West Boylston

West Boylston, a former mill town north of Worcester bordered by the Wachusett Reservoir, is desired by residents looking to spread out and live a quiet life while still being close to the city. "When you talk about Boylston and West Boylston, the essence of those communities comes down to the relationship with their surroundings. We have a lot of reservoirs and walking trails," says Michael Durkin, area local and Realtor at Laer Realty Partners. "The ambiance, the school district and the accessibility are key components of your housing lifestyle. Why not live in a community with all three?" "The reservoir offers drinking water for Boston, so there's no swimming and no boats on the reservoir. But you can fish," Durkin says. He notes that salmon are popular catches during the spring. Residents also walk and bike along the trails around the Wachusett Reservoir and admire the reflection of Old Stone Church on the peaceful water. Old Stone Church dates to the late 1900s and is now a historical landmark and popular local photoshoot spot. Goodale Park in West Boylston is popular with joggers, dog walkers and kids. The park has numerous sports fields, a track and a playground. Residents get in a round of golf at Wachusett Country Club, a public 18-hole course with views of the water and rolling hills. Three-bedroom ranches in West Boylston cost between $350,000 and $500,000, while larger colonial revivals range from $500,000 to over $1 million. "There's limited inventory, and what's there is usually over $700,000," Durkin says. The area also has the occasional townhouse, usually costing from $375,000 to $475,000. Some homes are surrounded by forest, offering privacy, while others sit on large, well-manicured lots along residential streets. Students usually attend West Boylston Public Schools, starting at Major Edwards Elementary School for Pre-K through fifth grade and progressing to West Boylston Middle/High School for sixth through 12th grade. The schools earned B-plus and B grades from Niche, respectively. West Boylston Middle/High School has a variety of student clubs, including ski and snowboard, mathematics, a cappella, and intramural sports teams. "In our area, we have fantastic school systems. Schools are the number one driver of our real estate sales. If you don't have good schools, they'll bypass you for one that does," Durkin says. "West Boylston is a bit more vibrant than Boylston. It has a Walmart, and Route 12, which bisects I-90, has a lot of businesses," Durkin says. Among these businesses is S&S Farms & Deli Marketplace, which sells pastries, bread, meats and vegetables. "I lived in West Boylston years ago, and I still go to S&S once a month. They do a great presentation and a great job for holidays." For everyday shopping trips, there's also a Walmart off Route 12. A mile up the road, Darby's Bakery makes bread and decadent desserts like cinnamon rolls and cupcakes from scratch. Maken Zi Ramen & Rice Bowls serves flavorful, creative noodle combinations. Route 12 also has chain restaurants like Dairy Queen and Dunkin' Donuts. The town of West Boylston's Summer concert series at the Town Commons runs on Sunday evenings between July and September. Locals bring their lawn chairs and picnic blankets to kick back and listen to cover bands in genres spanning from jazz to country and classic rock. On snowy or rainy days, residents can curl up with a book at Beaman Memorial Public Library. Patrons can also stop in for book discussions, story times, crafting sessions and more. West Boylston is about 8 miles north of Worcester, 50 miles west of Boston, 50 miles northwest of Providence and 30 miles south of the New Hampshire state line. Locals can drive on Interstate 190 to Worcester, where they have access to the UMass Medical Center and Worcester Regional Airport. "West Boylston is a bit further north than Boylston, and there's access to I-90. If you work in Sterling or Westminster, you may prefer that," Durkin says. Durkin also notes that West Boylston is served by a municipal sewer system, unlike many parts of Boylston.