The Best Places to Live 2005


THE SPORTS FAN
Winner
: Brockton
Runners-up: Acton, Boxborough, Everett, Newton
As Bostonians have been finding out more and more lately, it’s one thing to be passionate about your sports teams — it’s another to be passionate about your winning sports teams. Residents of Brockton have been hearing the word “dynasty” a lot longer than the rest of us: Their football team continues to rack up championships under the leadership of new coach Peter Colombo, who replaced his legendary father, Armond (he of nine high-school Super Bowl wins in 34 years). The most recent triumph was a come-from-behind victory last year against Everett — a town where football is just as much a way of life. Meanwhile, academic powerhouse Acton-Boxborough’s successes in football, basketball, and soccer prove it’s possible to excel both on and off the field.

THE BRAINIAC
Winner:
Wellesley
Runners-up: Brookline, Cambridge,   Newton
For the budget-minded: Framingham
The odds of finding a Wellesley resident with at least a bachelor’s degree are three to one, one of the highest ratios in the state. Many of them keep their gray matter polished by attending lectures at the eponymous women’s college. Closer to the city, Brookline is the town of choice for the area’s many M.D.s. Cambridge’s 02138 is one of the smartest Zip codes in the nation. And Newton has highly educated residents and institutions of higher learning including Boston College and Lasell. On the other hand, graduates of Framingham State College can actually afford to live where they learned. An impressive 42 percent of residents there have bachelor’s degrees — much higher than other Boston-area working-class communities.