Chinese family: winchester vs lexington (Boston, Lynn: fit in, houses, buying)

[Bronxer]

Both my wife and I have a job in wakefield area. We are trying to buy a house in lexington vs winchester area. Our budget would 1-1.2 million. We are not sure which town would be better for us.

1. Winchester is very close to wakefield, fairly 6 miles and takes 20mins drive. It has a great school system and a Chinese school. However, I heard people say winchester is a rich snobby town. We are working class and not sure if we could fit in the town. Also, Ambrose, lincoln and vinson owen have very few asian kids, 90% are white kids. If i choose Winchester, I would choose east side near lynch and muraco area.

2. Lexington has more asian, fairly 20-30% asians in all the schools. I feel my kids can fit in better. However, the houses are more expensive and commute would be 12 miles with 40mins drive. Also Lexington high school is very competitive.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

[timberline742]

It's hard for me to imagine that you would find Lexington less "rich" and "snobby" than Winchester.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by Bronxer

Both my wife and I have a job in wakefield area. We are trying to buy a house in lexington vs winchester area. Our budget would 1-1.2 million. We are not sure which town would be better for us.

1. Winchester is very close to wakefield, fairly 6 miles and takes 20mins drive. It has a great school system and a Chinese school. However, I heard people say winchester is a rich snobby town. We are working class and not sure if we could fit in the town. Also, Ambrose, lincoln and vinson owen have very few asian kids, 90% are white kids. If i choose Winchester, I would choose east side near lynch and muraco area.

2. Lexington has more asian, fairly 20-30% asians in all the schools. I feel my kids can fit in better. However, the houses are more expensive and commute would be 12 miles with 40mins drive. Also Lexington high school is very competitive.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

You've identified the key differences, I think. Lexington schools are ranked a bit better, but at that level it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. I'd pick the shorter commute ten times out of ten.

In my (very limited) experience, Winchester is no snobbier than Lexington. Neither are 'working class'. Both are filled with professionals. To be fair, if you can afford a $1.2 million house, you aren't working class anymore, either. If remaining around working class people is important to you, you would probably need to look in a different town entirely.

[gf2020]

Winchester would be the better pick of those two. If you don't like what your money will buy there, however, you may want to look at Lynnfield. The town still has a very small Indian and Asian population but it is growing as families are priced out of places like Lexington, Winchester and Bedford.

Boston magazine ranked Winchester High School at #12 and Lynnfield High School at #13 in their 2019 survey.

[mmyk72]

I'd see not having a lot of other Asian kids in the school as positive. Your kids - if they are good students - will stand out as opposed to being just another ordinary Asian kid.

Sometimes it simply comes down to finding a house you like with the $ you are willing to spend. I'll take a short commute if all things are equal. Anyone who can afford buying into either town shouldn't need to worry about being looked down upon.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Bronxer

Thanks for the information. I though lexington historically were working class. Things might have changed for the past 20 years.

No, even 30 years ago Lexington was firmly upper middle class, at worst.


Unless you have a very different definition of "working class", due to culture.

[Bronxer]

Originally Posted by timberline742

It's hard for me to imagine that you would find Lexington less "rich" and "snobby" than Winchester.

Thank you for the information. I thought lexington historically were working class. Things might have changed.

[Bronxer]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

You've identified the key differences, I think. Lexington schools are ranked a bit better, but at that level it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. I'd pick the shorter commute ten times out of ten.

In my (very limited) experience, Winchester is no snobbier than Lexington. Neither are 'working class'. Both are filled with professionals. To be fair, if you can afford a $1.2 million house, you aren't working class anymore, either. If remaining around working class people is important to you, you would probably need to look in a different town entirely.

Thank you for the suggestions. My wife and I are from small towns in China. We always identify ourselves are working class.

[Bronxer]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Winchester would be the better pick of those two. If you don't like what your money will buy there, however, you may want to look at Lynnfield. The town still has a very small Indian and Asian population but it is growing as families are priced out of places like Lexington, Winchester and Bedford.

Boston magazine ranked Winchester High School at #12 and Lynnfield High School at #13 in their 2019 survey.

Thanks. We did research about lynnfield as well. Lynnfield is less diversified than winchester, and if my son is white, I would choose lynnfield without any doubt.

[Bronxer]

Originally Posted by mmyk72

I'd see not having a lot of other Asian kids in the school as positive. Your kids - if they are good students - will stand out as opposed to being just another ordinary Asian kid.

Sometimes it simply comes down to finding a house you like with the $ you are willing to spend. I'll take a short commute if all things are equal. Anyone who can afford buying into either town shouldn't need to worry about being looked down upon.

Thank you for the suggestion. As chinese immigrants, I hope my son not feeling different in school. In lexington, he would be normal ordinary chinese kid. While in Winchester, I am not sure whether he will loose his chinese heritage and has identity crisis.