Inner-ring Boston suburb with small-town vibes and plenty of green space
Though technically a city, the inner-ring Boston suburb of Braintree is more often called a town. In part, that’s probably because while the population is nearing 40,000, the many Little League games, firework-lit festivals and farmers markets held in this section of the South Shore help keep a relatively sprawling, suburban community feel close-knit. “There's so much as far as youth activities are concerned, the sports programs are very heavily attended. There’s not a week that goes by without an event in Braintree. We even started having a beer garden in the fall a few years back,” says Kerrie Doherty, a broker with eXp Realty who has lived and raised her family in Braintree for 30 years. “I always say, you’re 30 minutes from Boston and 40 minutes from the Cape. Its location is so ideal.” Proximity to Boston and its Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority hubs will continue to spawn development in Braintree in the coming years, but a settled bedroom community status, wealth of wide-open green spaces and slate of constant community events are the town’s core, and that’s not likely to change.
Hop on the commuter rail in East Braintree to be transported to Downtown Boston.
Folks like up for fresh produce at the Braintree Farmers Market in South Braintree.
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Prewar cottages and Colonial Revivals in Braintree’s suburban neighborhoods
Braintree’s varied suburban neighborhoods offer distinctive styles and sizes of single-family homes. East Braintree was once something of a mini-Cape Cod, shown in the winterproof updates added to once-seasonal prewar bungalows and cottages. Lot sizes and square footage tend to increase in Braintree Highlands , where buyers often find Colonial and Dutch Revivals and newer ranch-style homes. More multi-family developments are expected to be built near transit centers following the passing of the MBTA Communities Act. Braintree’s median single-family home price is nearly $700,000, higher than the national median. Doherty also notes that, thanks to the tax base of Braintree’s commercial districts and the low rates of the municipal electric utility, buyers often save on recurring expenses in ways that they couldn’t in other municipalities.
Colorful homes line the streets of South Braintree.
East Braintree offers a variety of different styles of architecture.
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Parks, nature reserves and youth sports throughout Braintree
Braintree is bordered in part by the massive Blue Hills Reservation, but the town’s own collection of wide-open recreation areas is also impressive. Walking and biking trails wind around the namesake water feature and through forests, meadows and marshland at Pond Meadow Park. Little League teams face off on the fields at Watson Park’s Baseball Complex along the marina-packed banks of the Weymouth Fore River. Hockey leagues and free skaters hit the ice at the indoor Thayer Sports Center. The town also operates an 18-hole municipal golf course.
The fish are always nibbling at Pond Meadow Park in East Braintree.
View of Cranberry Pond in the woods of Braintree, MA.
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AP exams and special education through Braintree Public Schools
Braintree Public Schools earns an A-minus from Niche. B-plus-rated Braintree High School offers students the opportunity to earn college credit through Advanced Placement classes. “I know a lot of families that have moved to Braintree specifically because of how ahead of the game they are with special education programs,” Doherty notes. A higher percentage of students in Braintree Public Schools receive special education services than in the average Massachusetts district.
Thayer Academy in East Braintree boasts a impressive main entrance.
Braintree High School provides education in the neighborhood of
South Braintree
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Family-friendly Braintree events and community spaces
Live music, fireworks, a parade and plenty of family friendly events draw crowds to the annual Braintree Day celebration, the town’s way of celebrating Independence Day and one of the town’s most anticipated annual traditions. Recurring events bring neighbors together throughout the year, from the Sunset Concert Series to farmers markets outside of Braintree’s Town Hall. A few community spaces offer chances to connect with the arts, from the Braintree Community Arts Center’s open studios and classes to the Curtain Call Theatre’s rotating local theater productions.
Braintree Thanksgiving Holiday Market is taken place at the Braintree Town Hall.
Celebrate the season at Braintree's Festival of Trees with hot chocolate and fun festivitie.
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Taking I-93 and the Red Line into Boston
Despite having more commercial life than many other inner-ring suburbs, Braintree still largely acts as a bedroom community to Boston. State Route 3 takes commuters toward Interstate 93 on the roughly 12-mile drive to the city. The T’s Red Line serves Braintree Station, but the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Kingston Line also comes through the town on the way north from Plymouth. A couple of other T stations offer connections on the edges of town. MBTA buses make stops along a few main roads. Boston Logan International Airport is about 14 miles away.
Shopping and dining at South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza is a major shopping and dining destination, not just for the Town of Braintree, but also for its neighboring communities. Other strip malls collect off of state Route 3. Houses of worship of many denominations hold services throughout the town, including churches, synagogues and Buddhist temples. South Shore Hospital offers medical care in nearby South Weymouth.
A local residents searches for a delicious drink at South Shore Desi Market in East Braintree.
Legal Seafood in North Braintree is a very popular spot for lunch.
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Crime, weather and watershed flooding patterns in Braintree
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security collects data from statewide police departments, including Braintree’s. According to that data, Braintree had a crime rate in 2023 that was roughly on par with the state. The data indicates that overall crime in Braintree rose by around 26.4% from 2022 to 2023.
Braintree experiences four seasons, including hot summers and snowy, below-freezing winters.
The Monatiquot River and its winding watershed form scattered flood zones throughout Braintree. Buyers can look at maps and consult with the town’s engineering department to determine risk, insurance needs and cost.
On average, homes in Braintree, MA sell after 17 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Braintree, MA over the last 12 months is $640,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
If you are contemplating a move, Pamela would be pleased to assist you with your decision. She will listen to your objectives, analyze the current local market and develop a plan uniquely suited to you. Whether buying or selling, She is committed to the highest level of professionalism and personal customer attention. She has assisted buyers and sellers with over $220 million in local real estate and would be pleased to assist you as well.
Pamela is an experienced realtor with 38years of sales, sales management and marketing expertise. She has been a top Hingham agent since 2014 and a member of Coldwell Banker's Presidents Elite, which recognizes the top 3% of all agents internationally. For 18 years she worked for American Express Company where she learned the importance of ethics, integrity, professionalism and total customer satisfaction. For the past 18 years she has worked in residential real estate in Hingham, where she has lived for 38 years and raised 3 children. Pamela has detailed knowledge of schools, neighborhoods, activities and community organizations.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
