Burlington Town Center - Burlington, MA

Once making up the Town of Woburn's northwest corner, Burlington was primarily a farming community, with its earliest settlement dating back to the mid-1600s. The city was incorporated in 1799, and it was mainly an agricultural area until Route 128 was completed in 1954, bringing a residential and industrial boom to the town as it expanded from the town center.

Burlington houses a wealth of preserved homes and churches from the 1600s through the 1800s. Visit the nearby Count Rumford Museum for a fascinating walk through history, and be sure to join your neighbors for Celebrate Burlington, a community festival with live music and a carnival complete with pony rides, hot air balloon rides and more. Most attractions don't charge a fee, but bring a few bucks to pay for carnival food.

Burlington has a diverse dining scene ruled by exotic spices and unique culinary creations. Discover a wealth of Indian restaurants, pizza grills and other local eateries serving everything from cheap eats to gourmet cuisine in Burlington Town Center. Drive along Cambridge street to find a collection of hidden gems, and let the tantalizing aroma of Greek pizza, chaat or sizzling beef with broccoli lead you in.

A favorite of Burlington locals, Ritu Ki Rasoi serves up a huge variety of traditional Indian dishes with plenty of options for vegetarians. Go for the lunch buffet to sample Indian street foods like gulab jamun, donut holes smothered in syrup and vegetable fried rice. Don't forget to try the spicy dosas.

For a taste of Greek pizza, swing by Burlington House of Pizza on your next lunch break. Order a wrap or a gyro for a quick meal, or splurge on the Spartan pizza piled high with fresh cheese. Be sure to try the Greek salad topped with chicken and house-made dressing.

Asian fusion cuisine reigns supreme at Sweet Ginger, a laid-back grill with some of the best sesame chicken in town. Order the pu pu platter if you have a big appetite to satisfy, or keep it simple with an order of crab rangoon.

Drive to the south side of town to find a small nightlife selection. Locals stop into Seasons 52 to choose a bottle from the upscale wine cellar to drink with a plate of caramelized grilled sea scallops. For an extra special night, try the orange sunrise martini or the Cadillac margarita with one of the mini indulgences, small dessert portions served in glasses. After listening to some live music at Seasons 52 and getting started on a few drinks, head over to Tavern in the Square to sip on an Angry Orchard cider or craft beer with flavors like chocolate, pumpkin and blueberry.

Enjoy a smooth commute from Burlington to Boston or other nearby cities with easy access to Interstate 95, a highway that connects to Interstate 93. When exploring the neighborhood, enjoy plenty of free parking along streets and in retail lots. Just be aware that parking rules change in the winter. For a quick ride to the Amtrak station, use Uber or call a local taxi company, such as Apollo Cab of Burlington.

MBTA buses run along Cambridge Street and make frequent stops, and Burlington Public Transit also services the town center. Living here places you just over two miles from several Amtrak stations for easy access to Boston and Lowell. This neighborhood has no bike lanes, but pedestrians enjoy ample sidewalks and a high concentration of amenities.

When you want to soak up the sun on your day off, take your family to one of Burlington Town Center's beautiful public parks for a picnic or a game of tag. Neighbors gather at Burlington Town Common to socialize while walking their pooches through the lush grass. Feel free to take your morning jog on the network of walking and biking trails.

Head to Simonds Park to play on the professional disc golf course, or let your kids climb on the playground before taking a dip in the wading pool. Also enjoy the skate park, basketball courts and tennis courts.

The cost of living in the Burlington Town Center is above average for the Boston area. If you opt to rent at one of the neighborhood's numerous apartment complexes, expect to pay around $1,571 for a one-bedroom dwelling. Gas prices hover 10 percent above the national average, and a beer at a local bar costs $6 to $7. If you're taking the bus to Boston, expect to pay around $2.10 for a one-way trip.

Explore a unique retail scene teeming with Indian boutiques, beauty salons, used book shops and upscale jewelry stores along Cambridge Street. The town center also lies just minutes from the famous Burlington Mall, an upscale indoor shopping complex with more than 150 restaurants and shops that cater to every budget, style and hobby.

Smita's Boutique is as a local favorite for waxing and eyebrow threading, but the salon also has an eclectic selection of authentic Indian clothing, jewelry and purses. Stop by to pick up a pair of bangles or an exotic outfit.

Whether you want to create the perfect engagement ring or a gemstone pendant, head to Brahim's Jewelry to order a custom jewelry piece that fits your style. You can also bring in your old jewelry for fast repairs using laser welding, or order same-day rhodium plating for your white gold jewelry.

Pick up some authentic Indian spices at Raja & Rana Indian Market, and grab your weekly grocery staples at Shaw's supermarket. Burlington doesn't have its own farmers market, but you can always take a short drive to the Belmont Farmers Market for local fruits and veggies.