Nestled between the Neponset River and the Blue Hills lies the bucolic, well-to-do suburb of Milton, Massachusetts. Cruising down its tree-lined streets and taking in the splendor of its many historic homes, you can easily forget you’re within ten miles of downtown Boston and shouting distance from I-93, I-95, and Rtes. 3 and 24. Milton is the birthplace of such figures as George H.W. Bush and Buckminster Fuller. Deval Patrick called Milton home when he served as governor of Massachusetts. The distinguished prep school Milton Academy counts among its notable alumni T.S. Eliot, Ted Kennedy, and James Taylor, as well as host of other authors, scholars, artists, and diplomats. But proximity to Boston, historic lineage, and a connection to celebrity are just a few things this well-to-do suburb has to offer. There are a million and one reasons to call Milton home. Here are just a few:
Milton has the most privately and publicly conserved land of any town within twenty miles of Boston. Cycling is a popular outdoor fitness activity here and there is ample opportunity at Turner’s Pond, Brook Road, Blue Hills Parkway, Milton Cemetery, and the Pine Tree Brook greenway. A new connector has even enabled bike access from Milton to Boston Harbor via Port Norfolk in Dorchester. If running is your thing, take part in the Milton 5K or 10K hosted by the Milton Junior Women’s Club. There is also ample opportunity for indoor fitness at Milton Yoga, Milton Hill Sport and Spa, and Unlimited Fitness for Women.
Milton is a great place to raise a family. Milton has a low incidence of crime. Massachusetts has about a third fewer crimes, annually, than the country as a whole and Milton has about a third fewer than the state. Milton also boasts some of the area’s finest schools. Milton Academy, a private college preparatory school, has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest private high schools in the northeast. Milton public schools have distinguished themselves by offering such things as a full French-immersion program starting in first grade. For those who participate, all subjects are taught in French, enabling students to quickly become fluent. A similar program exists for Spanish. Milton, on average, spends $12,992 per student and Milton High School has a graduation rate of 94%. For leisure activities, Cunningham Park has one of the most beautiful public swimming pools in the Greater Boston area.. Blue Hills Observatory and Science Center is a fun opportunity to explore the universe without emptying your wallet. Fun for the whole family can also be had at Ulin Memorial Rink, a partially outdoor facility that offers ample public skating hours. Milton has its own town library. It has a dedicated room for children and also one for teens. The library puts on cool events like “Maker Saturdays” craft instruction where kids can get messy and teens can indulge their creative streaks.
Is Value Placed On A Healthy Lifestyle?
Milton fosters a sense of healthy living. Blue Hills Reservation, a 6000-acre state park, is a local treasure for hikers and mountain bikers. In winter, you can snowshoe and cross-country ski in the park. There is even an opportunity for alpine skiing on the modestly-sized Great Blue Hill. On Thursday afternoons in Milton Village, from May to October, the Milton Farmer’s Market offers some of the best of local farms and artisans. The independent grocery store Fruit Center Marketplace offers another opportunity to get fresh, local, high quality groceries in the vein of Whole Foods. Thatcher Farm Dairy offers home delivery of farm fresh milk and an impressive variety of grocery staples.
Milton is developing into a dining destination. A variety of new restaurants offer dining options to suit any taste. Steel & Rye honors America’s agricultural roots, particularly those of the Lower Mills area of Milton, offering farm-to-table New American cuisine. Enjoy upscale American cuisine at Abby Park. Newcomer The Plate offers artisanal soups and sandwiches. Chef/Owner Suzanne Lombardi is a Milton native and trained artist who earned her baking chops at Il Fornaio in California. (She’s also one of the founders of local favorite Dancing Deer Baking Co.). Ichiro Sushi has some of the best sushi in the Greater Boston Area. For some of the best sandwiches on fresh bread, the tucked-away Bent’s Cookie Factory is well worth a visit. And just a few miles down Route 28 can be found perennial family favorite Newcomb Farms.
Milton is not an inexpensive suburb. The median list price for a house is $819,000. The median size of a house in Milton is 2860 square feet. The property taxes are high, but one of the main attributes of the town is the stability of home prices. Houses here retain their value because of the wonderful public services the town provides. If you buy a house in Milton, you’ll not only make a wonderful investment, you’ll also afford yourself access to a peaceful, amenity-filled community within minutes of the city.
