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Mount Ida

Mount Ida

$1,638,514 Average Value
$566 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

The Mount Ida neighborhood is a residential enclave of Newton

Situated in the southern part of the town of Newton, Mount Ida takes its name from the private university that used to occupy the west side of the Massachusetts neighborhood. The campus, now part of UMass Amherst, abuts the Oak Hill Park subdivision, and together the two separate areas make up Mount Ida. “It’s one of the most desirable areas of Newton to live,” says Jim Lowenstern, the team leader for the Castles Unlimited Team brokered by EXP Realty. “It has a little less traffic and better proximity to Route 9 for access into Boston.” The state capital and the commercial corridor of state Route 9 are both within driving distance, while the Charles River and surrounding tracts of land offer recreation on the southwest side.

Large, custom homes have replaced mid-century Mount Ida houses

Oak Hill Park, the primary residential component of the neighborhood, was originally developed as housing for World War II veterans in the mid-20th century; in recent decades, many of the slab ranch-style homes have been replaced with large, multi-million-dollar homes. “There are all styles and all price ranges,” Lowenstern says. “When people tear these slab ranch-style homes down, they tend to go with either a contemporary colonial-style home or an ultra-modern.” Single-family homes often cost over $1 million, typically in the range of $2 million to $3 million. Condos often sell for between $500,000 and $1 million.

Highly rated public schools serves students in the area

Newton Public Schools serves the Mount Ida area, receiving an A-plus rating from Niche. Memorial Spaulding Elementary School earns an A, as does Oak Hill Middle School. Newton South High School gets an A-plus. Newton South High was named a National Banner Unified Champion School by Special Olympics in 2024 in recognition of its unified sports programs. The Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst sits on the neighborhood’s west side.

Abundant recreational opportunities along the Charles River

The Charles River borders Mount Ida to the southwest, popular for fishing or paddling canoes and kayaks. On the north side of Mount Ida, Charles River Country Club is a private golf course, and Nahanton Park offers canoe and kayak rentals through Nahanton Boathouse. Just across the waterway, Cutler Park Reservation spans about 600 acres. “Cutler has nice hiking trails,” Lowenstern says. “I take my dog there.” The park also encompasses Kendrick Pond, which is popular for boating. The Blue Heron Trail runs nearly 7 miles and parts of it run through Cutler Park Reservation. Helen Heyn Park offers more green space along the river. Just southeast, Millennium Park offers sports fields, 6 miles of trails and scenic views.

Shopping and dining along Needham Street

Needham Street, which runs just northwest of Mount Ida, serves as the commercial hub of the area. Pressed Café and the Farm Grill & Rotisserie serve Mediterranean dishes. The New England Soup Factory offers sandwiches and salads alongside their trademark soups, and District 118 Kitchen & Bar has American food. Less than 5 miles from the neighborhood, The Shops at Chestnut Hill has stores like Bloomingdale’s, Sephora and Crate & Barrel ; The Street has Nike, Pottery Barn and Star Market. Shoppers can also head west to Target or Walmart, about 15 miles away in the Golden Triangle.

Drivers often use the interstate and Massachusetts Route 9

Interstate 95 runs north-south just outside of Mount Ida, and the east-west state Route 9 runs east-west to the north. “There are new on-ramps and off-ramps there at Nahanton Street,” Lowenstern says. Boston is less than 20 miles away. MBTA buses make stops on Wiswall Road within Mount Ida. Boston Logan International Airport is also under 20 miles away. Medical care is provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham about 5 miles west. “It has good access to the hospitals,” Lowenstern says. “ You’re surrounded by good healthcare.”

Live music, seasonal festivals and more in Newton

The city of Newton hosts a number of events throughout the year. Each May, the Family FunFest has carnival rides, vendors, games and live music at Newton City Hall. Newton Centre Green, about 3 miles north of central Mount Ida, is home to the Newton Harvest Fair. The festival has taken place for 50 years and features pumpkin decorating and local artisans. The Newton Centre Bowl hosts the Performances in the Park summer concert series. The July 4th Open Air Market features vendors and food trucks along with fireworks and live music.

Adam Cheek
Written By
Adam Cheek

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Schools

Source:
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Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan International

30 min drive

Bus

Wiswall Rd & M Roadway

Bus

Dedham St Opp Arnold Rd

Bus

Sawmill Brook Pkwy & Walsh Rd

Bus

Wiswall Rd & Mccarthy Rd

Bus

Wiswall Rd & Indian Ridge Rd

Bus

Sawmill Brook Pkwy & Spiers Rd

Bus

Spiers Rd & June Ln

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Mount Ida US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 1 4
Robbery 2 4
Burglary 2 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 2 4
Larceny 1 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Mount Ida Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$2,247,000
Median Sale Price
$1,930,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$2,560,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$750,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
27
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
0%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$566

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
711
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1950
Months of Supply
1.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,776
Significantly above the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,422
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,598
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,095
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,018

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
2,510
Median Age
48
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.2%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$215,121
Significantly above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$211,516

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
98.5%
College Graduates
77.5%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
41.8%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
69.5%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
19''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

32 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

20 / 100

Minimal Transit

Transit Score®

19 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Mount Ida