What is it like to live in Marlborough?
Amy Sinni, resident and mom, really appreciates the city’s diversity. Read more about this community and others at realestate.boston.com.
Amy Sinni is about as enthusiastic a booster for the city of Marlborough you can find.
Sinni and her husband, Steve, moved to a condo here about 10 years ago. When they outgrew their home — they now have four children and two dogs — they bought a larger one on Desimone Drive. “I said we were absolutely not moving to another town,’’ Sinni said.
Why the determination to stay? For starters, Marlborough’s location is key, centrally located with access to Boston and Worcester via the Mass. Pike. That being said, “We don’t need to leave the city for anything we need, from entertainment to shopping to early childhood support,’’ said Sinni, a member of the Richer Elementary School PTO and the district’s Early Childhood Center.
The family is part of a tight-knit community through Immaculate Conception Parish, where Sinni teaches a religious education class on Sundays. “There are so many places to get involved, and once you do, it’s easy to keep busy,’’ she said. “My favorite hobby is to bake, so I am always baking for school and church.’’
The Sinni family frequently takes advantage of the outdoors. “There are beautiful parks in town — Stevens, Ward, and Ghiloni — and they really take care of them,’’ Sinni said. Jericho Hill is great for hiking and sledding, while Memorial Beach is a popular summer spot. They also “pretty much live’’ at Wayside Athletic Club, they like Trombetta’s Farm for ice cream and indoor miniature golf, and they shop at Kennedy’s Market.
The city’s diversity is important to the Sinnis. “That’s why we send our kids to public schools — so they’ll grow up with other kids who don’t look like them, have empathy for kids who may not be able to do what they can do, and help them,’’ she said. “That’s a big part of why we’re here — acceptance for everybody.
“The schools are fantastic.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
100+
The number of restaurants in Marlborough, according to the mayor’s office. The city is especially well regarded for its mom-and-pop, hole-in-the-wall spots featuring Brazilian, Mexican, and other fresh international fare.
5.3
The length, in miles, of the Assabet River Rail Trail, built along an abandoned railbed that passes through Marlborough and Hudson. When the Acton-Maynard section opens in 2018, that will add another 3.3 miles, according to Tom Kelleher, president of Assabet River Rail Trail Inc. Last fall, the city began a two-year pilot of a recreational bike-share program, offering 30 bikes spread across five stations.
1836
The year Samuel Boyd, regarded as the “father of the city,’’ opened its first shoe manufacturing business. By 1890, the year Marlborough became a city, it was a major shoemaking center, having produced footwear for Union soldiers and local citizens alike. Manufacturing has since given way to high-tech and other specialized industries.
120
The number of stores at Solomon Pond Mall, located at the juncture of interstates 495 and 290. The mall also features a number of restaurants and a 15-screen movie theater. Apex Entertainment Center, meanwhile, featuring restaurants, hotels, and entertainment, including indoor go-kart racing, bowling, and laser tag, is opening in stages along Route 20.
PROS & CONS
Pro
Housing costs
For a city with so many amenities and prime highway access, Marlborough’s housing prices remain reasonable. The median sales price of a home is $345,000, according to the real estate website Trulia. The residential property tax rate was $15.32 in fiscal 2017.
Con
No commuter rail station
For a well-sized, centrally located city with a population approaching 40,000, Marlborough lacks a commuter rail connection to Boston. Buses run by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority do pick up some of the public transportation slack within the city.
Rachel Lebeaux can be reached at [email protected]. Subscribe to our newsletter at pages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp.
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First Church in Marlborough as seen through the trees on Union Common. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
The John Brown Bell tower on Union Common framed by spent flower stems. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
A monument at Centennial Park dedicated to the legacy of Marlborough's shoe workers. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
A convergence of Canada geese, mallard ducks, and pigeons on the shoreline of Hager Pond. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
A reflection in partly frozen Hager Pond off Boston Post Road. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
An antique hay hake sits on the hill overlooking Ghiloni Park. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
A woman walks to the front door of Post Road Art Center. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
Farrier Bobby Benson puts a new shoe on Gaelic at S.H. Equestrian. The smoke is from the red-hot horseshoe melting the hoof to form a snug fit. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
George Kochergin, 14, plays street hockey with his father, Sima, on the basketball court at Francis J. Kane Elementary School. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
A 1954 Chevy truck on display at Trombetta's Farm on Farm Road. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
There's so much candy for sale at Wayside Country Store on Boston Post Road. John Tlumacki/Globe staff
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