mondoboston.com

Posted by Pam on December 4th, 2008 in Boston Neighborhoods

As housing prices and sales have fallen over the past year, there have been some neighborhoods that have stood out for going in the opposite direction. Towns like Wellesley and Weston have actually experienced price increases in 2008. Towns like Newton and Brookline have seen price drops but by far less than other towns around Massachusetts. The median price of a single family house in Newton was down by only 3.8 percent over the last year. Houses spent an average of 1 day longer on the market in Newton this year than last.

So keeping in mind that housing prices have remained relatively resilient in Newton and Brookline, we thought we’d take a look at what makes these two towns so attractive to many.

1) Proximity to Boston. Newton is located just 7 miles from Downtown Boston. Brookline is located just 4 miles from Downtown Boston. Residents in many parts of Brookline can feasibly walk to work in the Back Bay.

2) Public transportation. The C and D branches of the Green Line run directly through Brookline, hitting all the major shopping districts and most neighborhoods. The D line of the Green Line runs through much of Newton, providing direct access to Downtown Boston in a 20 or 30 minute train ride. Parts of Newton are not connected to Boston by the train, however, which may partially explain slightly lower housing prices.

3) School Districts. Both Brookline and Newton have highly-ranked school districts that consistently outperform the Boston public schools.

4) Lively Business Districts. Both Newton and Brookline boast villages filled with boutiques, restaurants, shops, services, entertainment, and other amenties that make life convenient and pleasurable.

5) Housing prices that are still lower than Downtown Boston. Relatively speaking, you get much more for your money in Brookline and Newton than you would in the North End, South End, Beacon Hill or Back Bay. 

6) Varied housing stock. Newton, but particularly Brookline, offers every type of housing situation you might want, from Brownstone living, to two-families, triple-deckers, single family cottages and mansions on estates.

Check out a community profile of Brookline on Boston.com.
Check out a community profile of Newton on Boston.com.