Incorporated: 1770 Area: 31.47 Population: 7,789 Distance from Boston: 20 miles Median house price: $627,500 Tax rate: $14.95 Schools: One elementary, one middle, one high school Nearest hospital: South Shore Hospital in Weymouth
Community Profile
Cohasset a reason to take long way home
Natural beauty not only valuable asset of South Shore town
By Teri Borseti, Globe Correspondent, 5/26/2001
COHASSET - Real Estate broker LauraJean McDonald of Hunneman Coldwell Banker in Cohasset Village said Cohasset offers such beautiful scenery that she always finds a reason to take the long way home.
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"I go out for a gallon of milk and take the longest way back because there's just so much natural beauty here," the Cohasset resident said.
The South Shore coastal town, originally named "long rocky place" by Cohohasset Indians, offers more than just a beautiful shore. Its village center, bay area and town green are so bucolic they've been used for commercials and movie back drops.
Maxwell House and Hood companies both shot footage at the charming town common, and in the movie "Witches of Eastwick," Cher's house was within walking distance of the area. Most recently, parts of Disney's "Babies In Black" was shot around the same location.
Cohasset consists of 31.47 square miles but only nine of them are dry land area. The Atlantic coast, Gulf River, and acres of marsh land make up the rest.
Always known for having too much ledge to develop, Cohasset remains a sleepy town that's home to just 7,789 people. And because there are few hotels or summer rentals, the population doesn't change much during the summer.
Houses don't come cheap in this neck of the woods. The least expensive house usually is just under $400,000. The big, old mansions that line Atlantic Avenue and Jerusalem Road range in price but most often when one is listed for sale, the price is $1 million or more.
Beauty and great property values make Cohasset a desirable place to live, but they have taken a toll on the town's elderly. The problem of providing affordable housing for the senior citizens, many of whom are lifelong residents, is a major issue in town.
Margy Charles, also a Hunneman broker, is a member of the Cohasset Senior Housing Committee. She said the search is on to find land where affordable housing can be built.
"We have 2,700 people over the age of 55 in this town and a lot of them want to sell their big houses because the taxes and care are murder. However, they don't want to leave the town where their friends and their lives are. There's no place for them to go and that's a big thing we're working on here," she said.
Another issue is restoring commuter rail. Town manager Mark Haddad said last week the town voted to restore the former Greenbush Line, to bring the train back to Cohasset.
"Unlike Hingham, we really want the train to Boston, especially seniors. The traffic is terrible. We always had a train here years ago," Charles said.
The town is working to make improvements in order to keep the community a nice to live. In the last two years, the town has spent $22 million to update the sewer system, another $5 million to $10 million on the water system and $40 million on schools.
"We've basically rebuilt our whole infrastructure. People here are not afraid to make a commitment to improve the town," Haddad said.
McDonald, who grew up in nearby Scituate, said she always wanted to live in Cohasset.
"I've lived in New York and San Francisco but I wanted to raise my daughter in Cohasset because of the quality of life that exists here," she said.
The east and west sides of Cohasset are divided by Route 3A, where most of the town's limited commercial business exists.
There was a time when the east side was the only place to live in Cohasset, but over time both sides have become united, McDonald said.
"The west side has quite a few older farm houses but there really isn't anything for under $400,000. When a house comes on the market it sells instantly. Sometimes there are bidding wars," she said.
On the east side of town, McDonald recently sold a small fisherman's
cottage, with a dock, on the Gulf River for $699,000.
"There are a few condos in town that list for $400,000 to $500,000 and some new construction (in the form of Colonial homes) that list near $1 million each," she said.
In summer, residents can enjoy Sandy Beach and the Cohasset Sail Club offers sailing lessons to local children.
Cohasset is home to The South Shore Music Circus, which often features big-name talent and generates considerable revenue for the town. This summer Tony Bennett and The Beach Boys are among the scheduled performers.
"Cohasset offers an eclectic mix of house styles and people. The best thing about it is that when residents return here at the end of the day, it's like being on vacation," McDonald said.
