Woburn (Boston, Waltham, Malden: home, neighborhoods, new construction)

[CaseyB]

There was a book and movie about the Woburn contamination - "A Civil Action" with John Travolta.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by xo_kizzy_xo

When I think of Woburn I think of that cancer cluster phenomenon which happened a decade or two ago (wasn't there a hazardous waste dumping site there at some point?) I always thought it was a relatively cheaper place to live because of that.

That was in the 70's when the illegal dumping was discovered. Believe or not, the sites in question have been or are being redeveloped - Anderson Station, Salem St., and Washington St.

Woburn has some stunning neighborhoods on the Winchester and Lexington town lines. One can into a really nice house for reasonable - vis a vis Winchester/Lexington - money. Lots of shopping and commercial space providing a solid tax base. In terms of a Boston commute, there is the commuter rail and the 354 bus makes a couple of stops in Woburn on it's way to State St. Of course, there are lots of job opportunities in the city as well as in the surrounding area.

If one wants a traditional mostly suburban experience north of Boston, Woburn is still a bargain IMHO.

[Whatsnext75]

It sounds like a main drawback to woburn is the schools not being great. Could be a great place for first time buyers who don't have any kids yet.

[Nanotube]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

It sounds like a main drawback to woburn is the schools not being great. Could be a great place for first time buyers who don't have any kids yet.

Yes. Plus, property tax is cheap compare to the adjacent towns.

[LexWest]

My thoughts on Woburn: Originally, very middle class; blue collar; Irish-American stronghold, with some Italians etc., mixed in; close-knit, although not as much as Stoneham, for instance.

I see the change happening from it's grittier beginnings—with real estate increasing, the gaudy Cummings complex you can't miss from the Highway, the transferral of the Courthouse from Cambridge...even the addition of new businesses such as Dave & Buster's, which keeps me from driving to Braintree (although I still lean toward that one, in some respects). Still it's hard for me to see it in the same light as a place like Waltham; perhaps that's due to the nature of the colleges there and the students/grads' presence, making it appear less "townie," than Woburn.

I just can't completely shake that initial image of Woburn: it's like trying to dress up a typically sloppy person in bespoke clothing, but their demeanor still comes across as an amateur instead of a connoisseur. I don't want to come across as a snob, but I still think of Woburn as a place barely trying to keep its somewhat grittier, lower key image. I can't see it competing with it's neighbors. Of course, if you could actually afford, Lexington, Winchester, even Burlington, you wouldn't even have Woburn on your short list to live. For other activities, I'm sure you would.

That was a long answer, I know. My short answer is, while Woburn is changing, and I understand why (location, general affordability, etc.) I still don't see ALL the hype and glamour (in another years, perhaps). I suppose it's fine if it's what you can afford. It's definitely a cut ahead of Medford, Malden and Revere; that's not even a debate.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by LexWest

My thoughts on Woburn: Originally, very middle class; blue collar; Irish-American stronghold, with some Italians etc., mixed in; close-knit, although not as much as Stoneham, for instance.

I see the change happening from it's grittier beginnings—with real estate increasing, the gaudy Cummings complex you can't miss from the Highway, the transferral of the Courthouse from Cambridge...even the addition of new businesses such as Dave & Buster's, which keeps me from driving to Braintree (although I still lean toward that one, in some respects). Still it's hard for me to see it in the same light as a place like Waltham; perhaps that's due to the nature of the colleges there and the students/grads' presence, making it appear less "townie," than Woburn.

I just can't completely shake that initial image of Woburn: it's like trying to dress up a typically sloppy person in bespoke clothing, but their demeanor still comes across as an amateur instead of a connoisseur. I don't want to come across as a snob, but I still think of Woburn as a place barely trying to keep its somewhat grittier, lower key image. I can't see it competing with it's neighbors. Of course, if you could actually afford, Lexington, Winchester, even Burlington, you wouldn't even have Woburn on your short list to live. For other activities, I'm sure you would.

That was a long answer, I know. My short answer is, while Woburn is changing, and I understand why (location, general affordability, etc.) I still don't see ALL the hype and glamour (in another years, perhaps). I suppose it's fine if it's what you can afford. It's definitely a cut ahead of Medford, Malden and Revere; that's not even a debate.

That's the key: "if it's what you can afford". There's not much left inside of 128 where you can buy anything decent for a middle class family. Lot's of single family homes in Woburn & that's a real plus.

[Whatsnext75]

Lexwest i totally get where you are coming from and i feel the same way about many towns in MA that are suddenly so expensive. I dont think it's a great thing as it's becoming harder for people to find a place to live particularly without having a horrible commute into the city.

I also had no idea Burlington had become a pricy place to live. Maybe ive just never paid much attention to the north shore the way i do the south shore.

I feel like woburn is equivalent to weymouth? Only parts of weymouth have the water which i think is a plus.

Also what makes woburn so much better than malden...or even revere? Revere does have the water as well...

[timberline742]

Ahead of Medford??? The Medford I see is expensive and full of highly educated young professional families.

[Whatsnext75]

Yeah woburn is no way ahead of medford.

[495neighbor]

Medford is more desirable than Woburn. Malden might be as well given that it has the orange line access.