Newton

Welcome to Newton

Beloved by its residents for its proximity to Boston, Newton, MA is a bustling community made up of 13 distinctive villages. Nicknamed “The Garden City,” for its abundance of tree-lined streets, Newton is also home to several public parks, outdoor trails, ponds, lakes, and bike paths. Newton consistently ranks as one of the top communities in Massachusetts due to its top-notch schools, stunning architecture, and area attractions. Approximately 18.3 square miles in size, Newton borders the communities of Brookline, Brighton, Watertown, Waltham, Weston, Wellesley, Needham, and West Roxbury. Each of Newton’s 13 villages has its own small-town centers with local shops and businesses. Those villages include Newton Centre, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Auburndale, Nonantum (also called "The Lake"), Chestnut Hill, Thompsonville, Oak Hill, Waban, and West Newton.

Auburndale

Known simply as “The Dale” to longtime residents, Auburndale is located on the western side of Newton and runs along the Charles River. It borders West Newton, Waban, Newton Lower Falls, Waltham, and Weston. The village is located near the intersection of I-95 and I-90 and is divided by the Mass Pike (I-90). Points of interest include Auburndale Cove Park & Playground, Norumbega Park Conservation Area, Woodland Golf Club, Brae Burn Country Club, and Charles River Canoe and Kayak Company. The local schools include Williams Elementary, Burr Elementary, and Lassell College.

Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill is located partially in Brookline, Boston, and Newton. It is approximately 6 miles from downtown Boston. It is home to Boston College and the Boston Marathon’s famous Heartbreak Hill. Points of interest include Waban Hill Reservoir, Houghton Garden, Hammond Pond, The Chestnut Hill Reservoir, The Shops at Chestnut Hill, The Street Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill Square, and Longwood Cricket Club. There are several private schools including Brimmer and May School, Mount Alvernia Academy, The Chestnut Hill School, Boston College, and Pine Manor College.

Newton Centre

Newton Centre, also know simply as “The Centre,” is nestled in the heart of Newton, between Newton Highlands, Waban, Newtonville, Newton Corner, Chestnut Hill, and Oak Hill. It has the largest downtown of all the villages and is home to several local businesses and restaurants. Points of interest include Newton City Hall and War Memorial, Newton Free Library, Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake Beach, Pleasant Street Historic District, Newton Centre Playground, Weeks Field, Oakdale Woods Conversation Area, and Webster Park. The local schools include Wellan Montessori School, Mason-Rice Elementary School, Ward Elementary, Newton Country Day School, Mt. Alvernia High School, Boston College Law School, Andover Newton Theological School, and Hebrew College.

Newton Corner

Newton Corner is located on the eastern side of Newton and borders Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newtonville, Nonantum, Watertown, and Brighton and is bisected by the Mass Turnpike (I-90). Points of interest include Burr Playground, Hunnewell Park, Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, and Edmands Park. The local schools include Underwood Elementary, Ward Elementary, Lincoln-Eliot Elementary, Bigelow Middle School, Newton Country Day, and University of Massachusetts - Mount Ida Campus.

Newton Highlands

Newton Highlands borders Newton Upper Falls, Oak Hill, Newton Centre, Waban, and Thompsonville. Divided by Rt 9, Newton Highlands is heavily residential beyond the small business district on Lincoln Street. Home to the first Brigham’s Ice Cream shop, other areas of interest include Cold Spring Park, Newton Highlands Playground, O'Hara's Food & Spirits, and Hyde Playground. Every June, Newton Highlands hosts Village Day, a celebration for the Highlands community, with road races, food, crafts, and music. The local elementary school is Countryside Elementary.

Newton Lower Falls

Newton Lower Falls borders Wellesley, Wellesley Lower Falls, Auburndale, and Waban. Points of interest include the Charles River, local shops of Wellesley Lower Falls, Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course, and Lower Falls Community Center.

Newton Upper Falls

Newton Upper Falls borders Oak Hill, Newton Highlands, Waban, Wellesley, and Needham. Points of interest include Hemlock Gorge Reservation, Echo Bridge, Upper Falls Playground, Emerson Playground, Frank Barney Conservation Area, and the Charles River.

Newtonville

Newtonville is nestled in between West Newton, Nonantum, Newton Corner, Newton Centre, and Waban. Predominantly residential, points of interest include Walnut Street local shops and businesses, Cabot Park, Bullough’s Pond, and Edmands Park. The local schools include Cabot Elementary and Newton North High School.

Nonantum

The name Nonantum derives from the Native American Algonquian word meaning “blessing, prayer”. Located on the northern side of Newton, Nonantum borders West Newton, Newtonville, Newton Corner, Waltham, and Watertown. At one point, it was known as Silver Lake or The Lake, but beginning in the 1930s through the early 1970s, the lake was filled with rubble from construction and built over. Points of interest include Avery Woods, Halloran Field & Sports Complex, Murphy Field, Carr School Playground, Pellegrini Park Play Ground, Sterns Park, Allison Park, Boyd Park, and Nonantum Boxing Club. The local schools include Horace Mann Elementary, Lincoln-Eliot Elementary, and F.A. Day Middle School.

Oak Hill

Oak Hill is located on the southern side of Newton. Bordering Newton Upper Falls, Newton Highlands, Chestnut Hill, and Newton Center. It is on the seven elevations of Newton. Oak Hill saw a boom of development post-World War II. Many of these original homes still exist, however, the neighborhood has seen an influx of newer construction. Areas of interest include Charles River Country Club, JCC Greater Boston, Charles River Canoe & Kayak, Kennard Park, and Harvey Beach. The local schools include Memorial Spaulding Elementary, Solomon Schechter Day School, Charles E. Brown Middle School, Oak Hill Middle School, Newton South High School, William James College, and the Russian School of Mathematics Newton.

Thompsonville

Thompsonville is located between Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, and Chestnut Hill. Thompsonville is one of the smaller, lesser-known villages in Newton. It does not have a village center and is primarily residential. An area of interest is Bowen Upper Field. The local school is Bowen Elementary.

Waban

Waban is centrally located in Newton, bordering Newton Lower Falls, Auburndale, West Newton, Newton Center, Newton Highlands, Newton Upper Falls, and Wellesley. Areas of interest include Brae Burn Country Club, Waban Library Center, The Windsor Club, Waban Village Center, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The local schools include Angier Elementary and Zervas Elementary.

West Newton

West Newton is one of the oldest of the thirteen Newton villages, and its history Village Center is a National Register Historic District. Located in the northern central part of Newton, it borders Auburndale, Newton Lower Falls, Newtonville, Waban, and Waltham. Points of interest include the historic West Newton Cinema, Fessenden Ice Rink, and Dolan Pond Conservation Area. The local schools include Franklin Elementary, Peirce Elementary, and the Fessenden School.