School Spirit: At Home in a Northeast College Town

By Jeanne O’Brien Coffey View the Winter 2024 issue. Not many people can boast that both former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and famed Japanese author Haruki Murakami have visited their hometown to speak to locals, but residents of Wellesley, Massachusetts, have had both luminaries—and dozens more—stop by to give presentations that were open to the public. World-class speakers are just one of the many benefits of living in a college town in the Northeast, a region that boasts some of the country’s most picturesque campuses and renowned universities. Bob Brown, who has lived in Wellesley for more than 20 years and raised two sons there with his wife, Deborah, has attended everything from plays to lectures at local colleges. In addition to the culture, he enjoys the “academic feel” that comes from having colleges nearby, says Brown, who operates the online local-news site The Swellesley Report . “Living in a college town means access to the best of everything,” says Jonathan Soroff, a lifelong resident of Newton, Massachusetts, home to Boston College. “It also brings a youthful energy to Boston, along with an amazing assortment of cultural offerings.” New England Conservatory’s Philharmonia. (Photo by ANDREW HURLBUTNEC) Boston University men’s hockey. (Photo by Maddie MeyerGetty Images) The Davis Museum at Wellesley College Here are a few more reasons to consider buying a home in a college town in the Northeast. Exciting Music and Theater: Whether your tastes run to coffeehouse acoustic sets or musical theater, college towns are incubators for tomorrow’s Grammy and Tony winners. They’re fertile ground for innovative creatives, where rising talent tends to find enthusiastic audiences. Galen Stone Tower at Wellesley College. Lifelong Learning: From attending lectures by Nobel laureates and visiting luminaries to auditing classes, colleges provide myriad opportunities to learn a new skill or take a deep dive into a subject that fascinates you. Many schools offer free open courses taught by distinguished scholars as well as community engagement programs designed for the public, often with low-cost or free admission. History- and architecture-minded locals can often take free library and campus tours during term when campuses are bustling or when it’s quieter, between semesters after the majority of students depart. Top-Notch Sports: It doesn’t get much more exciting than the annual Beanpot Ice Hockey Tournament, a hard-fought rivalry between Boston-area colleges every February. But if hockey’s not your scene, join the crowds cheering on college athletes at football games, soccer matches, or swim meets. Not a sports fan? Living near a college with an avid base just might turn you into one. Distinctive Museums and Galleries: Colleges are often the beneficiaries of unique permanent collections showcased in campus museums. University galleries and museums can also be good places to view notable traveling exhibits and to see works by artists from underrepresented groups.