Westborough vs.Hopkinton Schools (Lexington: apartment complexes, incomes, affluent)

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by huff100

I have to agree with another poster, the commute sounds so bad to me! I have an 18-20 commute and love it! I would look closer or in the city if you are going to Boston daily. Overtime I would think you would just burn out with that commute and hardly see your family.
What is your budget? Wayland, Newton, Natick, Lexington, Needham all sound better to me for the commute.

I don't think anyone comparing Westborough and Hopkinton has a Lexington budget. Or at least has needs at a price point which doesn't align.

"Drinking Barefoot cab-sav sounds so bad to me! You should buy Screaming Eagle."

Side note on Westborough and Hop - I didn't look at the census data, but one can assume Wesborough is considerably more diverse (if that's important).

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

I don't think anyone comparing Westborough and Hopkinton has a Lexington budget. Or at least has needs at a price point which doesn't align.

"Drinking Barefoot cab-sav sounds so bad to me! You should buy Screaming Eagle."

Side note on Westborough and Hop - I didn't look at the census data, but one can assume Wesborough is considerably more diverse (if that's important).

Agreed, but there are alternatives.. I had recommended Lynnfield, Bedford, and Wayland. Maybe Westwood too?

If you're moving to Hopkinton or Westborough, you very likely have a budget in the $600s. That will, at least, give you an opportunity to sneak into one of the towns closer to the city.

EDIT: Westwood actually has a considerable amount of housing stock <$650k, as does Lynnfield, as does Wayland. Bedford not so much, with the exception of a slab ranch on a main road or a condo.

[WillRunForBeer]

Hopkinton actually has decent commuter rail access at both the Southboro and Ashland stations. If a person is working in close proximity to either South Station or Back Bay station, the commute isn't that bad if your schedule lines up with the express trains. The 6:22 and 6:52 trains from Ashland are express and get to Back Bay at 7:04 /7:39 and South Station at 7:10/7:45 respectively. Depending on where in Hopkinton you come from, Ashland station could be as close as a 5 minute drive. This is why the Legacy Farms development has sold so quickly as it is 5 minutes from the station (despite the blight on the landscape that development is).

[change ahead]

Yes, budget is in the 600s and I am very picky with were I live and the quality of the house. I am aware that I might find something in other towns closer to Boston, but often in that budget I have to make compromises with the house and its location and other things that are a priority on my list. I agree with posters on Hopkinton's closeness to commuter rail, it helps alot to get on the train.

[CaseyB]

Hopkinton is a very nice town. If you end up choosing it, I'm sure you will be very happy there.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by change ahead

I agree with posters on Hopkinton's closeness to commuter rail, it helps alot to get on the train.

Hopkinton/Southborough doesn't have a huge amount of parking. It's usually full by 7:30.

If you find something on the east side of Hopkinton, the Ashland has a lot more parking.

Westborough's station is west of downtown but with a good amount of parking. Sometimes you can find parking at 10am.

[WillRunForBeer]

As stated, if you can find something on the eastern side of Hopkinton, the Ashland commuter rail station has more than enough parking. I've never seen those lots full-they are comically large.



Burnham's Public House used to (and maybe still does) allow commuter parking in one of their lots for cheaper. The only thing separating it from the T lots is a guard rail.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Side note on Westborough and Hop - I didn't look at the census data, but one can assume Wesborough is considerably more diverse (if that's important).

Yep. Westboro is about 1/4 Asian/Indian. Diverse the way Lexington is diverse. Hopkinton is almost 90% white. You're not going to get much exposure to poverty in either town since there's no socioeconomic diversity.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Yep. Westboro is about 1/4 Asian/Indian. Diverse the way Lexington is diverse. Hopkinton is almost 90% white. You're not going to get much exposure to poverty in either town since there's no socioeconomic diversity.

However, unlike Lexington there are still tradesmen, public service workers, and other financially viable "blue collar" workers. There is some socioeconomic diversity, despite generally high per capita incomes. Hopkington less so than Westborough.

[OtterTrees]

Originally Posted by mwj119

Agreed, but there are alternatives.. I had recommended Lynnfield, Bedford, and Wayland. Maybe Westwood too?

If you're moving to Hopkinton or Westborough, you very likely have a budget in the $600s. That will, at least, give you an opportunity to sneak into one of the towns closer to the city.

EDIT: Westwood actually has a considerable amount of housing stock <$650k, as does Lynnfield, as does Wayland. Bedford not so much, with the exception of a slab ranch on a main road or a condo.

Hopkinton and Westborough are definitely not going to be like Wayland or Westwood in terms of prices and what you get for the money.