COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Boylston
April 10, 2005
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BOYLSTON -- Bostonians: If your coffee tastes crisp this morning, send a thank-you note to the folks who live here, a Worcester County town where 25 percent of the land is under the Wachusett Reservoir, one of the Hub's drinking-water sources.
The reservoir is perhaps this town's best-known feature, but it is not what draws people to move here, said town clerk Sandy Bourassa, a lifelong resident.
Instead, it's the town's country atmosphere and its access to Interstate 290 -- a feature that puts residents within commuting distance from Boston -- that seems to be bringing in young families, said Bourassa.
She noted that unlike nearby Berlin, there are no working farms here anymore, as the town has become a bedroom community.
''What used to be woods, now there are houses. You used to know everybody, but now you may not know everybody. But it is still small," she said. ''It's grown, but I think we still have the small-town attitude."
On a recent week, Realtor.com listed 18 single-family homes, ranging from $298,500 for a three-bedroom, one-bath, 1,376-square-foot home to $739,900 for a four-bedroom, 2½-bath, 3,816-square-foot home. There are currently a handful of $1 million-plus lots near the reservoir for sale.
A footnote: The town does not draw any water from the Wachusett. Residents and municipal properties rely on well water.
JOHN ELLEMENT
Sales sampler
2 Clearview Ave. One-family ranch, built in 1957, 1,525 square feet, 6 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1½ baths, on 22,300-square-foot lot. $310,000
790 Main St. One-family ranch, built in 1952, 1,323 square feet, 6 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, on 25,025-square-foot lot. $314,000
875 Main St. One-family, built in 1820, 2,172 square feet, 10 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, on 80,150-square-foot lot. $510,000
11 Orient St. One-family Cape, built in 1954, 1,464 square feet, 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, on 9,600-square-foot lot. $256,000
252 School St. One-family Colonial, built in 1992, 2,182 square feet, 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths, on 144,184-square-foot lot. $444,000
