All You Must Know About Hopkinton, MA Before Moving There

Introduction

Hopkinton is a small town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts with quaint, friendly neighborhoods and a safe environment for a starter home. Hopkinton is about 28 miles from downtown Boston and is one of the best suburbs for families.

One of the main reasons to choose Hopkinton is because of the way it wraps you in its small-town embrace while providing all the conveniences of a big city. So if you’re looking for a small-town vibe and convenience to Boston, Hopkinton is the place for you. The town has various stores and restaurants to suit your every need, yet it still retains that small-town charm.

Quick Facts about Hopkinton

Hopkinton has a total area of 28.2 square miles, of which 26.6 square miles is made of land and 1.6 square miles is made of water reservoirs.

Hopkinton is located in Eastern Massachusetts and is surrounded by six other towns - Westborough, Southborough, Milford, Ashland, Holliston and Upton.

Hopkinton is well-known as being the starting point of the legendary Boston Marathon. As a result, many running enthusiasts flock to the town for the race during Patriot’s Day.

Hopkinton is considered one of the top school districts in Massachusetts and has a rating of 8/10. The town's high school was ranked 6th in 2019 and has had about 150 members in the National Honor Society. If you are considering a good school district that is also affordable, Hopkinton is a place you should definitely explore. Read more about the schools here

Is Hopkinton a good place to live for families? Yes! Hopkinton is a quaint residential town with a lot of families with kids calling it home. There are a lot of activities for kids and adults alike given the presence of 2 state parks - Whitehall State Park and Hopkinton State Park, one lake - Lake Masenpock and a lot of trails which is a part of the town's open space conservation project. Read more about the town's attractions here

Hopkinton serves as one of the headquarters for the American multinational corporation Dell EMC, previously EMC and then acquired by Dell Technologies, with 140,000 employees and $74 billion in revenue.

The Hopkinton Town administration is very active and you can read about their town updates and upcoming improvement plans on their website:https://www.hopkintonma.gov/. You can also get in touch with them on their office line:508-497-9700.

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History of Hopkinton, MA

Hopkinton was named after Edward Hopkins, an early colonist of Connecticut, who left a sizable amount to be used for the benefit of Harvard University. The Harvard trustees then used money from the fund to purchase land from the Native American residents and incorporated it.

Hopkinton was mainly an agrarian town and depended on agriculture for its livelihood till the industrial revolution popularized the boot and shoe industry in 1840. The industry flourished for the next few years till the major fire incident of 1882 burned down some of the factories. The fact that the industry also migrated to other more conducive parts of the country also led to its decline in Hopkinton.

Hopkinton has about 215 properties that are listed under both the National and State Registry of Historic Places.

Population and Demographics of Hopkinton

A suburb in the Boston Metropolitan area, the population of Hopkinton MA is 17,178. It has a population density of 655. The median age here is 41, which is slightly higher than the Boston Metro median age of 39.

Age Distribution

The median age of this town has come down from 43 a few years ago to 39, which shows that the age graph is slowly tilting towards the younger demographic. However, the majority of the town's population is still above the age of 50 years. The younger workforce makes up about 18% of the town's population. The town is pretty kid-friendly, with kids and teenagers making about 29% of the population.

Educational Attainment

Comparing on the state level, Hopkinton's percentage of residents with Bachelors and above is much higher. The majority of the town residents are highly educated and also value education. Dell EMC being the largest employer in the town, it is safe to assume that many of its employees have made the town their home.

Diversity in Hopkinton

The Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is a community committed to creating an environment of acceptance and inclusion for all its residents. Below is an excerpt from theirofficial website:

The Town of Hopkinton welcomes residents of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, gender identifications, and sexual orientations; the Town of Hopkinton, further, is committed to providing a climate of safety and acceptance to all residents. The Town of Hopkinton will actively address and resist acts of discrimination, bullying, or intimidation.

As per statistics, Hopkinton is way less diverse compared to neighboring towns and thus might not be the number 1 choice for people looking for a more diverse environment.

Real Estate in Hopkinton MA: What the Numbers Say?

Hopkinton's real estate medians are higher when compared with the Boston area. Hopkinton, MA has a median home value of $650,413, which is below the median home value for the Boston Metro Area, which is at $414,700.

Hopkinton has a median rent of $2900 which is higher than that of the Boston Metro Area, which is at $ 1404. The property tax in Hopkinton is about $8,697.

The homeownership rate in Hopkinton, MA is 83%, which is 23% above the national average. The home occupancy in this town is dominated at 83% by Home Owners and the rest 17% is of Home Renters.

Home-type

Hopkinton being a very residential town, a major chunk of houses on the inventory are single-family homes compared to other home-types like townhomes or apartments.

Home Value by Number of Bedrooms

A large share of houses in Hopkinton are made after the 1990s and are huge and very spacious.

Jobs Near Hopkinton MA: Are There Good Employment Opportunities?

The income per capita in Hopkinton is $66,704 compared to $45,416 of the Boston Metro Area.

Median Household Income in Hopkinton is $157,353 compared to $85,508 in the Boston Metro Area.

The unemployment rate in Hopkinton is around 4% which is below the state average of 5%. Out of the total workforce,

• 19% are into Professional, Scientific and Technical services,
• 17% in the Healthcare services,
• 8% in Financial services,
• 9% in Educational services and
• 14% in the Manufacturing sector.
• 3% in IT Services and
• 16% in Other Services

So, in all, you will find a wide range of well-paid jobs near Hopkinton MA.

Cost of Living in Hopkinton

The cost of living in the Boston area is much higher than the national average, primarily due to heightened housing costs and transportation and utility costs.

Hopkinton is 3.0% cheaper than Boston, with transportation being the biggest factor in the cost of living difference. Transportation is 28% cheaper in Hopkinton.

Best Schools in Hopkinton MA

If you have kids and are concerned about their studies, this residential town won’t disappoint you. There are several best schools in Hopkinton MA that consistently rank higher in terms of quality of education

Hopkinton has an average school rating of 8. In 2019, Hopkinton High School was ranked as the 6th best school in Massachusetts by US News and World Report. HHS also has over 150 members of the prestigious National Honor Society.

Hopkinton, MA has a total of 6 public schools, as listed below:

School Ratings

List Of Schools In Hopkinton

Breakfast and lunch facilities

A nutritious breakfast and lunch are a fundamental part of any child’s education. And Hopkinton Public Schools is working on making sure all students have access to nutritious meals.

School lunch is available for $2.75 ($.60 for milk).

You can know more about the meal programs of the public schools on their official website.

School before/after activities

Hopkinton Public Schools facilitates a Before Care program for students in Kindergarten through grade five (5) at the Marathon Elementary School.

The Before School Program will be available beginning at 7:00 am. Students will be transported from the Before School program to their appropriate school for the start of the school day.

Weekly(5 days) Before School Rate: $ 62

Aftercare services to students in Kindergarten through grade five (5) are provided at the Marathon Elementary School, Elmwood Elementary School, and Hopkins Elementary School. The aftercare program is available until 6:00 pm.

Weekly(5 days) After School Rate: $ 145

Hopkinton has a department dedicated to Parks and Recreation

For activities that can’t be undertaken by them(Soccer, Football, Lacrosse, etc), they have tied up with affiliates to facilitate the same

The activities that are provided by the department are:

• Indoor Activities
  • Indoors Activities
  • Art Classes
  • Chess classes
  • STEM classes(Science and Math Hands-On)
  • eSports

• Outdoors Activities
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Track and Field
  • Playground Group
  • Soccer
  • Sandy Beach - Beach and boat trailer passes

• Online Classes
  • App Inventors
  • Chess Wizards
  • Dining Etiquette
  • Social Skills
  • Python Programming etc

Crime Rate in Hopkinton MA

For families moving homes, the crime rate in the new town is one of the key points of consideration. As such, if you're wondering about the crime rate in Hopkinton MA, you don't have to worry. You and your family are safe here!

The Crime Index represents the risk of crime occurring in an area and is measured against a national index of 100. If the Crime Index of an area is above 100, the crime in that area is relatively higher when compared to the US. If the Crime Index of an area is below 100 the crime in that area is lower when compared to the US.

So, is Hopkinton, MA safe?

Hopkinton, MA has a crime index 28 below the national average. Hopkinton is a relatively safer community with a very low crime index. Hopkinton is one of the safest communities in both Massachusetts as well as the US.

The chances of you being a victim of a violent crime in Hopkinton is 1 in 10,000. The rate of violent crime in Hopkinton is 0 per 1000 residents. The chances of you being a victim of a property crime in Hopkinton is 1 in 576. The rate of property crime in Hopkinton is 2 per 1000 residents.

Commute in Hopkinton

How far is Hopkinton from Boston?

Hopkinton is situated about 28 miles from Boston city and the commute time by road is about 41 mins. The town is divided into east and west sections by Interstate Route 495 and is connected by numerous spokes providing direct access to the airport and other locations in the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area. The younger workforce is still looking for options that are closer to Boston and have an easy commute.

Highways:

There are two main highways near Hopkinton: Interstate 90 and Interstate 495. These highways meet each other on the town’s northern border and the neighboring town of Westborough.

The major interstate and state highways that facilitate connectivity in Hopkinton are:

• Interstate 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) (east/west)
• Interstate 495 (north/south)
• State Route 135 (east/west)
• State Route 85 (north/south)

Metro Trains:

There isn't a passenger or freight service in Hopkinton, but the Southborough MBTA station located on the border of Hopkinton and Southborough on Route 85 facilitates rail commute for Hopkinton.

National Railroad Passenger Corporation runs trains from nearby Framingham to Boston, New York, and many other points in the Amtrak network.

Bus Connectivity:

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority provides local transportation to several towns in the MetroWest area, including Hopkinton, with service to the MBTA commuter rail station in Framingham. There is Big W Transportation that connects to Framingham and Peter Pan Bus Lines that connects to Worcester and Boston from Framingham.

Nearby Airports:

Boston's Logan International Airport is easily accessible from nearby Framingham. Massachusetts Port Authority provides bus transportation seven days per week to all airport terminals from Framingham via the Logan Express bus service. Commute time from Hopkinton to Logan International Airport Private Arrivals (KBOS) - 50 mins

Worcester Regional Airport, a Primary Commercial (PR) facility with scheduled passenger service, is easily accessible.

Commute Time from Hopkinton:

• Logan International Airport Private Arrivals (KBOS) - 50 mins
• Worcester Regional Airport - 38 mins

If you prefer less commute time to Boston, check out these towns closer to Boston with good schools and low crime rate:

• Arlington
• Wayland
• Wellesley

Weather in Hopkinton

The climate in Hopkinton is warm in summers and goes below freezing in winters. The temperature typically varies between 19°F to 82°F. The sky is partly cloudy throughout the year, mainly from November to the end of June. Hopkinton, MA gets, on average, 49 inches of rain and about 45 inches of snow per year.

The weather is pleasant around the months of June, September, and August.

• Summer Peak: July is the hottest month with an average of 82.4°F, making Hopkinton one of the warmest places in the state.
• Winter Peak: January is the coldest month with a nighttime average of 21°F, making Hopkinton one of the coldest places in the state.

The weather is pleasant around the months of June, September, and August.

Community Life in Hopkinton

Hopkinton Center for the Arts

98 Hayden Rowe St.
info@hopartscenter.org
508-435-9222

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) is a visual and performing arts center. Many students, young and old, enroll in classes organized for different arts and cultural activities on a yearly basis. Private lessons with qualified instructors for music and art are also available at the HCA.

Enter Stage Left Theater (ESL) is the resident theater of the HCA and produces over a dozen quality productions every year.

Hopkinton Country Club

204 Saddle Hill Road
Phone: 508-435-4630

The club is centered around a par 71, 6711-yard Championship golf course with a slope rating of 136 from the blue tees.

The club holds various activities under aquatics, fitness, and family engagement. The HCC also organizes various events like Golf outings, social events like weddings, showers, reunions, luncheons, etc, and corporate events.

Hopkinton Moms Group

Kate Skelly - President

The Hopkinton Moms Group is a community of over 300 moms with children of all ages.

Hopkinton Moms Group offers Hopkinton moms a chance to engage in social activities that promote the growth, education of their children through playgroups and other resourceful information for families.

YMCA Family Outdoor Center

45 East Street
Scott Umbel - Branch Executive Director
508-435-9345

The Family Outdoor Center is located on a beautiful 122-acre property catering to families, youth, teens, and adults in adventure and outdoor programs. The MetroWest YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization that is for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Parks and Recreation

18 Main Street

The Hopkinton Parks and Recreation mission is to enable and provide sustainable parks and recreation programs that enhance the quality of life for our community. The aim is to create safer and healthier environments for the community and engage them with programs like movie nights, art, sports, concerts, farmers market, etc

Hopkinton Public Library

13 Main Street
508-497-9777

Since its creation in 1895 by a citizens’ group, the library has been located in the heart of downtown just steps away from the Town Common. The library building, filled with architectural charm and character, is a community gathering place where people and information come together under one roof.

Their website boasts a huge collection of print volumes, e-books, DVDs and CDs, and audiobooks. They also have a telescope, Ancestry Library Edition, online databases, and our local history collection!

They also hold programs and events for children, teens, and adults, and provide event rooms for Nonprofits and private study rooms - Know more about the events planned

Hopkinton Senior Center

28 Mayhew Street
508-497-9730

The mission of the Hopkinton Council on Aging is to promote well-being and enhance the quality of life for older adults of the Town of Hopkinton, and to carry out activities and services that encourage independence and continuing participation in the community.

Hopkinton Polyarts

P.O. Box 724

hopkintonpolyarts@yahoo.com

Polyarts began in 1974 as a demonstration of various arts and crafts to showcase the talents of the local community.

Today, it has become a free admissions day event to look forward to with many professional artists and community groups participating. It is family-friendly with something for everyone, right from food and music to crafts and more.

Hopkinton Horribles Parade

A 4th of July New England tradition dating back to the 1870s, the event celebrates a parody of more somber military parades, meant to satirize politicians and other local public figures and organizations. It has now become a large-scale water balloon fight amongst the residents.

Hopkinton Historical Society

168 Hayden Rowe Street
508-435-4502

HHS is a non-profit organization that was established in 1951 to celebrate the history of the Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, protect the Town's historical artifacts, explain early New England life, and educate the public about the rich history of this small and ever-changing town.

Many educational, social, and fundraising events are sponsored by the society throughout the year.

HCAM – Hopkinton’s Television Station

77 Main Street
508-435-7887

Classes are provided, free of charge, to anyone interested in how to make television shows. As a result, HCAM has produced popular shows providing information to the community, including news shows, student-focused shows, and talk show formats.

Hometown Hospitality

P.O. Box 100 Hopkinton, MA
01748 508-397-4537

beth@hometownhospitalityma.com

Hopkinton is home to Hometown Hospitality. Hometown Hospitality is a free personal welcome service that visits new residents and introduces them to the community, connecting our new neighbors to local businesses, services, and professionals. Hometown Happenings is a weekly e-newsletter that gathers local happenings all in one place and delivers them to your inbox.

Hopkinton Farmers Market

Every Sunday of the summer, local farmers and artisans hold a Farmers Market for residents and visitors. It is an excellent opportunity to buy local produce, crafts, and other goods.

Top Attractions to Visit in Hopkinton

Hopkinton State Park

Hopkinton State Park doesn’t get the publicity of more popular parks in Boston, but it offers as much to do for visitors who are up for a day trip or weekend adventure. And because Hopkinton lies just outside of Boston’s bustling metropolitan area, it’s often considerably quieter than similar parks closer to the city.

Hopkinton State Park is an "all-in-one" kind of place. In Hopkinton, you'll find 1,500 acres of forest crisscrossed by hiking trails, beaches, stocked fishing, first-come-first-served picnic areas, and a reservable group picnic site.

All Activities at Hopkinton State Park as per their website

• Boating (non-motorized)
• Sailing
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Swimming
• Cross-country skiing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Snowmobiling

Starting line of Boston Marathon

The route for the Boston Marathon spans over 26 miles between Hopkinton, Massachusetts and Copley Square in Boston.

Hopkinton is the starting point for the marathon at the Athletes' Village behind Hopkinton's Middle/High School. The Boston Marathon is held on Patriot’s Day which falls on the third Monday of April. The town sees an influx of many runners and race enthusiasts from around the nation for this event.

Weston Nurseries

Weston Nurseries offers the best plant selections in the area and is a local landmark. Their friendly staff provides exceptional service, and their extensive selection ensures that there is something for everyone. Their greenhouses feature specimen plants and houseplants, and inside their retail store, there are supplies for the garden as well as gifts and decor.

The nursery has a scale garden train display on the property and is really popular with the kids. They also host various events & workshops throughout the year-long and are a popular spot for the community.

Whitehall State Park

Hopkinton’s Whitehall State Park is a great spot for outdoor adventures. The reservoir is a popular ice fishing spot, too. Hikers will find trails along the reservoir's edges.

All Activities at Whitehall State Park as per their website

• Boating (motorized)
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Cross-country skiing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Sailing

Hopkinton Trails

Hopkinton has assembled an impressive inventory of open space — 4,700 acres protected in perpetuity, plus another 2,800 acres that are protected for 50 years. There’s a lot to love about green space. It adds aesthetic value to the town and provides recreational opportunities for people living here. Unprotected open space, however, is at risk of being developed or paved over in favor of other uses. Greenway protection opens up the possibilities for active recreation and passive enjoyment of Hopkinton’s natural spaces.

The featured sites on the Hopkinton Trail Guide are:

• Berry Acres
• College Rock Park
• Whitehall State Park
• Cameron Highlands
• Phipps Property
• Hopkinton Area Land Trust (HALT) properties

Religion in Hopkinton, Massachusetts: Places to Worship

As per the 2010 report of US Religion Census, 62% of the population in Hopkinton is religious.

Community Covenant Church

Address: 2 West Elm Street, Hopkinton,
Contact: 508-435-3723

Faith Community Church of Hopkinton

Sunday mornings, 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM
Address: 146 East Main Street, Hopkinton,
Contact: 508-435-5900
Email: office@fcch.org

Islamic Masumeen Center

Address: 115 Wood Street, Hopkinton,
Contact: 508-497-3462

Grace United Methodist Church

Pastor: Cheryl Turner
Sunday mornings, 9:00 AM
Address: 61 Wood St. (Rt. 135), Hopkinton
Contact: 508-625-1189

Korean Presbyterian Church & New Life English Ministry

Sunday mornings, 11:00am
Address: 2 Main St. Hopkinton, MA
Contact: 508-435-4579
Email: joe.chun@gmail.com

St John the Evangelist

Address: 20 Church Street, Hopkinton
Contact: 508-435-3313

St Paul's Episcopal Church

Address: 61 Wood Street, Hopkinton
Contact: 508-435-4536

Vineyard Church of Hopkinton

Sunday mornings, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Address: 84 South Street, Hopkinton
Contact: 508-497-5100

The Sanctuary at Woodville (formerly Woodville Baptist Church)

Pastor: Laurel G. Coolbaugh
Address: 249 Wood Street, Woodville, MA 01784
Contact: 508-435-6928

Famous Places to Eat in Hopkinton

The town of Hopkinton has a lot of restaurants, cuisines, and options to eat in this place. There is Japanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine, continental food, Italian food and many more. Here are some examples of some of the top restaurants as per Tripadvisor. As you can see, Hopkinton is a place where people can enjoy eating in numbers for sure.

Hopkinton has many options to enjoy different cuisines, below is the list of top 10 restaurants as per Tripadvisor

• 110 Grill
• Snappy Dogs
• The Spoon
• Pan Thai
• Red Barn Angel’s Garden Centre Cafe
• Central Public House
• Dynasty Chinese Restaurant
• Carbone’s Restaurant
• Ko Sushi and Grill
• Bill’s Pizza and Restaurant

Trash and Recycling in Hopkinton

Hopkinton has a very strict policy about items that can be either trashed or recycled. The state of Mass encourages recycling by prohibiting the disposal of items like papers and cardboard, bottles and cans, garden waste, car batteries, electronics, etc.

Hopkinton has specific collection days for specific recyclables - Check out their schedule here

Is Hopkinton a good place to live?

Hopkinton is a great place for families, with a number of parks and playgrounds. There is a great balance of open space and small town. Hopkinton has everything you need, including eclectic restaurants and unique shops nearby.