Top for Nature Lovers - Yes!

I was SO right! Framingham meets all the qualifications of the TOP SPOT FOR NATURE LOVERS. We beat the winning town (Carlisle) in terms of all the qualifications mentioned. We actually have everything they have and more!

(Don't get too angry at the Globe, though. They got the data from a realtor's association, and Realtors will always rave about absurdly expensive towns.)

Keeping in mind that Carlisle is no doubt a beautiful place to live, it simply can't compare to Framingham in terms of nature OR in terms of many other things. Lets compare the listed qualifications for both towns:

CARLISLE
"Carlisle is the very definition of small-town New England, with plenty of red barns, white church steeples, and low stone walls dotting the rolling hillside."

FRAMINGHAM
Framingham also has "plenty of red barns, white church steeples, and low stone walls dotting the rolling hillside," but Framingham also has all the amenities of a big city! How about:

• SHOPPING! If you live in Framingham, you are 5 -10 minutes away from just about EVERY IMAGINABLE STORE you could need. We have chain stores, unique boutiques, discount stores, and upscale mall stores!
• RESTAURANTS! Again, Framingham residents have access to every type of dining experience and ALL THE BEST RESTAURANTS are just minutes away!
• HIGHWAY ACCESS TO ANYWHERE! How easy is it to get in and out of Carlisle, I wonder?

CARLISLE
"Amazingly, about a quarter of the town's land is protected -- covering everything from wetlands and white-pine forests to farmland and cranberry bogs . . .

FRAMINGHAM
Amazingly, almost 20% of the town's land is protected (source: MASS GIS) -- covering everything from wetlands (WAY more wetlands!)and white-pine forests (yup) to farmland (yup) and cranberry bogs (we DO have a cranberry bog! It's in the Garden-in-the-Woods! HA!)

CARLISLE
. . . and offering miles of serene trails for dog walking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing."

FRAMINGHAM
Framingham also has miles of serene trails for dog walking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. The town itself owns 6 large parcels that are "wonderful for hiking, cross-country skiing, bird watching, and other passive recreation." (source: Town of Framingham). Callahan State Park is a 820-acre day use area located in Northwest Framingham that has seven miles of marked trails and is used for activities including fishing, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. (source: Town of Framingham). The Sudbury Valley Trustees also have trails in Framingham, and many other trails pass through the town.

So far, there is no justification for picking Carlisle over Framingham that I can see. But there is one more sentence and a few assorted facts still to consider.

CARLISLE
"Many homes sit on an acre or more, creating hundreds of private mini nature preserves."

FRAMINGHAM
I'm sure many people have homes that sit on an acre or more, but the main point being made here is that Carlisle is a VERY RICH TOWN and Framingham is not. That is why they won "TOP SPOT FOR NATURE LOVERS" instead of us.

Fact	Carlisle	Framingham
Median single-family home price:	$760,000	$350,000
Median condo price	$780,000	$150,000

This post refers to a Boston Globe Magazine Article called "Top Spots to Live" dated 3/22/09)