Medford

In Medford Center, less than 7 miles from the heart of downtown Boston, residents can enjoy a rapidly growing and changing hub of transportation and commerce. Along the downtown streets and surrounded by the roar of major interstates, residents can find condos and multi-unit houses just above dining and shopping options that make up the core of the neighborhood with single family homes making up the outskirts of the neighborhood. Many of these businesses are a short distance from the Mystic River, which has commuting routes along the Minuteman Trail and green spaces for relaxation. The neighborhood is also home to the Chevalier Theater, which hosts concerts and shows from highly regarded artists. “The area might not have as vibrant of a downtown as nearby places like Somerville, but it is really coming along,” says Robert Cassano, the principal broker and owner of Unity Realty, who has been serving the community since 2016. “There is a lot to look forward to, and the connection to Boston is fantastic.” To many, Medford Center’s main attraction is the Chevalier Theatre on Forest Street. Constructed in 1939, this historic building hosts numerous shows throughout the year, ranging from famous comedians to popular bands and musicals. “The building has a lot of that old charm to it,” Cassano says. “And the musicians that come here are amazing. I’ve been to three musicals at that theater, and it has always been a packed house.” Residents do not have to stray far from downtown, as many events occur either in the city center or along the river. One popular event here is Medford Day in June, which is full of performances and activities for families that honor the city’s history. Veterans Memorial Park along the river has several concerts at the band shell throughout the year, as well as a number of feasts organized by different groups in the community, such as the Italian feast of the Republic, which celebrates the Italian republic through classic cuisine and music.. Being in the heart of downtown Medford, residents can find several dining and shopping options just a short walk from their homes. Modern Pastry Shop sells sweet treats including cannoli and other classic Italian pastries. Deep Cuts Brewery is known for its sandwiches and craft beers. The brewery also has a stage where many live bands perform, and while he has not been there yet himself, Cassano says, “lots of people around town have been saying really good things about it.” Grocery shopping options include Whole Foods, 1 mile to the west, and Wegmans, 1 mile to the east. Medford Center’s eastern end puts the neighborhood next to Interstate 93, streamlining the 6-mile commute to downtown Boston. “For those like me who go in and out of the area often, it is a great spot to be in,” Cassano says. I-93 also branches off to multiple busy roads, like Mystic Valley Highway and High Street, which can sometimes lead to traffic jams and a lack of downtown parking. Those who wish to avoid the roads can hop on the T at the Medford/Tufts Green Line station. Boston Logan International Airport is 7 miles to the southwest, and the Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford is less than 2 miles from the heart of downtown. Much of Medford's recreation and green space is focused on the Mystic River Path and Minuteman Bikeway. While some parts of the greenway are still developing, 25 miles of paths will eventually connect Mystic Lakes to Boston Harbor. These pedestrian paths run through Veterans Memorial Park and are often filled. “Lots of people out walking and biking and bringing their dogs,” Cassano says. Veterans Memorial Park, the largest park in the neighborhood, offers baseball diamonds and a boat ramp for kayakers and is a popular event space for summer concerts at the band shell. The Medford Farmer’s Market is held here on Thursdays from June to October. Almost all of the housing in Medford Center is multi-family or multi-unit. These residences can range from recently constructed buildings to repurposed historic structures from as far back as the 1850s. Several single-family homes have been transformed to house multiple families while maintaining their original façade, often taking inspiration from Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and New Englander-style homes. Prices for condos commonly range between $400,000 and $800,000, while multi-unit and single-family homes range between $600,000 and $1.5 million. Area students can attend Medford Public Schools. Brooks Elementary School and Madeleine Dugger Andrews Middle School receive a B rating from Niche. At Medford High School, which also earns a B, students can participate in various extracurricular activities, including an anime club, a garden club and Mustang News, the school newspaper. The high school also has a fairly new building and a reputable sports program. College students are less than 2 miles away from Tufts University, one of the highest-ranking universities in the country.

Between the cities of Malden and Medford is a sprawling residential area that is generally referred to as East Medford; however, because of its size, locals often say they live in more specific parts of the neighborhood when referencing location: “Haines Square, Riverside, Morrison Park and Logan Park are some of the monikers that people are more inclined to use here,” says Jennifer Keenan, a local Realtor with 4Squares Residential Group at Keller Williams Realty. “Haines Square is where the Fellsway and Salem Street connect, and Riverside Avenue is a main road that marks a distinctly different area by Mystic River.” Morrison Park and Logan Park are two popular outdoor spaces situated between the Haines Square and Riverside areas. The southern part of the neighborhood is bordered by the Mystic River, an estuary connected to the Boston Harbor that played a significant role in the city’s establishment centuries ago. “Medford was historically known for its shipbuilding, specializing specifically in clipper boats,” Keenan says. She adds that although Medford is no longer a major ship manufacturer, the city’s significant industrial role is well-preserved in local historic districts. “You’ll see a mix of single-family and multifamily homes, as well as townhouses and condos,” Keenan says. “You might also have a condo that looks like it’s in a house because the property was converted from an original two-family home into condos split by floor levels.” East Medford is characterized by a variety of residential architecture, Keenan says, including Victorian-style homes, Queen Annes, Cape Cod dwellings and a handful of Colonials with signature central entrances. She adds that a majority of properties in the area are early to mid-20th century builds, if not older. Single- and multifamily homes typically cost between $650,000 and $1.2 million, while condo units start around $400,000. Most roads in East Medford are lined with well-maintained sidewalks that residents often use for outdoor recreation purposes: “You’ll see a lot of people walking around or walking their dogs and enjoying their immediate streets,” Keenan says. “This is a generally flat area, which is nice because things can get hilly here.” Morrison Park is a popular outdoor spot for youth sports, particularly because of the park’s baseball field, tennis complex and basketball court. “You always see kids out there kicking around a soccer ball or playing lacrosse,” Keenan says. Little League, Youth Soccer and Pop Warner Youth Football are just a few of the organizations that use the park’s athletic facilities for games and non-sports events such as fundraisers. Nearby Logan Park and Magoun Park both have children’s playground equipment, paved walking paths and picnic benches. “Mystic River is used for boating by personal crafts, but not much for swimming,” Keenan says. “Every spring and summer, people rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboats to go cruising around the river; every once in a while, you’ll see a jet ski or small fishing boat.” Along the Mystic River is Riverbend Park, an 11-acre area with a dog park, community garden and ballfield complex where Keenan says people often walk and bike along paved riverfront pathways. Less than 2 miles north of East Medford is the Middlesex Fells Reservation, the second-largest state park in Greater Boston, covering more than 2,500 acres. Keenan says that many of East Medford’s retail shops and restaurants are situated along Salem Street in the Haines Square area. “Dempsey’s is a classic American diner where they do a really good breakfast, and FiorItaly and Nappi’s are both popular Italian restaurants,” she says. “Salem Street also has a Target that we call ‘Baby Target’ because it’s relatively small, and there’s also a gym and a Walgreens in that area.” At the southern end of the neighborhood is the Meadow Glen shopping mall, which features Wegman’s supermarket and several department stores, including Kohl’s, Marshalls and Petco. Across the street from the shopping center is The Ford Tavern, a bar and restaurant with an outdoor patio that Keenan says opened a couple of years ago and has since become a popular local spot. Students are served by the Medford Public Schools district, which receives an overall B-minus rating from Niche. Depending on their specific street, young learners can attend either Roberts Elementary or McGlynn Elementary for primary school, both of which are rated B-minus. Students might then head to McGlynn Middle School, rated C-plus, and later attend the B-rated Medford High School, which encompasses the Medford Vocational-Technical High School. Students can apply to any of the 15 career and technology education programs offered by the Vocational-Technical School. Medford High also offers Advanced Placement and Honor courses; according to the district, more than half of its high school students currently participate in Advanced Placement exams. Although East Medford sees numerous community gatherings, such as block parties, fundraisers and yard sales, Keenan says that most of the larger events take place in the downtown area at places like Condon Shell, an event venue within the Mystic River Reservation area. “We have a farmer’s market in the summer at Condon Shell, and there’s usually live music happening during the market. Lots of local vendors get involved; Medford Brewing always does a beer tent,” Keenan says. “In June, we do Circle the Square, a festival where you can walk around and get to know local businesses and city departments.” Bordering the neighborhood to the west is the Interstate 93 highway corridor, which runs through the Medford downtown area and travels south into Boston proper. I-93 North intersects with Interstate 95, a major East Coast thoroughfare. “Depending on where you are, you can walk to the T in Medford – ‘T’ is what we call the MBTA – or you can walk to Malden Center,” Keenan says. “The MBTA Orange Line is the closest option: it travels to Boston’s North Station and then continues through on through the city.” Keenan also adds that several bus routes also run through the Medford area. East Medford scores a 3 out of 10 on the CAP Index for overall crime, which is lower than the national average of 4.

In the suburban town of Medford, about 7 miles northwest of downtown Boston, lies Lawrence Estates, a sought-after enclave of peaceful, leafy sidewalk-lined streets and charming vintage homes. “Lawrence Estates is one of the nicer neighborhoods in town,” says Jennifer Keenan, a longtime Medford resident and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Boston-Northwest. “It’s a popular area that’s easily accessible to Medford Square, either by foot or by car.” Keenan adds, “It’s a lovely spot. A lovely place to live.” Lawrence Estates has a mix of single-family homes, mostly built in the early-to-mid 20th century. Colonial is the predominant home style, but home seekers will also find other styles sprinkled in, including gambrel-roofed Dutch Colonials and Tudor Revivals with pitched roof-covered doorways. “The single-family homes in Lawrence Hills feel grander than houses in other parts of town. There are a lot of center entrance colonials that have a real stately feel and are solidly built,” Keenan says. “And the homes are on what we would consider large lots.” Home sizes range from 1,200 to 4,500 square feet with two to five bedrooms, and prices span from $640,000 to over $1.6 million. “When homes in Lawrence Estates go on the market, they typically sell within a week,” Keenan says. “People tend to stay in those homes for 20 years or more, so there’s not always a lot of inventory. As soon as a house hits the market, there are usually a lot of people waiting and eager to see it.” With Massachusetts’ school choice program, families can take their pick from the eight schools that make up the Medford Public Schools district, including Roberts Elementary, rated a B-minus by Niche, Andrews Middle and Medford High School, which both receive a B Niche rating and boast a student-teacher ratio of 10 to one. With nearby green spaces aplenty, Lawrence Estates is a prime spot for outdoorsy folks. One such place, Victory Park, features a playground with swings for the kids, tennis and basketball courts for the sports-minded and a path for a leisurely afternoon stroll. Serious hikers can enjoy the nearby Middlesex Fells Reservation, where they’ll find 100 miles of trails with interesting spots to stop along the way, including the rock formation known as Panther Cave and Wright’s Tower, which offers a picturesque view of Boston’s skyline. During the summer months, Wright’s Pond, located about 2 miles from Lawrence Estates, is staffed with lifeguards and open Medford residents for freshwater swimming or sunbathing on its small sand beach. For a much-deserved treat after the Fells, weary hikers can head to Modern Pastry Shop on nearby Salem Street, the Medford location of a family-owned Italian-American bakery serving cannoli, cookies, cakes, pies and more since 1930. Only slightly further afield is another Salem Street culinary experience: FiorItaly Trattoria, where Chef Gabriele Ascione crafts authentic southern Italian dishes inspired by his homeland. For those who want to make a pasta feast at home, ingredients are easy to come by at the Wegman’s in the nearby Meadow Glen shopping center, where additional stores, like Petco and Kohl’s, simplify weekly errand runs. Lawrence Estates residents have the good fortune to be within minutes of all that Medford has to offer, including the city’s weekly Farmer’s Market, which runs from June to October and features local produce, meat, flowers, baked goods, and more. Other Medford events include Porchfest, a lively summertime festival where folks offer up their front porches to local musicians for some free city-wide live entertainment, and an annual Pumpkin Smash in the fall, where residents, according to the city’s website, can enjoy “some family-friendly destruction” of their leftover Halloween jack-o-lantern. With easy access to Interstate 93, commuters can make the 6.5-mile journey into downtown Boston in about 10 minutes, depending, of course, on traffic. Those who prefer public transportation can hop on a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus at one of the stops along Winthrop Street or catch a train at the West Medford station to be in town in about 20 minutes. Whether commuting to Boston, hiking the Fells or shopping for groceries, residents look forward to returning home to Lawrence Estates.

Medford Hillside, a pocket in the City of Medford, is a commuter’s haven. Residents have proximity to a brand-new station along the Boston-area subway system’s Green Line. It's one of the many reasons residents love this neighborhood near Tufts University. “If you had a choice, for transportation purposes, you’d want to be in the Hillside areas.” says local Realtor John Veneziano, of RE/MAX Andrew Realty. Medford Hillside has an urban disposition, densely populated by a collection of primarily early 20th-century homes. Most of the homes here have colonial styling and feature multifamily layouts. There's also a fair share of tenant-occupied properties, many of which are leased by Tufts University students, with a price range of $3,000 to $5,000 per month. Housing demand in Medford Hillside is fierce, just as it is elsewhere in the city. “There is a great demand in the entire city of Medford because of housing shortages,” says Veneziano. Single-digit inventory in Medford is routine, and sale prices have risen. Properties in Medford Hillside can sell for anywhere from $700,000 to $1.3 million.

If you want to take your home search experience to new heights, consider Fulton Heights. This largely residential neighborhood of Medford, named after its elevation and main artery, offers an array of outdoor and indoor recreation, as well as home variety. <br><br>Real estate professional Hudson Santana, founder and CEO of Santana Team says, "In Fulton Heights, you’ll see a mix of single-family homes, multifamily residences and condominiums.” On Elm Street, there are condominium buildings from the 1980s with two-bedroom units priced just below $500,000. There are Queen Anne-style homes on Watervale Road, and on Aquavia Road, there are Tudor-styles, as well as colonials with stone facades that are fetching $620,000. You’ll find early 1900s bungalows priced just under $600,000 on Fulton Street and on Highland Avenue, you’ll see 1940s colonials going for about $800,000. <br><br>When school is in session, area students can attend Medford Public Schools, a district with a B- Niche rating. Students at Roberts Elementary School begin taking fine arts classes in kindergarten. Students at Andrews Middle School are offered a well-rounded educational experience that includes core academic courses, athletic opportunities and special interest clubs. At Medford High School, which has a B+ Niche rating, students can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including anime club, garden club and Mustang News, the school newspaper. Santana notes that Medford High has a fairly new school building as well as a reputable sports program. <br><br>The neighborhood is home to several areas that allow you to get outside for a bit. Let the kids burn off some extra energy at Carr Park on Winslow Avenue, a small space with a variety of swings and climbing structures. When the weather warms, head to the beach at Wright’s Pond, a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing. The beach is staffed with lifeguards from June until August and is only available to Medford residents. Sign the kids up for skating lessons or youth hockey at Flynn Rink, an indoor rink that is often used for kids’ birthday parties. You can also hike the trails at Cross Fells Trailhead, part of a network of trails that crisscrosses through the northern part of the area. The neighborhood is even home to an outdoor calisthenics park that offers basic fitness equipment and instructions for using it. <br><br>Jim’s Market, located on Fulton Street, is the neighborhood go-to for breakfast sandwiches and steak and cheese subs. Locals will tell you that the family-owned market also has delicious curly fries and is a convenient shop with a few grocery items. You can also pick up snacks, drinks and some essentials at People’s Food Mart. <br><br>Several bus routes run through the neighborhood, and Orange Line access via Malden Center Station is only a three-minute drive away. If you’re looking for easy access to Boston and proximity to nature, Fulton Heights should be high on your list.

If you’ve “done your research”, you probably know that South Medford is an attractive neighborhood largely because of the presence of the esteemed Tufts University, a private research-focused university established in 1852. Real estate professional Hudson Santana, founder and CEO of Santana Team says, “That’s what makes this part of the city so desirable.” The university brings in a lot of revenue to South Medford, which is home for many of its students, professors and staff. <br><br>Folks who aren’t affiliated with Tufts may still appreciate the vibe of a walkable, happening academic area. You’ll find that most folks live in condominiums here which Santana says tend to run “about $1.3 million for a 3,000-square-foot unit.” There are some four-bedroom units from the 1900s on Willard Avenue that are priced just below $900,000. On Main Street, you’ll see quite a few multi-family properties and mid-rise buildings with two-bedroom penthouse units that are fetching about $975,000. You might even find an occasional single-family home in styles such as American Foursquare and 1930s colonials that are going for $995,000 on Billings Avenue. <br><br>Students in the neighborhood are part of Medford Public Schools. Children can attend Missituk Elementary, which has a C-plus rating on Niche and was recently renamed in honor of indigenous peoples as well as the Missituk watershed. Students begin studying music as kindergarteners by singing and performing basic choreography. As fifth graders, students make their own instruments and study music from a variety of decades and genres. <br><br>Also in the neighborhood, you’ll find Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, part of Tufts University’s Department of Child Study and Human Development. The school consists of four classrooms, three of which are preschool programs and the fourth is a combined kindergarten and first grade classroom. In addition to the school serving as a training site for undergraduate and graduate students, EPCS students benefit from the school’s unique programs which include viewing nature as both teacher and playmate. Many of the neighborhood's teens head north of the Mystic River to attend Medford High School, which has a B rating on Niche.<br><br>Speaking of playing, South Medford is home to Barry Park, which includes tennis courts, athletic fields and a tot lot. At Columbus Memorial Park, you can take your dog for a stroll or simply relax for a bit in some open green space. <br><br>When it’s time to dine, Santana says, “Tamper Café is a cool spot to hang out.” Located on Boston Avenue, the café serves breakfast quesadillas, quinoa bowls and plenty of coffee. Another popular spot, Oasis Brazilian Steakhouse, serves salads, fajitas and a variety of steak dishes. “It’s a great restaurant. The food is really good here,” Santana says. <br><br>Residents of South Medford can pick up a few essentials at the small but well-stocked Alexander’s on Main Street. For larger shopping trips, Whole Foods is located just outside the neighborhood. <br><br>While proximity to Tufts University is definitely a big draw for the community, it’s also hard to beat the area’s access to Interstate 93 and the Green Line. “Because of the train station, the area is getting more and more popular,” Santana says.