixty-three municipal and institutional buildings, including all public schools.
Newton was the recipient of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Heinz Foundation awards for being the first city in the Commonwealth to administer a mandatory curbside recycling program. Ninety percent of residents recycle, reducing incinerated tonnage by thirty-three percent and saving $468,000 in 1993. Recently, Newton was one of five cities nationwide, with a population over 50,000, to receive the U.S. Conference of Mayors Livability Award.
Newton's busy commercial area is along Route 9 that links Boston to communities in the west. This stretch of road through Newton has an abundance of retail and business activity. Newton is also crossed by the Massachusetts Turnpike Route 90, the major east-west artery of the state. Convenience, livability and its own unique character make Newton one of most sought after residential communities in metropolitan Boston.
In August 2008, the average home selling price in Newton was $907,610. These figures include both single family homes and condos. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
« Show less
