1. The Higgins Group
City: Lexington, MA
Category: Relocation
Telephone: (781) 862-1700
Address: 02420
Description: The communities south of Boston represent two distinct locales. The inland Neponset Valley towns, such as Westwood and Sharon, offer great proximity (via the MBTA commuter rail line) to both Boston and Providence. Then there is the better-known South Shore, with its mix of affordable, community-minded towns, such as Quincy, and posh “Gold Coast” towns, such as Cohasset. As a whole, the suburban towns of Westwood and Sharon both offer tremendous value for families—home prices are affordable and the high schools here are among the most highly ranked in the state. Both towns have a rural feel and significant conservation land set aside for recreational use by residents. Westwood is the more expensive address; the median home price is $467,000, which will get you a small three-bedroom colonial or Cape. In Sharon there’s plenty for even less, with lots of starter homes in the mid-$300,000s. Quincy is located just five miles outside of Boston and has always enjoyed an affordability factor that has traditionally made it a first stop for immigrants (originally the Irish, now Chinese immigrants) on the way to home ownership. Other pluses? Wollaston Beach is nearby and Quincy is directly on the Red Line. The median home price in Quincy is a shade under $300,000, a 10 percent rise since last year—no doubt in anticipation of the city’s plan to revitalize 20 blocks of the downtown area with new shops and condos. Tiny Cohasset was once a seaside retreat for Boston’s elite. Today the seaside mansions along Jerusalem Street occupy the top of the market and range from $1.5 million to $12 million. Older clapboard homes clustered closer to town are much more reasonable and list in the $800,000s.
2. Wilson Farm
City: Lexington, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (781) 862-3900
Address: 10 Pleasant St.
Description: Much more than a farm stand, family-owned Wilson’s is an 8,500-square-foot showcase barn that offers one-stop shopping year-round. In the summer, the vegetables here are better than fresh off the truck—they’re from the 30 acres of farmland out back (or Wilson’s 500 additional acres in New Hampshire). The daily selection of prepared foods feature the absolute best of the season—including homemade soups, entrees, and desserts. CSA (community-supported agriculture) shares are available for produce, fish, and flowers, so you have an excuse to come back weekly. Besides the farm-fresh eggs, milk, cheese, and groceries, you can pick up nursery plants for your own garden.
3. Lexington Green And Lexington Historical Society Sites
City: Lexington, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (781) 862-1703
Address: 13 Depot Sq.
Insider Pick:
Description: The event that is popularly known as the Battle of Lexington was the first organized armed resistance by the colonial militia against the British, but it is perhaps more accurately described as a skirmish. In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775, Paul Revere’s “midnight ride” brought him to the Hancock-Clarke House (36 Hancock St.) to warn Patriots John Hancock and Sam Adams that British troops were approaching to seize the colonists’ supply of munitions in Concord. Nearby, at Buckman Tavern (1 Bedford St.), some 75 Lexington militia gathered under the command of Captain John Parker. The colonial militia assembled on Lexington Common in the face of 700 advancing British troops. Shots rang out, fire was exchanged, and 8 rebels died in the ensuing clash. The British continued their march to the neighboring town of Concord, where they met unexpected resistance and returned to Lexington late in the day to regroup at Munroe Tavern (1332 Massachusetts Ave.), just outside the center of town, before continuing the march back to Charlestown. Each of Lexington’s historic home sites—the Hancock-Clarke House, Buckman Tavern, and Munroe Tavern—is open to the public and offers guided tours daily; check website for hours and admission fees.