Is there a greater city in the world than Boston? If you’re reading this list, odds are, you don’t think so. Boston has history, arts and culture, dining, nightlife, and gorgeous architecture. But what if you don’t want to live in the city? If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, a peaceful place to call home, and convenient access to the city, then this list of the best Boston suburbs is for you. We analyzed a wide variety of data including crime rates, housing costs, and amenities per capita to figure out the top 10. Let’s take a look at the suburbs that made the cut:
“Parking Lot at the Stop & Shop, Lexington MA”byNNECAPA Photo Libraryis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Placing fifth on our list of best Boston suburbs is Lexington, a town full of American history and modern day amenities. Beautiful Garrison Colonial style homes line the quiet residential streets of this suburb. Of course, not every historic home in Lexington is for sale. History buffs will get their fix of U.S. history at the Buckman Tavern, the Hancock-Clarke House, and the Munroe Tavern. If that’s not enough, there are numerous other historic sites around Lexington, including the famous Battle Green. Lexington is one of many great Boston suburbs for families, with a variety of highly rated schools. With the second lowest crimes per 100k, it’s also a safe place to raise children.
“Marlboro St & Belmont St, Belmont, MA 02478, United States”byJane Quigleyis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Belmont kicks off our list of best Boston suburbs. Known as the “Town of Homes,” it’s no surprise this suburb has plenty to offer home buyers. 1920s and 30s houses and condos with plenty of historic charm are common. Belmont has an excellent school system, with a GreatSchool.org city rating of 9 out of 10, making it one of the best Boston suburbs for families with children. There’s a variety of elementary schools to choose from, and Belmont High School offers bilingual education and a good selection of Advanced Placement courses. Local restaurants like Kitchen on Common, boutique shopping at Bessie Blue, and historic movie theater Studio Cinema Belmont, are just a few of the amenities that make this one of the best Boston suburbs on our list. Outdoor enthusiasts also have plenty of access to parks, including Lone Tree Hill’s walking trails and Beaver Brook Reservation’s playgrounds and pool.
“EnKa Fair Ferris Wheel: Winchester, MA”byLisa @ Sierra Tierrais licensed underCC BY 2.0
Parks, lakes, and golf courses surround the beautiful Boston suburb of Winchester. Home buyers will find a variety of historic architectural styles, including Gothic Revival cottages and Bungalow homes. Winchester High School and several local elementary schools received a 10 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.org, making Winchester another great Boston suburb for schools. Shop at local stores like Book Ends and Another Yarn, or grab a bite at local restaurants like Cafe Piazza Dolce. Winchester is bordered by the 2,575 acre nature preserve Middlesex Falls Reservation, and Horn Pond Recreation Area is to the north, so outdoor enthusiasts will always have weekend plans. If you’d rather not drive to work, you’re in luck, since an MBTA train line also runs through the center of Winchester.
Home buyers searching in this Stoneham will find beautifully maintained Colonial style homes and condos in historic buildings. Family friendly amenities like Stone Zoo make Stoneham a great place for kids, but there’s plenty for adults to do too. Grab dinner at upscale local restaurants like Melissa’s Main Street Bistro or see a play or comedy show at Stoneham Theater. At 24 minutes, Stoneham has the lowest average commute time of any place we looked at, making it one of the best Boston suburbs for commuting.
Single-family homes and condos in Waltham are often beautifully maintained Colonial buildings with updated features inside. Trendy Moody Street has dozens of local restaurants, shops, and bars on one pedestrian friendly strip. Grab a bite and a drink at The Gaff, after shopping local at More Than Words Bookstore, Aalock Fashion, and The Outer Limits comic book store. With the lowest average commute time at 24 minutes and an MBTA station, Waltham is also a great Boston suburb for commuting.
Newton is comprised of 13 distinctive villages with their own close knit communities, with shopping, dining, and nightlife in the Newton Centre. Settled in 1630, Newton has plenty of beautifully maintained historic homes and condos in a Colonial style. Hit the links at the Brae Burn Country Club, grab a drink at Terry O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, or get a bite to eat at upscale eateries like Sycamore and Farmstead Table. If you have children, there are many family friendly outdoor amenities at the Newton Center Park and Playground or Cold Spring Park.
Steeped in history, Marblehead has plenty to offer residents, whether it's amenities, safety, good schools, or gorgeous colonial single-family homes. This town is the third safest on our list and the high school graduation rate (a good indicator of a quality school system) is 96 percent. Devereux Beach is popular with families, especially during weekend festivities. There are a number outdoor areas for nature lovers, like Castle Rock Park, Crocker Park, and the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
The beautiful historic suburb of Brookline has plenty of amenities and unique homes. Charming historic condos and single family Colonial style homes are common finds in Brookline. The area around the Coolidge Corner light rail has many local amenities for residents to enjoy. Grab a bite at local tapas bar, Barcelona Brookline, or pick up something great to read at indie bookstore Brookline Booksmith. Residents can also grab fresh local produce at the Brookline Farmers’ Market, browse the best local artists at the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival, or catch the latest indie flick at the Coolidge Corner Theater.
Woburn has more amenities per capita than any other Boston suburb we ranked, so you’ll never have to go outside the city limits to get something you need. Woburn residents also averaged the shortest commute time, thanks in part to the fact that the city is conveniently located between Routes 128 and 93. If you want to get out and about, Horn Pond is a beautiful place to kayak or go fishing, or just stroll or jog around.
Home to Harvard and MIT, Cambridge is an excellent place for living, as well as learning. It has a similar feel to Boston—bustling, urban, and packed full of culture. It’s very walkable and has great public transportation. Stroll through one of Cambridge’s various squares, some of which offer restaurants with cuisine from all over the globe, boutiques, bars, and live music venues. There are a variety of housing options for anyone looking to buy a home, with plenty of Colonial style properties as well as condos and townhouses.
Now that you have a list of the best Boston suburbs, you can rest easy knowing it’s okay to keep your standards high. If you’re looking for homes in or around Boston, start your search with us. One of Movoto’s top real estate agents will be happy to help you find your new home.
To determine our list of the best Boston suburbs we took a look at the following criteria:
We ranked each suburb in the above categories and averaged them into one overall score. The Boston suburbs with the lowest overall scores made up our top 10. To see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up, check out the table below: 
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