Is Weston Overrated? (Boston, Newton, Natick: crime, how much, lawyers)

[pondhopper]

From your description I would look at Sherborn, possibly Dover, Wellesley, Holliston as a bit further out, as well as Southborough, Marblehead. Just some thoughts.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by canbonbon

-->> A place not disturb by big commercial stores
Buying bread, milk and eggs from a grocery store for your children is considered commercial? You must be out of your mind.
-->> Lots of privacy, trees, ...
And no walkways to walk your dog, no fences, some houses are so close to each other that talking about privacy is a joke.

Good point about stores not being a disturbance. Notice however how some of the choicest towns around Boston consider it a point of prestige to have no stores at all, or hardly any. Lincoln comes to mind. Dover I think has one, and not a supermarket either, just a little general store.

About walking--maybe no sidewalks but one thing Weston has is public trails through woods. The trail network goes through all parts of the town--great for walking or walking your dog. I think you can get the trail map at town hall.

[findingmesomeday]

If I had $2.5 mil to spend on a house, I would NOT look in Weston. I'd look in Dover, Sherborn, maybe Sudbury. Or Waban.

[badluck]

Weston is a sure thing when it comes to resale value. There will always be millionaires relocating to Massachusetts that will buy their home sight unseen. They will look in the magazines and will want "the" status town and the bottom line is that Weston is it (well maybe not "it" but in the top three in Massachusetts anyway. It is pricey, it is elitist, it is a town that hemorages (sp?) money. It is an educated town and a town with a public school that has consistently sent 99.5 percent (or some silly stat) of its high school grads to four year colleges. Dover and Weston are, in my opinion the opposite sides of the same coin and both exhibit the same characteristics...both are full of highly educated nouveau riche who love the status of their towns
The grocery store is in the town center you must have blinked when you drove through.

[RLCMA]

I crack up with people asking about best towns. Weston is a nice suburb of Boston that is full of professionals who work in or near the city. It is the second most expensive town in the state (behind Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard) and has the highest income in the state. It sounds like the OP's main thing with Weston is keeping up with the Jones', which is what most people in Weston and the surrounding areas are all about. I would say Weston is your best bet if that's what you're looking for. Personally, if money is no object and you want your kids to go to Harvard send them to a private school rather than public.

[canbonbon]

NChomesomeday question for you? Are you saying that 2.5 is less for Weston? Or are you saying that in that, we could look elsewhere and get something better. Your statement is a little unclear.

Badluck, which town has the "it" factor? Or is that a relative term?

And now my favourite Smarty:

You obviously don't have kids or they are grownups so you have forgotten how they were as babies? Forget 1-2 days, I can live for 1-2 wks without food, as I was trained in the Israeli Army when I was 17-18, but when it comes to 2 little kids, yes, even 1-2 hours without food is not tolerated by a concerned parent. I was just making a point, that I see this as a fundamental flaw in town planning, whatever the reason maybe. Maybe that store is owned by the Mayor and he would not let anyone else come in. I am not saying they should allow big malls, etc. but this is like throwing baby with the bath water.

But in general, if I follow your suggestions, this is what I should do. Raise a cow farm. Yes, that would be great as that would solve the milk/meat issue and add some chickens to the farm while I am at it(to solve the eggs problem). They will get plenty of food (big acre lots), a lot of Privacy (as the celebrity neighbours don't care and my farm would be well hidden by a *lot* of trees), I could officially call myself as *rural* (any tax benefits on that?), no one will steal my cows or chickens (very low crime rate), my cows can hang out on the rural roads (will get best police protection) and I can go around in my (very low insurance paid) car to round them up at night. Perfect, I am sold. Where do I throw my $$ now? Yes honey, I will get some sheep and goats too. Sorry, wifey was chirping from the back. She likes sheep.

Jokes apart, I would actually like to thank you for your suggestions. I just agree to disagree with only *some* of them. Maybe this is not *the* town for us. Money is not the issue (as we could go more), the *town* is the issue. We should look in Wellsley and are going to see some homes in Chestnul Hill this weekend. Interesting thread and I will post more as we make some progress. I am worried that we might end up living in Boston and send our kids to a private school. I just don't want to do that, if possible.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by canbonbon

I am worried that we might end up living in Boston and send our kids to a private school. I just don't want to do that, if possible.

I can't see how that would be necessary. There are plenty of areas and one is bound to fit. Chestnut Hill is much closer to Boston and much denser and closer to stores than Weston, and the Newton schools are excellent. Other parts of Newton (Waban as suggested) are also beautiful. Wellesley is likewise quite leafy and suburban, yet not "rural" like Weston. Along Rt 9 from Chestnut Hill all the way to Framingham there are as many stores (and car dealers and gas stations) as you could want.

Outside of Boston, there are urban, suburban, and rural kinds of towns, and many of them are tony and have great schools. If Weston's not your cup of tea, you have plenty of options short of living in the city and finding a private school.

[scarletfire]

We used to live in Campbell & hubby went to school in LG. I can see why touring Weston might be a bit of a shock! Is there a Bay Area town you like the feel of? Having a sense of what you like there might be helpful too.

[findingmesomeday]

I just meant that I'd rather live in Dover or Sherborn than Weston. I think the towns offer a bit more (no, not a grocery store--just town services, etc.) and there is a bit more "old money" in Sherborn at least, that reduces the snob factor. Waban too.

[4panthers]

Canbonbon, have you looked at Winchester or Lexington? In your price range you could find a great home. The town amenities you are looking for along with excellent school systems. Wellesley too, of course.