The quiet, well-heeled town of Weston, MA lies only twelve miles directly west of Boston. In spite of its proximity to the city, it has an abundance of rural New England charm. It is one of the most exclusive suburbs of Boston and one of the most sparsely populated. Weston’s total area (17.3 square miles) is only a little less than the similarly affluent, neighboring town of Newton (18.2 square miles). But Weston has a population of just over 11,000 compared with Newton’s 90,000. Weston is the third most affluent community of at least 10,000 in the entire country. Weston is home to many local sports heroes, including David Ortiz, John Havlicek, Bobby Orr, and Jerry Remy. Situated next to the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 95, Weston is a commuter’s dream. Three stations of the MBTA’s Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line serve town residents. Yet Weston offers more than secluded mansions set back at the end of long private drives.
Founded in 1698 as a far-flung region of Watertown, Weston was formally incorporated as a town in 1713. Weston lies along one of the first highways in Massachusetts, the Boston Post Road. The Post Road is still in use and still runs through Weston but is known today as Route 20. Weston was home to taverns and services that catered to travelers along the Post Road but once the Worcester Turnpike (now Route 9) was built, traffic along the Post Road and the businesses that served it, dwindled. By the late nineteenth century, wealthy Bostonians were building substantial country estates in the town, which set the tone for residential development still largely in evidence today. More recently, successful Baby Boomers helped solidify this town’s reputation as an affluent and desirable suburban community.
Weston has its share of showplace homes, but the true measure of its comfort lies in its general safety. The SafeWise Report ranked Weston as the third safest town in Massachusetts behind close neighbors Wayland and Sudbury (so you know you’re in a safe part of Massachusetts). In 2012, Weston recorded .09 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The incidence of property crimes, such as burglaries and car thefts, were a meager 4.45 per 1,000 residents. The Weston Police make their police dispatch log available online so residents can keep abreast of community safety issues.
Weston residents pride themselves on their community’s abundance of excellent schools. Weston is home to a number of private schools including the exclusive Rivers School and Cambridge School of Weston. Both are co-educational institutions that offer progressive educations for high school students. Both small institutions pride themselves on their student-to-teacher ratios. Boston Magazine rated Weston public schools as the second best, overall, in the state. Weston spends a whopping $20,579 on each student and has the highest graduation rate in the state: 99.5%. The rates of 10th graders scoring “proficient or higher” on MCAS English and Math tests are 96% and 95% respectively.
Weston is a safe town with excellent schools so it is a great place to raise a family. And if you choose to do so, you’ll be in good company. About 40% of Weston households are families with children. If you and your family are ready to scale up, then Weston is the town for you. The median list price of a home in Weston is $2,650,000. The average size of a residence in Weston is 5,230 square feet. Prices for houses have been steadily increasing over the past five years. They spiked in the winter of 2015 but suffered a dip in the summer of 2015. But they’ve recently rebounded back in line with that steady upward trend so all signs point to your investment in Weston real estate being a good one for your financial future. With 37 historic districts, the majority of the homes in Weston are historic, particularly classic New England Colonials, but some contemporary homes can be found as well. Given the zoning laws, the town’s character is not likely to change any time soon.
The Conservation Commission of the town of Weston owns approximately 2000 acres of protected land. Weston has approximately 90 miles of trails, fire roads, and hilltop viewing areas for public use, made available by the Weston Forest and Trail Association. In addition to woodland walks, excellent golf can be had at not one but two private country clubs, the Weston Golf Club and Pine Brook Country Club. Weston also has a public golf course, the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course, which in winter plays host of the Weston Ski Track, a boon for Nordic skiing and snowshoe enthusiasts.
Weston’s attributes come at a premium but it’s difficult to find a safer and more picturesque community in the Greater Boston area. Enjoy the good life in this quiet, private, residential community close to the city.
