Framingham

Nobscot, a village within the city of Framingham, is a residential community where options abound. “It has an interesting medley of starter homes, farms and mansions,” says Alison Corton, Realtor with ERA Key Realty Services and 20-year Framingham resident. “It’s one of Framingham’s most expensive and most beautiful neighborhoods. There are winding country roads and lots of trees.” With access to parks and farm-fresh produce, the area has a rural feel despite being only 25 miles from Boston. Families can choose from schools within a 1-mile radius or lottery to attend some of the city’s bilingual elementaries. Nobscot Park is well suited for an afternoon picnic or a walk through the woods. “We have a variety of wildlife here. It’s really special,” says Christine Long, the District 1 city councilor of Framingham and Nobscot resident, who notes that it’s not uncommon to see a few woodpeckers and other woodland creatures in the parks. Another popular outdoor space, Garden in the Woods, is a 45-acre botanical garden where visitors can stroll paths lined with native New England plants. Just west of Nobscot is Callahan State Park, which offers 7 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. Current restaurant offerings include Honey Dew Donuts, an unofficial gathering spot in the village, and Gianni’s Pizza & Subs, which serves traditional Italian-style pizzas. For fresh produce, Hanson’s Farm sells veggies at their farm stand, or residents can invest in a CSA membership. A few miles west of Nobscot is Eastleigh Farm, which offers fresh ice cream and vintage décor. There are also plenty of shopping options nearby, including Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s, all of which are within a 2-mile radius of Nobscot. A new mixed-used plaza, which is anticipated to be completed in September 2024, will house apartments and retail space. It is being built beside the McAuliffe Library. Until the 1950s, much of Nobscot’s land was forest and farmland. There are a few remaining homesteads from the 1700s and 1800s, but most available real estate was constructed prior to 1950. Along the curvilinear residential streets, ranch-style, split-level and raised ranch-style homes are prevalent. Prices for these generally fall between $600,000 and $800,000. There are also several Colonial Revivals from the late 1900s, which often sell anywhere from $700,000 to over $1 million. Buyers may also find grand, early 1900s Tudor Revivals and newly built traditional-style homes — these run between $1 million and $1.6 million. Corton says that an “agrihood” is also under development — Baiting Brook Farm, a 55+ community situated in the middle of a working farm. The local school system, Framingham Public Schools, earns an overall B rating from Niche and offers school choice. Parents can tour all the elementary schools and lottery into any that are not within a 1-mile radius of their home. There are bilingual Spanish elementary schools and bilingual Portuguese elementary schools as well. Hemenway Elementary School, which earns a B-plus, is a Multiple Intelligences School. Teachers at Hemenway structure their lessons to meet multiple learning needs and strengths. At B-rated Walsh Middle School, students can participate in the robotics club, which recently went to nationals. Framingham High School, rated A-minus on Niche, offers a variety of extracurricular options, including astronomy and American Sign Language clubs. Though downtown Framingham is just a few miles from Nobscot, the McAuliffe Branch Library has a full calendar of events to keep Nobscot residents busy. On weekday mornings, there are programs for preschool-aged children. In the evenings, art classes and Dungeons & Dragons meetups keep adults and teens occupied. During the summer months, there is a free concert series in the Framingham Centre Common. Corton says that Hanson’s Farm offers haunted hayrides around Halloween. Nearby highways include U.S. Route 20 to the north and Interstate 90 to the south. Both roads lead directly into Boston, which lies about 25 miles east. Approximately 4 miles south of Nobscot is a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail station with a large parking lot.

The historic Saxonville Mills no longer produce wool, but they do continue as a community anchor. Today, more than 80 artist studios, galleries and small retailers – and one popular coffee shop – are scattered across the site’s 10 red-brick mills, which overlook the Sudbury River. “Saxonville has a small-village community feel within the larger city of Framingham,” says Brandon Ward, president of the Friends of Saxonville neighborhood group. Locals tend to be active and engaged, Ward says, and feel a strong connection with the historic mill complex, which has community roots stretching back to the 1820s. Scenic trails beside the Sudbury River and Lake Cochituate are another local treasure. Small starter homes are a hallmark of the neighborhood, Ward says, and many are centered around the mill, not far from Lake Cochituate. One-story “slab” ranchers are the dominant style. “They are all Campanelli ranchers, post World War II dwellings,” says Ward. “The Campanelli Brothers bult tons of the ranchers, which are mirror images of themselves. It was housing stock for the booming population of returning soldiers.” There are thousands of them – built on concrete slabs and once considered inexpensive – across Saxonville and Framingham. Additional housing options include everything from Colonials to recent remodels that evoke a modern farmhouse. Sidewalks link some homes, typically in areas with lots that are a quarter to half an acre. This intimate layout encourages strong community ties. “I think a lot of neighbors, they get along. They know each other,” days Realtor Nelson Zide, of ERA Key Realty Services. Homes start at $385,000 for a two-bedroom rancher and run to $1.6 million for a four-bedroom home in a golf community. A two-bedroom condo is about $400,000. The Framingham Public Schools District provides Out-of-School Time (OST) programming for students before and after regular school hours. Stapleton Elementary earns a B- from Niche while Walsh Middle is graded B. Students interested in robotics at Walsh can join the Walshbots, a competitive club that is part of the VEX Robotics competition league. Clubs at Framingham High School run the gamut and include the Astronomy Club, the Black Student Union, Debate Club, Improv Club and Yearbook Club. The Carol Getchell Nature Trail runs along the Sudbury River and provides prime views of the water. Hikers and bikers alike travel the 4-mile Cochituate Rail Trail, which runs along Lake Cochituate and links Saxonville with the town of Natick. Winch Park, which abuts Framingham High School, has multiple athletic fields, a half-dozen tennis courts and a basketball court. Saxonville Beach on Lake Cochituate is a pretty place to relax from June through August. At Saxonville Mills Café & Roastery the beans are imported directly from Colombia – where the owner has family – and roasted on-site. The cafe menu includes pastries, from blueberry turnovers to empanadas, as well as sandwiches, smoothies and desserts. Across the street, colorful decor and a bright Frida Kahlo mural welcome guests to Saxonville Burrito Company, known for its fresh ingredients and awesome burritos. National retailers and restaurant chains fill Natick Mall and Shoppers World, both about two miles south of the neighborhood. Trader Joe’s and ALDIs are three miles south. Residents can be on the Massachusetts Turnpike, also known as the Mass Pike, in five minutes. This busy artery takes commuters straight to Boston, about 20 miles away. There’s a good portion of the community that commutes, Ward says, and instead of driving some will ride the MTBA commuter rail into the city, a trip of about 45 minutes to an hour. Framingham and the surrounding MetroWest region also have robust office and business offerings. Artists share their work the second Friday of the month during Second Fridays nights at Mill Contemporary Art at Saxonville Mills. Holiday shoppers can stroll the galleries at the mills during the Holiday Market and Open Studios event in December. Natick hosts the Natick Farmers Market every Saturday morning year-round. The Framingham Farmers Market runs from 3 to 7pm on Thursdays. The location varies by season.