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Eight Reasons to Move to Newton, MA

Discover what makes Newton one of the best places to live in the U.S.

By Kari Kynard Ridge on October 26, 2015

People play on the beach at Crystal Lake in Newton, MA
Newton / Courtesy of Newton Conservators.
Families play on the beach at Crystal Lake in Newton, MA.

Namesake of the Fig Newton cookie, Newton, Mass., is a short ride by commuter rail or automobile from all the hustle and bustle of Boston and Logan International Airport. Settled in 1630 and popular among people who want to live near Boston and still enjoy a small-town atmosphere, Newton has a unique blend of New England charm with a high quality of life and top-notch schools.

Among the 13 distinct villages of the Garden City, you’ll find history, nature parks, pedestrian-friendly shopping centers and diverse dining options. Each year thousands of runners stream through Newton Centre in one of the most challenging sections of the Boston Marathon: Heartbreak Hill. Here’s a list of reasons why you should consider moving to Newton.

13 Villages

Each village has its own unique feel, architecture, history, shops and restaurants. Newton Centre is the largest village and the home of city hall and upscale shops, with a village green and parks that are the site of year-round activities and festivals.

Honoring History

Newton’s museums cover a lot of ground. The 1809 Federal-style Jackson Homestead and Museum displays rotating and permanent exhibits about the city’s history and the Underground Railroad, of which the homestead was a part. The Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds features a 1734 restored farmhouse that’s been converted into a family-friendly museum with gardens.

An Eye for the Arts

The Newton Festival of the Arts is a month-long, citywide annual celebration that showcases the talents of local citizens and community groups. There are dozens of activities during the May festival, including live musical entertainment, book and author events, films, theater productions, operas, art exhibitions, chalk murals and an Ethnic Heritage Festival.

Newton’s Nature

Although you’re never far from civilization in Newton, there are several parks where you can commune with nature. Located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, Webster Conservation Area and Hammond Pond Reservation offers a large, scenic pond and natural forests with wooded trails and large geological formations that make it a popular spot for rock climbing.

Superb Shopping

Residents in each of the villages love both their small shops and ritzy boutiques, as well as their farmers markets, which are held in New Cold Spring Park and in West Newton. Newton Centre has long been a destination for upscale shopping. The Mall at Chestnut Hill features 50 specialty retailers, including Massachusetts’ only Bloomingdale’s location.

Diversity of Dining Options

Newton residents don’t have to travel into Boston for upscale cuisine. Right here in the heart of Newton Centre are restaurants such as sycamore., which blends New American with Mediterranean cuisine into main dishes and a tantalizing dessert menu.

World-Famous Schools

Andover Newton is the nation’s oldest theological school. Founded in 1807 in Newton Centre, today ANTS offers degree and non-degree programs for a student body that represents more than 50 faiths and denominations. Newton also is home to high-ranked public schools and Boston College, Mount Ida College and Lasell College.

Paint And Sip

The village of Newtonville is home to The Paint Bar, which hosts participants who want to learn to paint while sipping wine and beer and socializing. The Paint Bar provides instructors and supplies so you can create and take home your very own masterpiece.

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