By Michele Morgan Bolton, Town Correspondent
Milton has come in at No. 2 on Money Magazine's annual list of Best Places to Live, billed as a ranking of America's best small towns.
It’s the third time in five years the town just 8 miles from the heart of Boston that borders the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation has made the annual list, moving up from No. 7 in 2006, to No. 5 in 2009, to today’s almost-top ranking.
The magazine cited Milton's tree lined streets, proximity to Boston, stable home prices, and its school system.
"Milton is just minutes from the jobs and culture of Boston but feels in places like a country getaway,'' the magazine wrote. "One major reason for this stability is the outstanding school system, which boasts six brand-new buildings and offers such rich opportunities as a French immersion program that begins in elementary school. The downside: high taxes.''
Town Administrator Kevin J. Mearn was proud to share the news this morning. And while he said none of the town’s 27,000 residents like having to pay higher taxes to sustain town services, residents appreciate what they have and do what they must to sustain it. Because of that, folks in town enjoy higher property values, he said.
“This is something the residents should be really proud of,’’ he said. “Of course, we’d like to be No. 1. So I guess we’ll have to work harder.”
Other high ranking Massachusetts towns on the list are Sharon, at No. 11, and Acton, at No. 16. Louisville, Colorado is No. 1.
Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at michelebolton@live.com.