Looking for a small country town (Boston, Cambridge: homes, neighborhoods, good schools)

[blwkar]

Hello,
I live in ct in a small town, recently mu husband and I have decided to moove to Mass. We have a lot of family in the Foxborough North Attleboro area we would like to be closer too. My husband's company has a office in Mansfield and I am looking for a job in Boston. I would like to be close to family and maybe close to water, (lake or ocean). But more importantly we want a small quiet town that has good shopping areas close or in town and mostly that new england feel with good schools, (our daughter is in first grade). If anyone can give any ideas please let me know. We are not moving till the summer so our daughter does not have to moove in the middle of the year but we are starting to look into towns now.
Thanks for your help

[CaseyB]

It sounds like you are describing the town of Wrentham.

[theh]

I second Wrentham. It's pretty close to what I think you're looking for.

Wrentham has tons of places to shop, including a large outdoor outlet mall. Wrentham is notorious for having a very strong school system. It's fairly small and quiet, with a population of about 10,000. It's right next to Mansfield. If you want to commute to Boston, there's a commuter rail so you don't have to deal with traffic. It's maybe a 45-60 minute train ride.

You'll be near a lake no matter where you live in Massachusetts, and of course you don't have to go out of your way to see the ocean either.

[CaseyB]

There's no commuter rail in Wrentham. You'd probably have to catch the train in Norfolk or Franklin.
2 large lakes though, and lots of conservation areas.

[blwkar]

are there any other towns a little closer to Boston that anyone can name? Also what towns should I stay away from that are in this area?

[CaseyB]

Maybe Westwood.

[Eric H.]

Walpole is a great choice. It has a small town feel with an attractive downtown (despite too many empty storefronts) with three town common parcels, a tall, white steepled church and some glorious big, old homes off tree-lined Common St. The schools are good (nearly 90 percent of seniors plan on going to college), there are lots of young families and very close-knit neighborhoods. You also have 89-acre Bird Park, the 400 acre Adams and the Walpole Town Forest by the Neponset River Farm -- great places for walking and hiking. On the Westwood line is Bubbling Brook -- a wonderful seasonal ice cream stand!

East Walpole has a quaint, industrial village-look with a fire station, restaurant (204 Washington), bakery (A Little Something), variety store, barber shop, post office and pizza place (Jimmy's). There are a lot of community events in town, and the Old Blackburn Hall now has musical events set to a coffeehouse setting!

Walpole is about 15-20 minutes to Mansfield and 10 minutes to Patriot Place in Foxboro. Walpole is about a 30-45 minute drive to Boston and a 30 minute drive to Providence. Next door is Norwood with a terrific downtown -- loaded with excellent restaurants. Wrentham is 15 minutes away and has Lake Pearl for swimming. The ocean in Plymouth is about 45 minutes away.

Oh, and Walpole is on the commuter rail, too!

Hope this helps.

[missionhill]

Small country towns close to Boston are wealthy, if you can afford them. Dover, Medfield, and Sherborn come to mind, also a whole slew of towns west/northwest of Cambridge, but they are farther from Mansfield. Dover, Sherborn, Westwood, Medfield all have low population, lots of conservation land, and are pretty close to Boston although no direct RR service into town.

[ackgirl]

How about Norfolk, commuter rail in town, nice close knit town/people. Good schools.......

[Eric H.]

Originally Posted by ackgirl

How about Norfolk, commuter rail in town, nice close knit town/people. Good schools.......

I agree, Norfolk is a really nice small town. No major highway touches Norfolk, yet it is just 10-15 minutes from Routes 95 and 495, as well as very close to Patriot Place in Foxborough. Neighboring Franklin, a well preserved historical town, has many services and stores. Norfolk has many nice lakes and ponds, a beautiful new public library, a well-run indoor skating rink, beautiful town common with gazebo, and three excellent full service restaurants: Eagle Brook Saloon, Horse and Carriage and Guido's. Jane and Paul's Farm is also a Norfolk attraction with its seasonal farm stand, berry and apple picking and a petting zoo. The people in Norfolk seem very friendly and content on where they live. In Norfolk, you feel like you're a million miles from the hectic commuting traffic and big cities. Yet, Boston and Providence are not far away at all!