This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

The Thirteen Villages of Newton

Jim Lowenstern, CEO of Castles Unlimited Real Estate, gives an overview of the thirteen beautiful neighborhoods in Newton, Massachusetts.

Newton, Massachusetts. The very name conjures visions of New England charm. Teeming with historic homes and buildings, real estate is highly coveted in this town known for its excellent schools and proximity to Boston. But what some people don't know when they start scanning Newton real estate ads is that Newton is comprised of thirteen villages, each with a distinct personality.

Sharing a border with Waltham and located along the banks of the Charles River, Auburndale was originally called "Pigeonville" (named not after the bird, but after Reverend C.D. Pigeon). The Massachusetts Turnpike bisects the community. With more than twenty buildings listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Auburndale has a long history, with its oldest home dating back to 1730.

Chestnut Hill is a village that shares its name with the neighboring Chestnut Hill area of Brookline. With its abundance of historic architecture, sections of the village have been designated as historic districts featuring buildings built in Colonial, Victorian, Italianate, and Tudor Revival styles. Chestnut Hill is home to Boston College, with its collegiate Gothic architecture.

Find out what's happening in Newtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One of the country's first paper mills was built in Newton Lower Falls, which is nestled in the northwestern corner of the city. It gains its suburban feel from parks, the Charles River, and a public golf course.

Newton Upper Falls also lies along the Charles River, bordering Needham, Wellesley, and West Roxbury. The village claims more than 150 homes on the historic register and is home to the Echo Bridge pedestrian walkway.

Find out what's happening in Newtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Newton Centre is Newton's largest village and the "downtown" of Newton, featuring upscale shopping and home to Newton City Hall. The Newton Centre Green is also located here, hosting Ethnic Festivals on Sunday evenings, while on Wednesday afternoons in the summer, children's performances takes place at the Newton Centre Playground. Boston College's law school is located in Newton Centre. The village is also home to Crystal Lake.

The quaintly-named Newton Corner is home to the oldest European settlement in the city. Bordering Brighton and Watertown, it is also divided by the MassPike. The city's museum, Jackson Homestead, hosts Tuesday evening folk concerts. Newton Corner is home to Newton Country Day School, a private school for girls.

Primarily suburban, but with a small commercial district running along Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands has small historic district. The village hosts Village Day annually in June.

Newtonville is home to one of the city's two high schools, Newton North High School. Primarily residential, the heart of the village is home to some commercial businesses. The former Star Market (now Shaw's Supermarket) that straddles the MassPike is located in Newtonville. Like many of the city's other villages, Newtonville is home to a historic district.

The village of Nonantum is sometimes known as "The Lake" or "Silver Lake," although the lake's namesake was filled in and built up starting in the 1930s. Nonantum boasts a large Italian population and its restaurants and eateries reflect that heritage. Some locals speak the improvisational Lake dialect, or Lake Talk.

Situated on the hill for which it was named, Oak Hill is arguably the most suburban of Newton's villages and the most recently developed following the advent of the automobile. It is home to Newton South High School.

Thompsonville is home to fewer historic homes than some of Newton's other villages. It is bordered by Newton Highlands to the west and Chestnut Hill to the northeast.

Named for the first Massachusetts Indian to convert to Christianity, Waban was once home to Ralph Waldo Emerson and later to Jack Lemmon.

One of the oldest of the city's villages, West Newton is located in the north central part of Newton, bordered by Waltham to the north. It is home to the historic West Newton Cinema and boasts a roster of historic homes, schools, and churches. Notable former residents are as varied as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Timothy Leary, and Matt Damon.

While each Newton neighborhood plays home to many unique features – from shopping to dining to landscape – the common thread that binds them all is quality education, a wealth of history, and access to downtown Boston. Home to an abundance of prime real estate, Newton is a desirable location for those wishing to settle just outside of the city.  When shopping around for a home in the city, it's worth taking the time to sample the "flavor" of each Newton's villages.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?