Relocating: Ethnic/ Economical diversity in Scituate or Hingham? (Boston, Lexington: theater, schools)
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So, I went to look at other posts, and made a list:
Since you all were so great at giving me your opinions on the places, I was hoping you could help me with these. Please do not hold back!
I know I said I did not want to live close to the city, but I am thinking I might have to make some sacrafices! Main thing is safe neighborhood, low crime, diverse of people( not 99% of one race) and small commute to Boston 4 work (by car or public transport)
I must say that few neighborhoods or towns are very diverse in terms of class (and good on ya for knowing that class is a big part of ethnic diversity.
The town of Milton is known as a well-off and diverse community (a lot of middle-class black people move there when they've "arrived.") It's the several steps up from the city neighborhood of Dorchester and I believe the schools are super. There might be some stretch in terms of different class backgrounds/economic places in life, and certainly shouldn't look askance at someone with a nice blend of color in his/her face.
I don't live there, though, so please, others can correct me if I'm wrong.
Add: Arlington is a great town, very cosmopolitan and safe, working-class east end, all sorts of people elsewhere (mostly people who can't afford Cambridge). Easy easy commute by public into Boston. I don't think it's at all "concrete jungle" and crime is low, low, low (as is car insurance).
Watertown would be good, too.
Malden is very diverse and has a good train line. It's not as well-off as the other towns mentioned (by a lot). A lot of my West African co-workers live there as their first home purchase. The townies can be a bit downbeat- don't know about the schools.
Lexington is a haven for everything and known for its kid-friendly libraries, great schools, and everything. Lots of Asians and various people of different skin tones.
Don't know much about Wilmington except that the driving to Boston might be a real pain, and don't know if it has good public transport.
Best wishes on your move! The towns you mention are all varying degrees of great places to live.
I must say that few neighborhoods or towns are very diverse in terms of class (and good on ya for knowing that class is a big part of ethnic diversity.
The town of Milton is known as a well-off and diverse community (a lot of middle-class black people move there when they've "arrived.") It's the several steps up from the city neighborhood of Dorchester and I believe the schools are super. There might be some stretch in terms of different class backgrounds/economic places in life, and certainly shouldn't look askance at someone with a nice blend of color in his/her face.
I don't live there, though, so please, others can correct me if I'm wrong.
No, you're on target. Milton is a very good suggestion.
Check out Belmont (Wawerly Area)--very, very diverse "lower end" of Belmont--I was blown away how many "colors" (hate that type od people skin description personaly) and/or nationalities you can see in the local elementary school and playground. Also, Cambridge is great but maybe too much of a city for you. Hope it helps.
Add: Arlington is a great town, very cosmopolitan and safe, working-class east end, all sorts of people elsewhere (mostly people who can't afford Cambridge).
I'd say these days East Arlington, at least on the Belmont side Mass Av. in the corner closest to Alewife, is not so working-class. A lot of recent arrivals in the young-and-priced-out-of-Cambridge crowd, especially if they have kids and would rather deal with Arlington schools than Cambridge or Somerville. The other side of Mass. Av. has some of this as well, but resembles more closely the "old" East Arlington.
Waverley is good also but there are many affordable rentals over there and thus it's more transient.
Milton is a very good suggestion and is closer to the water.
Hingham has always had a number of African-American, black Cape Verdean and multi-racial families who are comfortable living there, and still does. A black female resident of the town was formerly employed with the Select Board's office, now retired. It's accurate to say Hingham is a mainstream liberal, politically correct town where you could expect people to behave and get along if you can afford to buy a house there.
Hingham has always had a number of African-American, black Cape Verdean and multi-racial families who are comfortable living there, and still does.
I'm not going to say that African-American, black Cape Verdean and multi-racial families don't feel comfortable living in Hingham because I have no idea. But the main City-Data site lists Hingham as 98% Caucasian, so there can't be that many such families.
1.Wilmington: sort of sticks out as different from the rest of the towns on the list. It's kind of non-descript, not the charming New England village downtown. It is very white. A lot of suburban housing developments from the 50's and 60's. Farther from Boston (and thus cheaper) than most of the other towns you've listed, but the train to North Station doesn't take that long. Good highway access, for what that's worth, some office parks and shopping in town and right nearby.
2. Lexington: Upscale, liberal suburb. Former WASP bastion that is now more "diverse" but that means more Jewish and Asian families. Still 85% white, and barely 2% African-American and Hispanic. Expensive, high property taxes, excellent schools and lots of programs offered, very well-educated population, explicity teach tolerance in schools (conservatives were upset when the schools taught a book about a gay couple). Does have the classic New England center, with a lot of old (200 years old) homes, but the rest of the town has many homes from the 60's as well. The commute not as great as you'd think from the proximity, due to lack of commuter train. Many people drive to Alewife and park there for Red Line, but Route 2 traffic can be rough and Alewife garage fills up early.
3. Arlington: My hometown. Formerly more of a townie, Irish Catholic blue collar town. Now moving steadily toward younger professional families. Strong schools, perhaps especially at the lower levels. Not as many amenities as Lexington schools and town rec. Much more densely populated than Lexington or Wilmington. The Brackett and Dallin school districts, and the area near the Mystic lakes is definitely suburban. East Arlington is denser, with multi-family homes closer together. In the past 10 or 20 years, more new restaurants of diverse cuisines. There are a couple of indie theatres, a nice enough downtown, right next to Cambridge. The site of the bloodiest fighting in the Battle of "Lexington and Concord," Arlington celebrates Patriot's Day (state holiday, 3rd Monday in April) with gusto. But I'm always at the morning-start Red Sox game instead. Commute to Boston-drive or bus to Red Line, unless you're close enough to walk to Alewife. Again, mostly white (90% ish-see the pattern here?) but tolerant and increasingly diverse.
4. Watertown: Still probably over 85% white, but somehow seems more diverse than that. A lot of the "white" people are Armenian; there's a big community in town. Even an Armenian museum. Watertown is not as upscale or suburban/woodsy as Lexington (or Hingham/Cohasset). Densely populated, probably more so than Arlington. A lot of two-family houses. Some blocks are very pretty, others pretty ugly. Watertown Square is nice enough, but less of a pedestrian spot since it's a major traffic intersection. There are buses to Harvard or Central Square for the Red Line, and the commuter rail is available at Waverley. Also an express bus from near Watertown Square. Quite affordable given proximity to Boston and Cambridge. Schools have lower test scores, and there are more "poor" kids in Watertown than some neighboring towns, but there are a lot of smart people in town too. A good amount of Harvard grad students and professionals priced out of Cambridge live there.
5.Milton: Pretty well covered. More diverse than many other towns, more African-American presence. Huge Irish presence. Part closer to Dorchester and Mattapan is denser but far from concrete jungle, part closer to the Blue Hills is woodsy. Good schools, low crime, nice homes. Not cheap but maybe more affordable than you'd think for a town with good schools so close to Boston. Red Line shuttle at the northern end of town,
6.Malden: Less expensive than the other towns, and more diverse. African-Americans and Latinos might reach 10-15% here. Probably about 2/3 white. Orange Line to Boston. I don't have any personal knowledge but people say the schools are not great or have gone downhill. Not sure if that's objective or a reaction to the town diversifying. Generally more attractive and affluent near Melrose, less so and more urban near Everett. Pretty urban town overall, with older homes close together, perhaps on a par with Watertown in that regard or even more so. Average income far below other towns listed.
Brookline or Newton might be worth a look. They are pretty diverse with people from all around the world. We live in Brookline and my kids' public school is 55% white, 45% a mix of other ethnic groups and races from all around the world. It isn't paradise, but it suits us better than some other places we've lived.
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