Best Places to Live 2009

Our annual guide to Hub real estate spotlights the lucky towns emerging from the market crash with their values intact. Plus: The smart buys for those still shopping, and sanity-saving tips for those staying put.

Realty Check

How the real estate market treated Greater Boston and surrounding towns last year, based on changes in median single-family home prices. Red areas are up from 2007; blues are down.

Illustration by Oliver Munday. (CLICK TO VIEW LARGER)

Illustration by Oliver Munday. (CLICK TO VIEW LARGER)