North Braintree

Welcome to the end of the line – at least, the end of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s red line. The subway line ends in the town of Braintree, meaning the suburb is as far south as you can live from Boston while retaining rail access to the big city. The town’s neighborhood of North Braintree is tucked between Interstate 93 and Braintree Station, so residents have two direct routes to cover the 10-mile trip to downtown Boston. Meanwhile, North Braintree residents get to enjoy an amenity-rich suburb of 38,000 people.

Those amenities are highlighted by South Shore Plaza, a 200-store mall that’s the retail anchor of North Braintree. It’s not just a spot to browse for outfits, shoes and toys; the mall contains a Target, so you can pick up groceries while you’re there. The mall also includes cafes and ice cream shops, but South Shore Plaza isn’t the only place to grab a bite in North Braintree. Less than a mile west sits 110 Grill, where waits for tables aren’t uncommon, and the hamburgers are layered with smashed tater tots and caramelized onions. Follow up dinner at 110 Grill with drinks across the street at Widowmaker Brewing, or turn the meal into dinner-and-a-movie night by catching a flick at the AMC cinema next door. “There’s just a lot of stuff in the town in terms of what people need,” says Compass Realtor Nick Rivers, who grew up in Braintree.

Between the mall and the train station are a couple thousand houses, mostly ranch homes and Cape Cod-style houses separated from nearby neighbors with tight, fenced yards. Although Rivers says there isn’t much new development in the residential market, he adds that homeowners frequently expand their properties. “I’ve seen a good number of ranch homes and small Cape Cods being built up into bigger homes. There is a lot of adding but not a ton of new construction.” Two-bedroom condos and single-family houses may be on the market in the $500,000s, but four-bedroom homes often sell for $1 million or more. “We’re seeing more seven-figure houses than I thought I’d ever see in this town,” Rivers says. Homes here sell in an average of two weeks, so house hunters should expect a fast-paced, competitive market.

Braintree Public Schools earns a Niche grade of B-plus, and Rivers explains that local schools are a draw for the community. Prior to fifth grade, most students stay in the neighborhood to attend Hollis Elementary School. At the school, which gets a Niche grade of A-minus, kids learn high-tech topics like computer science. From fifth through eighth grade, kids head a mile outside the neighborhood to East Braintree to take classes at East Middle School; not only does the school earn an A-minus from Niche, but the campus was renovated in 2019, adding a 3D printer lab and expanding the media center. The town’s high school, Braintree High, stands less than a mile outside the neighborhood in South Braintree. The B-plus-rated high school boasts a comprehensive arts program, with students pursuing pathways in animation, fashion and more.

Parents who pick up their little ones from Hollis Elementary and find the kiddos still have energy to burn can drive less than 2 miles east of the school to Penniman Park. There they can slide, swing and climb on the playground. Of course, residents of any age can enjoy the park’s basketball court or softball field. Though the 3.5-acre park hugs Route 3, a cluster of pine and maple trees blocks views of cars and concrete. Back by Hollis Elementary is Daughraty Gym, where local youth can enroll in summer clinics to sharpen their athletic and artistic skills.

Those who need easy access to Boston but want a suburban lifestyle with plenty of creature comforts should keep North Braintree on their minds.

Written By

Alex Soderstrom

Photography Contributed By

Al Straggas

Video By

Chris Norton