Newton or Brookline or go private and live in Jamaica Plain?

[Anonymous]

We are relocating in a few months this spring with 3 kids currently in 4th grade (mild add, language disorder with IEP) and a 1st grade and PK4. I am inclined to have kids finish school here but will see how quickly this move can happen. We love urban living, dh likes to bike everywhere but top schools are most important and getting my oldest child proper support is everything. I will be working in Boston financial district so ideally would like a commute no more than 30 min. Recommendations please!

[Anonymous]

What budget are you working with?

[Anonymous]

I’d consider Newton first.

[Anonymous]

We make 400k a year combined so home purchase could be $1.6MM or so

[Anonymous]

We went through a similar decision just recently - upsize in JP and pay for private or move to Newton. We loved JP, but ultimately the economics just didn't make sense - given how prices are in JP, it's not like we would have had a war chest left over to pay for private school. So we ended up plowing money into a house in Newton instead and will go public.

We miss JP but are happy with our decision so far. Of course, Newton isn't JP and it's not a fully urban lifestyle, but it's still probably the best of the close-in Boston suburbs (not counting Cambridge, Brookline, etc.) to still feel connected to the city.

Note that you're not going to get to the financial district door-to-door in 30 mins from either place at peak rush. It's just not possible these days to get to downtown in <30 unless you live in the core.

[Anonymous]

Also, with a budget of $1.6MM, you could get a pretty nice condo in Brookline, which is really the best of both worlds. Of course, prices reflect that.

[Anonymous]

Newton if you have special need like language disorder, ADHD over Brookline, what do others think? Lexington next.

[Anonymous]

I would consider Brookline, but would not do Newton or Lexington. Every time I go to either of those towns to visit friends, I feel like I'm going to die and I definitely don't want to raise my kid in a place like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider Brookline, but would not do Newton or Lexington. Every time I go to either of those towns to visit friends, I feel like I'm going to die and I definitely don't want to raise my kid in a place like that.

Why? Affluence of town?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newton if you have special need like language disorder, ADHD over Brookline, what do others think? Lexington next.

Please elaborate with any specifics why Newton over Brookline for ADHD. Wondering if it’s caliber of teachers, specific familiarity or programming for executive functioning, or more supportive teachers, etc. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Newton is not "urban living" I rented a room there for a summer during graduate school and it was hellishly suburban and far from everything. I did NOT feel as if I were in a city at all, and I definitely needed a car (and didn't have one then).

Later, I spoke with a woman from Germany who had moved with her family to Newton. She said that if she were to do it all again, she wouldn't live there because it was not urban enough for her and because there were no kids her sons' ages on their street, so she was spending a lot of time driving kids around so her children could socialize.

Newton/Chestnut Hill are great if you are into the suburban vibe, but you said you aren't.

I also lived for two years in the Back Bay, and that was amazing: urban living at its best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newton if you have special need like language disorder, ADHD over Brookline, what do others think? Lexington next.

Please elaborate with any specifics why Newton over Brookline for ADHD. Wondering if it’s caliber of teachers, specific familiarity or programming for executive functioning, or more supportive teachers, etc. Thanks!

Not PP but Newton schools have more resources. The schools are stronger than Brookline. That said Brookline schools are excellent too and Brookline is significantly more urban depending on where you live. Parts of Newton are slightly more urban in that there's a train and town center. Parts of chestnut hill are right on the border of boston too. chestnut hill is in both newton and brookline, so we're talking about neighboring areas. Distance wise, Newton is like Bethesda and Brookline is like Chevy Chase. Jamaica Plain is awesome but yes, the schools are not good. Lots of good private schools nearby if you can swing it. All things considered based on what you're looking for I'd choose Brookline. Personally I'd want Newton though for the schools.

[Anonymous]

Milton - they have the French immersion program

[Anonymous]

I agree Newton is not urban, but it can be very walkable, esp if you live near a village center like Newton Centre.

Newton, like Bethesda, probably has a dozen different neighborhoods. Just like the experience of living in East Bethesda is different from living in Bannockburn, different parts of Newton will feel very different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, with a budget of $1.6MM, you could get a pretty nice condo in Brookline, which is really the best of both worlds. Of course, prices reflect that.

Brookline it Newton will give you amazing schools! I’m from MA and worked in Brookline public schools. It’s better than FCPS. Newton is supposedly better than Brookline. I’d go for either of those.