Wizzley
PopularLatestDiscussedEditor's Choice
AuthorsForum
Wizzley

A community of writers publishing stories worth your time — on the topics they know and love.

Explore

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Discussed
  • Editor's Choice

Community

  • Top authors
  • New authors

Service

  • Help
  • Contact
  • Imprint
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy

Check out our other international Webhaus communities!

Explore another site:English·Deutsch

© 2026 Webhaus LLC. All rights reserved.

HealthNutrition and WellnessBeauty & FashionClothes, Hair, BodyFamilyKids and ParentingFood & RecipesCooks and CookingGreen LivingReduce, Reuse, Recycle
★ Editor's Choice

Luxury Retirement Communities in Massachusetts along the NorthWest Route 495 Corridor

Enjoy breathtaking Autumn landscapes, easy treks to Boston, Worcester or Providence and the tranquility of living in a luxurious over-55 retirement coummunity.

Southborough, Hopkinton and Holliston are traditional New England small towns. Located on the eastern side of the junction of Route 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, their residents enjoy easy access to Boston, MA (30 miles to the east), Worcester, MA (17 miles to the West) and Providence, RI (41 miles to the south). On the fringe of metropolitan Boston these three towns are still quite small. Southborough is the smallest of the three towns with a population about 9,500. Hopkinton has been growing rapidly in the last decade and is the largest community with a population of about 14,500. Holliston is just a little smaller with about 14,000 residents. While the luxury over-55 retirement communities in these towns feature a variety of posh town home styles, they do not provide an entire living eco-system. So you will have to venture out into your surrounding community. What you'll find are three lovely upscale New England small towns. Massachusetts - with a per capita of $25,952 - is one of the richest states in the country ranking 3rd. Hopkinton residents enjoy a $41,469 per capital income. Southborough is higher at $44,310 and Holliston is the lowest of the three with a $32,116 per capita income.

NorthWest Route 495 Near the Massachusetts Turnpike

  • ◉38, -100
  • ◉2217 Washington Street Holliston Massachusetts 0174638, -100
  • ◉Holiston, Massachusetts42.278879497942846, -71.7431640625

Boston Marathon

Once a year Hopkinton becomes the center of the sports world when it hosts the start of Boston Marathon. It is held on Patriot's Day (third Monday in April) to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19). In Massachusetts this is part of a three-day weekend for many and it adds a festive flair to the race. Hopkinton residents and volunteers have become experts at hosting this event which usually brings over 25,000 runners into its town center along with many more spectators.

One of the best things about moving to a small town is the ability to become involved in your community. John Paduka has been contributing to the Boston Marathon by painting the Start Line for the past 20 years. Watch the You Tube video to hear his story.

Boston Marathon Start Line Gets Painted

  • How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial ...

    How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy life to its fullest. The key to achieving an active and satisfying retirement involves a great ...

    $17.72 $16.57

Advertisement

Urban Mushing in Hopkinton State Park

Find new adventure close to home. Contact the Boston Snow Dogs to learn how.

8.15.09 - Hopkinton State Park - Urban Mushing

Hopkinton State Park lands sprawl across both Hopkinton and the neighboring town of Ashland providing residents and visitors many recreational choices from beaches and picnics to boating and canoeing and yes even urban mushing. Snowmobiles are allowed when there is 4 inches of snow on the ground. Park amenities include:

  • 2 swimming beaches with life guards
  • stocked fishing
  • 12 shaded picnic areas
  • 10 miles of marked trails
  • concrete boat ramp for non motorized watercraft
  • Restrooms (Spring, Summer, Autumn)

Hopkinton State Park is open year round. During the summer its hours are 8am to 8pm, otherwise it's 8am to Sunset. Car parking is $5. Massachusetts residents pay $35 for a parks pass, non-residents $45.

Get Ready for Your Next Adventure

  • Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love

    Life after retirement is much more exciting if you look beyond what you need for financial security as you prepare for it. Mary Lloyd lays out a whole new paradigm for doing ...

    $5.0 $15.0

  • What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement, Second Edition: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, ...

    Plan Now for the Life You WantToday’s economic realities have reset our expectations of what retirement is, yet there’s still the promise for what it can be: a life stage ...

    $16.99 $8.95

Advertisement

Luxury Over 55 retirement Communities

Southborough, Hopkinton and Holliston

Combine the best of a residential environment designed with your active lifestyle and well-being in mind with active and passive recreation activities throughout these communities. Home prices current in February 2012.

  • Balancing Rock, Holliston, Massachusetts
    Town Homes start at $429,000
  • Carriage Hill Circle, Southborough, Massachusetts
    Town Homes currently listed at $599,000.
  • Deerfield Estates, Hopkinton, Massachusetts
    Town Homes currently listed at $399,000.
  • Sanctuary Lane, Hopkinton, Massachusetts
    Town Homes currently listed from $369,000 to $414,000

Balancing Rock Over 55 Retirement Community

You can live where George Washington once stood. The inspiration for the Balancing Rock retirement community name is a unique geological formation of several large boulders balanced on each other. Local historians recount that in 1789 George Washington touched this rock as he passed through Holliston.

Located on 19 beautiful acres the homes have been designed to complement the landscape bordered by scenic woodlands. Walking trails and open floor plans inspire a sense of well-being and the active lifestyle that you're looking for in your retirement.

Energy Star design and construction ensures that you'll minimize your energy consumption and fuel costs. This feature will only add value in the years to come.

Balancing Rock, Holliston Massachusetts - Active Adult Community

  • Beyond Work: How Accomplished People Retire Successfully (GOLD medal 2009 Axiom Award as the ...

    Planning is not the strongest indicator of a successful retirement. The research conducted by Dr. Bill Roiter for Beyond Work: How Accomplished People Retire Successfully ...

    $24.43 $21.01

Advertisement

Nearby Golf Courses

While none of these communities contain their own golf course, there are several golf courses nearby.

  • Hopkinton Country Club, Hopkinton MA
    18 Hole, 6711 yard Championship Golf Course
  • Pinecrest Golf Glub, Holliston, MA
    Season pass for Over-60 Golfers who live in Holliston $475, non-residents $575.
  • Stoneyhill Golf Course, Southborough, MA
    Nine Hole Par Three Course

Updated February 29, 2012

Comments

Nelda_HoxieFeb 29, 2012

Each US state has it's own local tax policy. About 1/3 now allow impact fees. Massachusetts - where PCUnix and I live - is not one of them. So that is not a reason to move into an over-55 community in most states. These are one-time fees that are assessed at the time a building permit is pulled and is paid by the builder. There are a wide variety of impact fees schools, waste water, water, library, open space and parks. In some areas they are quite expensive. They are then passed on to the home buyer. They then go into special funds dedicated to the capital improvement fund they were collected for.

LissieFeb 28, 2012

Nelle - I had no idea - we pay for schools out of taxes - its the same no matter where you live. Council rates are based on house value so a smaller house is generally cheaper for rates and insurance. Both my new and old house had neighbours with kids - and I don't see them as an issue - and we don't have any of our own.

You've inspired both pcunix and I to write our own views on this interesting topic.

lakeerieartistsFeb 25, 2012

You can also have young people visit you, or just go to the neighborhood mall to see them. :P

Nelda_HoxieFeb 25, 2012

Tony I was at Oak Point in Middleboro last fall checking it out. It didn't seem boring at all.

Nelda_HoxieFeb 25, 2012

Lissie if you end up on a street full of young families with lots of kids and teens, it can be noisy and chaotic. Some folks just prefer more dependability. For others it's cost. Some communities have impact fees. The builder and then you, must pay a fee to help build the infrastructure you're house is anticipated to require. In some places in California or Florida school impact fees can add $25,000 to the cost of a home. If you live in an Over 55 retirement community that doesn't allow children, you don't have any impact on schools and are exempt from the fees.

LissieFeb 25, 2012

Why do people want to live with a bunch of old folks? I'm nearly 50 and my partner's nearly 60 - but I can't imagine living with ONLY over 55's - how dull!

Nelda_HoxieFeb 25, 2012

Urban mushing is definitely something I want to try. It looks pretty low impact - better for joints than running. As long as you don't fall off the scooter. And no you don't have to learn to play golf. There's lots else to do.

lakeerieartistsFeb 25, 2012

I wonder if I need to learn how to play golf for when I retire (which I am sure will not be at 55). The urban mushing was pretty wild. I need to learn more about that. You know, I went through the What Color is Your Parachute book for careers a long time ago, but had no idea that they had one for retirement. This has some excellent suggestions for retirees. Great article. :)

Nelda_HoxieFeb 25, 2012

Well you'll just have to visit in the Summer. We also have our share of poisonous snakes and insects.

BrendaReevesFeb 25, 2012

It sounds wonderful, but I'm a Southern CA girl and I need as much sunshine as my body can soak up thanks to my SAD which keeps me in the desert with the scorpions, black widow spiders and rattle snakes.

Nelda_HoxieFeb 24, 2012

Hi Bhavesh! When the time comes, you can retire there. It is a beautiful part of the world.

BhaveshFeb 24, 2012

I practically lived in Marlboro for nearly a year for business reasons and quite enjoyed many of the amenities you have highlighted. Makes me want to revisit the Boston area. Nicely done!
Nelda_Hoxie
Nelda_Hoxie
20 articles
★ Editor's Choice
FollowMessage

Related articles

  • 10 Lessons from Bremen Town Musicians
  • Live the Literary Life and Retire in Oxford, MS
  • Astronomers Create Their Own Stargazing Dark Sky Communities
  • Civil War Buffs will Enjoy Retirement Comunity Living in Manassas, Virgnia