Living in Newton
Newton is a city about seven to eight miles west of downtown Boston, known as the Garden City. Instead of one downtown, it is made up of thirteen villages, each with its own center: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Nonantum (also called Silver Lake), Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Waban and West Newton. The villages have no legal borders, so it helps to know that a Newton address may list the village name.
Homes you will find
- Single-family homes in many styles, including historic Federal and Gothic Revival houses
- Condos and apartments close to village squares and transit, including newer transit-oriented buildings
Getting around
The MBTA Green Line D branch runs through the middle of Newton, with trips to downtown Boston taking about 10 to 30 minutes, and it ends near Newton Lower Falls. The Green Line B branch ends on Commonwealth Avenue near Boston College, at the edge of Chestnut Hill. The Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line stops at Newtonville, West Newton and Auburndale on its way to Back Bay and South Station. Newtonville station is scheduled to close in December 2026 for accessibility renovations, with reopening planned for spring 2029.
For drivers, the Massachusetts Turnpike crosses the north side of the city, Route 128 (I-95) runs along the western edge near Lower Falls, and Route 9 serves the southern villages.
Parks, the river and everyday life
The Charles River curves along the north and west sides of Newton, and Auburndale Cove and Norumbega Park are popular spots. Crystal Lake, a 33-acre natural lake, is in Newton Centre, and Bullough’s Pond and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir are nearby favorites. Echo Bridge, a 19th-century stone arch bridge in Newton Upper Falls, looks over the river and Hemlock Gorge Reservation. The Boston Marathon climbs Heartbreak Hill on Commonwealth Avenue between Walnut Street and Boston College.
The city is also home to colleges, including Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Lasell University in Auburndale and Hebrew College in Newton Centre. Newton runs its own public school system, and families can contact Newton Public Schools directly for school information.
Who Newton suits
Newton is a good fit for commuters who want the Green Line or commuter rail, buyers who like a village center with shops close to home, and people who enjoy the river, ponds and running routes. Condo buyers can look near the village squares and stations.
Curious about Newton? Ask Suad about recent sales and current listings, in English, Spanish (with Diana) or Bosnian.
