Boston is a place of history and beauty. From Fenway Park and Harvard University to the Boston Tea Party and clam chowder, Boston has its roots in all facets of America. Whether you’re running in the Boston Marathon or walking the Freedom Trail, you can step back into history here. With nearly 700,000 residents, Massachusetts’ capital city is certainly bustling, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. For those seeking a quieter life near Beantown, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 suburbs to help inform your choice.
10. Southborough
- Population: 10,169
- Median Home Value: $596,700
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 32 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 23
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 11
Southborough is an affluent community approximately 30 miles west of Boston. There’s plenty of nature to admire here, ranging from Beals Preserve to the Sudbury Reservoir. Of course, there’s no shortage of coffee shops, stores and all of the other suburban amenities you’d expect to find. Discover your new home in Southborough!
9. Needham
- Population: 31,248
- Median Home Value: $805,000
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 31 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 144
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 16
Needham is approximately 19 miles southwest of Boston. If you find yourself in “need” of nature, Needham is your city. You can find multiple forests, conservation land, parks and rivers in the area. The heart of the city is the main hub of urban delights, with streets lined with restaurants and stores. Take a look at the houses available in Needham!
8. Northborough
- Population: 15,101
- Median Home Value: $415,000
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 31 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 111
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 0
With just over 15,000 residents, Northborough is a small, affluent suburb located 37 miles west of Boston. From its parks to local farms, there’s no shortage of sights and activities here. Northborough deserves extra props for its safety ratings. With no violent crimes occurring in the past year, Northborough is one of the safest places in the Boston area to call home. Whether you’re hiking in Edmund Hill Woods or playing a round of golf at Juniper Hill Golf Course, you can do so with peace of mind.
7. Belmont
- Population: 26,330
- Median Home Value: $813,200
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 31 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 167
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 5
Only about nine miles northwest of Boston, Belmont is one of the city’s closer-in suburbs. Known as the “Town of Homes,” Belmont is primarily a residential area and sits on one of Boston’s commuter rail lines. There are plenty of amenities to go around, including the Beaver Brook Reservation, shops, movie theaters and the Belmont Country Club. You can also take a family stroll through Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.
6. Brookline
- Population: 59,310
- Median Home Value: $885,700
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 29 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 632
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 56
With over 59,000 residents and only about five miles away from Boston, Brookline is one of the largest and closest suburbs on our list. Brookline is home to several museums and historic sites, including the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site, Larz Anderson Auto Museum, and the Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site. Additionally, Brookline has no shortage of parks, country clubs and movie theaters. With so much to do and with Boston a short drive away, Brookline is a great place to live.
5. Wellesley
- Population: 29,673
- Median Home Value: $1,090,400
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 30 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 124
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 12
One of the wealthiest cities in the nation, Wellesley is located about 17 miles southwest of Boston. Best known for Wellesley College, a private women’s liberal arts college, Wellesley has a variety of restaurants, coffee shops and bars, as one would expect from a college town. Wellesley is also home to beautiful parks and a stellar primary education system. Your new home in Wellesley awaits you!
4. Shrewsbury
- Population: 37,973
- Median Home Value: $398,000
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 30 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 114
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 4
Forty miles west of Boston, Shrewsbury may not be one of the closest suburbs to Boston, but it remains one of the best. It’s is home to the Edgemere neighborhood, which borders Lake Quinsigmond. Additionally, residents and visitors alike will enjoy the parks, winter ski area and vineyard. With only four violent crimes committed in the past year, Shrewsbury has excellent safety ratings. Be sure to browse the available homes in Shrewsbury!
3. Newton
- Population: 88,904
- Median Home Value: $866,100
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 29 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 629
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 58
The largest suburb on our list, Newton is about 11 miles west of Boston and can be accessed by Boston commuter rail. With several conservation areas, parks, ponds and lakes, Newton is a beautiful place to call home. History buffs will enjoy stepping back in time at the Jackson Homestead and Museum, which is housed in a home built at the start of the 19th century. And there are plenty of shopping plazas and restaurants to enjoy as well. Check out the homes in Newton!
2. Weston
- Population: 12,134
- Median Home Value: $1,211,500
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 29 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 45
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 5
Weston is a small city located 18 miles west of Boston. Despite its size, Weston is home to three museums, multiple golf and country clubs, great parks and dedicated hiking trails. Only five violent crimes were committed in the past year, so you can rest easy in Weston!
1. Bedford
- Population: 14,195
- Median Home Value: $627,000
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 27 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 58
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 7
At the top of our best suburbs list is Bedford! Located approximately 21 miles northwest of Boston, Bedford is full of forests, conservation areas, parks and lakes; there’s even a municipal airport. The town’s location along the Concord River means even more opportunities for beautiful nature walks and outdoor activities. With a stellar education system and few crimes committed per year, Bedford makes a great place for families to call home. Your Bedford home is just around the corner!
Additional Suburbs
| Suburb | Pop. | Median Home Value | Mean Travel to Work | School Rank | Property Crimes | Violent Crimes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westborough | 19,189 | $449,600 | 31 minutes | A+ | 181 | 17 |
| Lexington | 33,132 | $849,400 | 32 minutes | A+ | 113 | 8 |
| Arlington | 45,624 | $609,800 | 33 minutes | A+ | 191 | 34 |
| Lynnfield | 12,999 | $647,200 | 33 minutes | A+ | 93 | 4 |
| Milton | 27,616 | $586,200 | 34 minutes | A+ | 60 | 12 |
| Natick | 36,299 | $538,600 | 33 minutes | A+ | 419 | 56 |
| Winchester | 22,851 | $893,700 | 34 minutes | A+ | 112 | 6 |
| Wayland | 13,882 | $687,800 | 35 minutes | A+ | 1 | 1 |
| Scituate | 18,834 | $569,900 | 37 minutes | A+ | 63 | 15 |
| Hopkinton | 18,269 | $581,700 | 38 minutes | A+ | 30 | 2 |
| Medfield | 12,955 | $646,400 | 38 minutes | A+ | 64 | 1 |
| Hingham | 24,679 | $742,300 | 39 minutes | A+ | 180 | 37 |
| Sharon | 18,943 | $539,500 | 41 minutes | A+ | 51 | 13 |
| Holden | 19,163 | $306,900 | 28 minutes | A | 42 | 9 |
| Cambridge | 118,977 | $719,300 | 26 minutes | A | 2,068 | 339 |
| Easton | 25,050 | $395,900 | 31 minutes | A | 173 | 45 |
| North Andover | 31,296 | $484,500 | 32 minutes | A | 173 | 35 |
| Andover | 36,403 | $608,400 | 34 minutes | A | 173 | 7 |
| Mendon | 6,183 | $442,500 | 34 minutes | A | 31 | 4 |
| Melrose | 28,193 | $508,700 | 34 minutes | A | 146 | 15 |
| Lancaster | 8,185 | $351,500 | 34 minutes | A | 53 | 15 |
| North Reading | 15,710 | $497,600 | 34 minutes | A | 44 | 16 |
| Canton | 23,629 | $486,400 | 34 minutes | A | 118 | 81 |
| Franklin | 33,230 | $420,000 | 36 minutes | A | 85 | 5 |
| Braintree | 37,250 | $436,800 | 34 minutes | A | 487 | 52 |
| Walpole | 25,209 | $469,700 | 35 minutes | A | 262 | 42 |
| Upton | 8,012 | $440,800 | 37 minutes | A | 21 | 5 |
| Duxbury | 15,946 | $629,000 | 37 minutes | A | 92 | 7 |
| Medway | 13,427 | $400,700 | 37 minutes | A | 73 | 21 |
| Quincy | 94,580 | $410,400 | 37 minutes | A | 1,190 | 352 |
| Seekonk | 15,702 | $329,700 | 25 minutes | A- | 267 | 26 |
| Burlington | 28,742 | $491,800 | 30 minutes | A- | 378 | 40 |
| Ipswich | 14,092 | $472,800 | 32 minutes | A- | 74 | 14 |
| Kingston | 13,863 | $365,900 | 32 minutes | A- | 102 | 26 |
| Grafton | 18,885 | $354,000 | 34 minutes | A- | 61 | 21 |
| Reading | 25,337 | $534,100 | 34 minutes | A- | 144 | 5 |
| Hopedale | 5,966 | $328,900 | 34 minutes | A- | 16 | 2 |
| Mansfield | 24,470 | $394,200 | 35 minutes | A- | 205 | 34 |
| Swampscott | 15,227 | $455,400 | 35 minutes | A- | 170 | 9 |
| Foxborough | 18,399 | $411,100 | 37 minutes | A- | 154 | 44 |
| Barnstable | 44,460 | $368,300 | 21 minutes | B+ | 462 | 166 |
| Waltham | 62,962 | $497,100 | 26 minutes | B+ | 561 | 117 |
| Beverly | 42,312 | $411,700 | 29 minutes | B+ | 243 | 42 |
| Tyngsborough | 12,418 | $367,600 | 30 minutes | B+ | 53 | 20 |
| Stoneham | 22,729 | $460,800 | 30 minutes | B+ | 243 | 33 |
| Auburn | 16,782 | $252,400 | 29 minutes | B+ | 318 | 29 |
| Wakefield | 27,135 | $470,900 | 31 minutes | B+ | 175 | 42 |
| Wilmington | 23,907 | $447,300 | 32 minutes | B+ | 125 | 20 |
| Dedham | 25,334 | $445,500 | 30 minutes | B+ | 339 | 7 |
| Norwood | 29,327 | $420,300 | 32 minutes | B+ | 265 | 39 |
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each suburb.
Other Massachusetts Resources
Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.
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