South Braintree - Braintree, MA

South Braintree has been around since before the United States was a country, which you can see reflected in the architecture here. Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and statesman John Hancock were born here, and residents still remain proud of this long history. A population boom in the neighborhood in the 1920s grew the town and added to its history. Residents celebrate the Fourth of July big here with a large festival and plenty of public activities.

If you're hungry for a meal out, you can head to Grove Street or Liberty Street for a quick bite in South Braintree. With plenty of family-owned Greek restaurants, fast food establishments and cafes, you'll have your pick from a number of casual, tasty eateries. Follow the locals to get a sensational steak sandwich or pizza at Double GG's. In addition to holding a reputation for greasy comfort food, Double GG serves a killer Greek salad wrap that can help you (more or less) stick to your diet.

Another local favorite, Richardi’s Original Submarine Sandwich, cooks up the best Italian subs in Braintree. While any menu option satisfies, make sure to try their famous meatball sub with homemade meatballs and well-spiced sauce. When they make their fresh sub rolls, locals can't help but stop in for a bite of their pillowy-soft homemade bread.

Nightlife in South Braintree is limited. With a strong focus on family life and no popular bars or clubs, nights in South Braintree tend to stay quiet. Dave and Busters, located on Granite Street in Braintree proper, gives adults a place to enjoy a beer and "kids" of all ages plenty of video games and arcade games to play into the wee hours. When residents do want a more traditional night out, they usually go to other areas of the town of Braintree or head into downtown Boston on the train.

Public transportation is very important to the residents of South Braintree. With almost 15 percent of residents taking the train to work every day, South Braintree has one of the highest percentages of commuter train use in the country. Residents can catch the commuter trains - a system collectively referred to as the "T" - from Braintree into Boston and some other local towns. The CapeFLYER rail service also stops throughout the area.

For more local transit options, residents can use the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) buses to Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Braintree, and Ashmont stations or more locally. In a pinch, you can call an Uber rideshare or a taxi quickly to the area for a more direct route with potentially less wait time.

Cycling and walking have become popular ways to get around South Braintree, due to the safe roads with plenty of sidewalks. With a number of bike lanes, cyclists can feel secure, especially on residential streets.

For those residents who prefer to drive, South Braintree has easy access to Interstate 93 and Route 3. With plenty of free parking available in the neighborhood, residents rarely worry about driving.

South Braintree residents enjoy a handful of small community parks where children can play on the playground and adults can walk dogs or jog. The Mattulina Playground in particular houses a large expanse of fields where children and adults can play sports, picnic or simply relax.

For a more robust day trip, don't miss a stop by the Great Cedar Swamp. With its miles of trails and perfectly-preserved beauty, the cedar swamp provides a popular park to stroll through when open. You can hike, birdwatch, or simply stroll through the well-marked paths. Be aware, however, that the park is considered a span of conservation land, meaning that dogs are not allowed, and children must be kept on marked paths.

On average, it costs South Braintree residents the same amount to live in Boston, but rents can also be much higher here, depending on the building. The average rent for a one-bedroom home stays around $1,800 per month. A beer out at a local bar costs about $9.

Gas here costs about 10 percent higher than the national average, but a train ticket into downtown Boston costs only $2.65.

With most residents shopping in South Shore Plaza for high-end products and necessities outside of town, South Braintree still has a few major shopping areas of its own. A number of shops line Grove Street, including CVS Pharmacy and a HomeGoods. For groceries, you can stop in Stop & Shop Supermarket along the way or head slightly farther out to Shaw's Supermarket. You can even get fresh local produce at the Braintree Farmer's Market near the train station. Although boutique choices are limited in this neighborhood, residents can head to The Embroidery Clinic to custom embroider any clothing or specialty items. Whether you want a new logo to be added to your team uniforms or simply want to personalize a shirt, The Embroidery Clinic delivers fast, accurate and professional results. If you love art, do not miss the Flo Markowitz Art Gallery. A popular local artist, Ms. Markowitz paints beautiful landscapes of Braintree and the Massachusetts Bay in an impressionist style. Her artwork includes images of the region's beautiful cedar swamp.