If you could choose any suburb, which one...

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by benton55

First of all, thanks for the input and insights into the Boston area suburbs... was interesting to read about all of the pros / cons and what you all find appealing in the different areas. We found many of your observations to be helpful... so thank you.

We focused in on Lexington, Newton, Needham and Wellesley and have chosen Wellesley. We're excited to explore the area and for the opportunity to get to meet new people.

Great choice, and a beautiful town.

Price per sq/ft in Wellesley is up around $470, while Hinsdale is around $285. But as you likely already know, in an apples to apples comparison of home values, what you'll save in taxes will cut the ppsqft difference by a third. Outside of that difference, I think you'll find the communities are more alike than they are different. I'm going to assume that you'll see a larger international presence in Wellesley, which I find very appealing. That entire area, from Brookline through Newton and Wellesley, has a huge international presence.

Complete side note: Wellesley schools host half days on either Tuesday or Wednesday bi-weekly. It's seemingly a town ritual that the kids ride their bikes to The Linden Store and eat sandwiches for lunch. Something really refreshing about that whole idea, and was glad to see it's alive in well in Wellesley.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by benton55

First of all, thanks for the input and insights into the Boston area suburbs... was interesting to read about all of the pros / cons and what you all find appealing in the different areas. We found many of your observations to be helpful... so thank you.

We focused in on Lexington, Newton, Needham and Wellesley and have chosen Wellesley. We're excited to explore the area and for the opportunity to get to meet new people.

Wellesley is a great place to live. One thing you want to be aware of when home shopping in Wellesley is that a couple of the elementary schools have an overcrowding issue and several of the grades in those schools are closed to new students. Therefore, you may buy a house in X school district and your child ends up going to Y school because their grade is closed at X school. The people of Wellesley LOVE that they have "neighborhood" schools and right now that's not 100% the case. A lot of buyers work hard to find a house that's walking distance to their kids' school and sometimes that ends up being wasted effort if they're not aware of what grades are closed and in what schools.

Originally Posted by mwj119

Complete side note: Wellesley schools host half days on either Tuesday or Wednesday bi-weekly. It's seemingly a town ritual that the kids ride their bikes to The Linden Store and eat sandwiches for lunch. Something really refreshing about that whole idea, and was glad to see it's alive in well in Wellesley.

LOVE the Linden Store! I'm partial to the Avocado Special. Yum! Another hidden gem in Wellesley is the Fells Market. Great steak tips that are pre-marinated and you take them home to cook them.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Another hidden gem in Wellesley is the Fells Market. Great steak tips that are pre-marinated and you take them home to cook them.

When I was a kid, we used to walk or ride bikes to that market and the drug store almost daily. They used to deliver, I wonder if they still do?

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

When I was a kid, we used to walk or ride bikes to that market and the drug store almost daily. They used to deliver, I wonder if they still do?

Not sure. I'm always driving through and around Wellesley on a daily basis. So, I just pop in. Maybe they're on Instacart.

[OrganicSmallHome]

Newton (most dynamic and diverse)
Lexington
Wellesley
Needham

[OrganicSmallHome]

Originally Posted by benton55

First of all, thanks for the input and insights into the Boston area suburbs... was interesting to read about all of the pros / cons and what you all find appealing in the different areas. We found many of your observations to be helpful... so thank you.

We focused in on Lexington, Newton, Needham and Wellesley and have chosen Wellesley. We're excited to explore the area and for the opportunity to get to meet new people.

Just saw this. Great choice.

[495neighbor]

Congratulations, happy home hunting in Wellesley.