Framingham, Massachusetts

Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, located in eastern Massachusetts, 20 miles (32 km) west of Boston, mid-way between Boston and Worcester. Founded in 1700, Framingham was ranked number 36 on a recent CNN Money Magazine “Best Places to Live” list.

On February 22, 1775, the British general Thomas Gage sent three spies to Framingham, where they stopped at Buckminster’s Tavern. They were sufficiently impressed with the town’s militia that they apparently recommended to Gage that he avoid the route that passed through Framingham. During the years prior to the American Civil War, Framingham was an annual gathering place for members of the Abolitionist movement. In the post-World War II Baby Boom, Framingham, like many other suburban areas, experienced a large increase in population and housing, like many other suburban areas. Much of the housing constructed during that time consisted of split-level and ranch-style houses.

Framingham is one of the few towns in Massachusetts that has met its legal requirement with regard to affordable housing. In addition to its 40B Affordable component, Framingham has a large percentage of rental units targeting people in the 30 percent of median income bracket. Framingham has a much larger percentage of rental households than any of the surrounding towns. Framingham is divided by Route 9, which passes east-to-west through the middle of the town.