Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury was recently ranked number 15 out of the 50 best places to live in the U.S. for 2013, according to Money magazine.
With a population of just over 36,000 and a median home price of $288,250, Shrewsbury was named one of America's best small towns, based on a thriving economy, green space, good schools and a strong sense of community.
“Shrewsbury offers scenic small-town life with easy access to jobs in Worcester and Boston,” the article noted. “While property taxes increased by 5 percent last year, the town still has one of the lowest rates in the state. The town center is packed with shops and ethnically-diverse restaurants, and more than $8?million worth of renovations are in store for the public library.”*
“For outdoor fun, there are 75?acres of recreation fields and fountains at Dean Park and crew regattas on Lake Quinsigamond,” the article continued.
Additional criteria included job growth (3.83 percent from 2010-2012), personal and property crime, and reading and math scores.
Other top Massachusetts towns were Sharon, ranked number one, and Westford, ranked number 11.
The full list can be found at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/best-places.
Community Advocate Editor's note: The library renovations are still in the discussion stage and must first be approved by the town's voters.