Westwood vs. Sharon (Boston, Newton, Attleboro: middle-class, houses, neighborhoods)

[BethT2008]

Hi,

We are looking at houses in Sharon and Westwood. We have already identified the houses, so at this point, it's a matter of the towns. I understand from looking at the earlier posts that Westwood does not have a town center, but are there town activities (like a halloween parade), or do people generally just stay in their neighborhoods. Also, from what we've heard, it seems like there is a two distinct parts to Westwood. Is it like that for people who live there? As far as Sharon, how bad is the drive in to Boston from there? I know there is a train, but I will have to drive most days. Also, any thoughts comparing the schools? We are looking at houses in the East school for Sharon and the Hanlon school in Westwood (the elementary schools). Or just views on the two towns? Thanks very much.

Beth T

[jlyang]

Hi Beth,
Traffic going into and out of Boston during rush hour is TERRIBLE and often bumper to bumper for miles. To get to Boston at, say, 9am, I'm guessing you'd have to leave Sharon by 7am, because much of that commute will be at 5-10mph even on the freeway. Likewise, the drive in from Westwood would probably also be brutal, though probably shorter, as Westwood is fewer miles from Boston.

Without traffic, it's probably 40-45 miles to downtown Boston depending upon which part of Sharon you're leaving from.

The majority (about 70%) of residents in Sharon are Jewish. Property taxes in Sharon are very high since there's little industry there. Generally speaking, Westwood is considered a wealthier/more prestigious town, for what it's worth.

I don't have any particular knowledge of any of the public schools in either town.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by BethT2008

Hi,

We are looking at houses in Sharon and Westwood. We have already identified the houses, so at this point, it's a matter of the towns. I understand from looking at the earlier posts that Westwood does not have a town center, but are there town activities (like a halloween parade), or do people generally just stay in their neighborhoods. Also, from what we've heard, it seems like there is a two distinct parts to Westwood. Is it like that for people who live there? As far as Sharon, how bad is the drive in to Boston from there? I know there is a train, but I will have to drive most days. Also, any thoughts comparing the schools? We are looking at houses in the East school for Sharon and the Hanlon school in Westwood (the elementary schools). Or just views on the two towns? Thanks very much.

Beth T

[jayrandom]

I don't know much about Sharon, but I just moved to Westwood (about 6 months ago) and like it here so far. Westwood has two somewhat distinct commercial parts to it, Westwood centered along Rt. 109 (High Street) and Islington centered on Rt. 1A (Washington Street). There are only a few roads that connect these two and no sidewalks that directly link Islington to Westwood. The Hanlon School is on Gay Street which connects the two, but the sidewalks there only go to Islington. Other than walking, I haven't noticed too much practical separation between the two parts of town. There do seem to be plenty of community activities, based on all the signs I see around town.

When you here Westwood has no real center that's pretty close to true, nothing like Wellesley or Needham center with pretty old buildings and lots of shopping. There are some stores, like a grocery store in Islington, banks in Westwood, and restaurants in both, but neither are impressive. Norwood, which for me in Islington is easier to get to anyway, has a nice center with a number of good restaurants.

[Newdaawn]

If it were me I would pick Westwood. I grew up in Walpole, many years ago and always thought Westwood was very pretty. Walpole borders Westwood on one side and Sharon on the other. The only things that I remember going to Sharon for was a lake there that we swam in and a Chinese restaurant.

[dem3456]

Personally, it is a tough call. I don't really know that much about Westwood, but I tend to think of it as a lot more urban than Sharon, being closer to Boston and having more businesses. Your commute would be shorter if you made the move to Westwood and it has train stations just like Sharon.

I know a lot about Sharon. It is mostly Jewish, which is something you do want to keep in mind. I am not all all prejudiced against Jews, but my cousins lived in Sharon (they were Catholic) and had a couple of bad stories about being isolated by the Jewish community, but overall I don't think they had too much trouble making friends. The school system is very good and the train station could be useful if you wanted to use it to commute, but as another poster said, the property taxes are high.

However, I think Sharon is a beautiful place to live. The houses in most parts are very nice, the lake in town is good for recreation (despite the fact that it is kind of dirty), the town center is nice and has a small-town feel, and Borderland State Park is one of my favorite places to go.

[JBTD]

I grew up in Westwood and I can tell you that it's not the same place I knew. It was a close knit community, but now it's all about keeping up with the Jones's. People are snobby and obnoxious. The cute Cape houses I loved have been torn down or added on to and look ridiculous in their neighborhoods. It's also VERY boring. It's got easy access to rt 128, which is great, but at rush hour, rt 109 (which leads to 128) is a nightmare!!!
It's really pretty, though.

I think Sharon is beautiful. If you've got kids, there's a wonderful playground. There' s also Lake Massapoag, which is only open to Sharon residents. It's a beautifl spot to spend a summer day.

[Rocket2K]

Was thinking about Sharon. Sounds really nice. Have to get to MGH by 8:30 AM each day. Leave work at 6:30 PM. Are you sure it would be a 60 minute commute by car. Need a reaonable commute. I see that the train is quick but has few times. Would I be better off in Newton?

[Rocket2K]

So what did you do - we're trying to avoid rough commute into downtown Boston each morning. Sharon sounds nice, but the commute did not.

[dem3456]

The commute is probably 45 minutes to an hour by car or by train from Sharon to Boston. Of course, the Newton commute will be shorter, but the T can sometimes be unreliable if you were going to take the Green Line into the city. But both are nice towns.

I suggest visiting each one if at all possible. They have very different atmospheres as well.

[europa7]

I live in Walpole (which borders both Westwood and Sharon). As for public transportation to Boston, the commute from Sharon center to Boston (Back Bay or South Station) is far easier and quicker than from Westwood. Sharon station is on the Attleboro Commuter Rail line, the same tracks on which the Amtrak Boston-New York-Washington use.

This line has been electrified for at least the past five years. Even when the Attleboro Line used diesel locomotives, the commute from Sharon was fairly quick (about 30 minutes). I would, in fact, often drive from Walpole (on the Franklin Line) to Sharon in order to catch the train to Boston when I worked there.

Westwood has one Commuter Rail stop, Islington station on the Franklin Line. Yes, I know the Route 128 Station, on the Attleboro and Stoughton Commuter Rail Lines, plus being an Amtrak stop, is located in Westwood. However, Route 128 Station is on the far eastern periphery of Westwood, nearly 3 miles from Islington and 5 miles from Westwood Center (High St/Route 109 at Hartford St).

Both Westwood and Sharon are upper-middle class towns. Islington, the section of Westwood along Washington St (aka Route 1A), is considered the "poor" part of Westwood by many residents elsewhere in the town. Islington is definitely more built up and relatively middle-class than areas to the west, but is definitely not a "bad section" of town, as some Westwoodites would lead one to believe.

In Sharon, the section of N Main St (Route 27) within about one mile of Cobb's Corner (a shopping area located primarily in Canton, with spillover into Sharon and Stoughton) is a comparatively "poor" area. However, as with Islington, it is poorer than the rest of an affluent town. In more modest communities, these areas wouldn't be considered déclassé at all.

Getting back to train commuting, please check out http://www.mbta.com for Commuter Rail information. Again, Sharon is on the Attleboro Line. Most of Westwood is closest to the Franklin Line (depending on the area of Westwood, it may be easier to drive to and park at Norwood Depot or Norwood Central than to Islington; the Norwood stations also have more parking). The areas of Westwood along or near Summer St and Westfield St are closest to Needham Junction station, which is on the Needham Line. Hope this helps.