August 21, 2022

Home Buying Tips

Buying a New Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

August 21, 2022
Home Buying Tips

Here are five tips you should know before purchasing a new home compliments of Team Coyle, a professional real estate agency team at Compass.

Methodology

TownRatings™ is a proprietary model developed by Team Coyle to provide homebuyers and sellers with a relative rating (assessment) of a town’s key characteristics, benchmarked against other Greater Boston towns. Ratings are based on publicly available data and Team Coyle’s on-the-ground expertise and are intended as a general guide only. Please consult a licensed real estate professional before making any real estate decisions. Ratings are current as of October 4, 2025.

RATING CATEGORIES

Quality of Schools: Based on Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 2024 data, emphasizing Grade 10 MCAS English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency rates and 4-year high school graduation rates. Together, these measures provide a snapshot of academic achievement and long-term outcomes.
Scale: Above Average · Average · Below Average
Commute to Boston: Assesses commuting ease using travel time, distance, and in-town transit access. For towns with MBTA rail or subway service, commute times are measured to the line’s natural Boston endpoint (e.g., North Station, South Station, or Back Bay). For towns without in-town service, commute times are measured by car to Back Bay as the default reference point.
Scale: Easy · Moderate · Challenging
Shopping & Dining: Reflects the density and variety of retail and restaurant options within a town or in adjacent hubs.
Scale: Excellent · Good · Limited
Lifestyle: A general description a town's overall character (e.g., Upscale, Rural, Historic, Suburban, Urban/Vibrant).
Est. Annual Tax per $1M: The town’s residential property tax rate applied to $1,000,000 of value (as of the report date) for easy comparison.

HOW RATINGS ARE DERIVED

Ratings are determined using a blend of publicly reported data (e.g., DESE reports, MBTA schedules, municipal tax rates, business directories), mapping and transportation tools, and qualitative insights from Team Coyle agents active in these markets.

LIMITATIONS & DISCLAIMERS

Informational only; subject to change without notice.
No duty to update: Team Coyle and its agents are not obligated to refresh or revise ratings.
No warranties: Information is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind.
No liability: Team Coyle, its agents, and Compass are not liable for any losses, damages, or costs arising from use or reliance.
Not advice: not legal, tax, financial, educational, or transportation advice. Consult a licensed real estate professional/agent and other appropriate professionals.
Verify independently: Commute times vary (route/time/weather) — check MBTA schedules and test commutes. School offerings and performance change — confirm with districts and the MA Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education. Amenities evolve — verify locally.
Third-party content not endorsed; accuracy not guaranteed. Trademarks belong to their owners.
Broker disclosure: Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.
Fair housing: Nothing here should be used to encourage or discourage housing decisions based on protected characteristics.