HOLBROOK /Belcher Street
Family roots run deep on Belcher Street

By TERI BORSETI
For The Patriot Ledger Area: 7.4 square miles

POPULATION
2000: 10,785
2006: 10,914

Density: 1,485 res./square mile
Median age: 41
Median household income: $62,895

FINANCES
Tax rate (2007): $11.70
Town budget: $25.2 million
Min. water/sewer bill: water: $60 a year with meter; sewer: $143 a year with meter

HOUSING
Median home price (# sales)
2007: $292,251 (90)
2008: $236,450 (22 through April)
Median condo price
2007: $203,000 (4)
2008: $0

SCHOOLS
Number of students: 1,384
Number of teachers: 88
H.S. grads to 4-yr. college: 49%
H.S. grads to 2-yr. college: 15%
Median SAT score (2006): 1,458

Gary Munroe grew up in a big white on Belcher Street in Holbrook that his grandparents bought for less than $10,000 in the 1930s.

The house is in a neighborhood tucked away behind Holbrook center. It' s quiet, but within walking distance of downtown.

Munroe said others in his neighborhood have bought the houses they grew up in.

"Many of these houses were sold to kids who grew up here. I left the area and lived in Florida for a while, but I came back because I like it here," he said.

His spacious house, which has been added onto over the years, is on a street lined with capes, colonials and bungalows. A couple of new houses were built by people lucky enough to come across an available parcel.

It' s a neighborhood where people landscape and maintain small front yards.

Munroe said even "new" neighbors have lived there for 15 to 20 years.

"There' s a lot to be said for this neighborhood. Everyone knows each other and watches out for one another," he said.

Holbrook is just 15 miles from Boston and has access to the commuter train, making it a convenient place to live for those who work in the city.

Steven Zeboski, a real estate agent for Keller Williams Realty in Braintree who sells houses in Braintree, Weymouth, Quincy and Holbrook, says the best value can usually be found in Holbrook. "It' s a small town and a little less expensive than the others," he said.

A house at the corner of Belcher Street is one of Zeboski' s listings. The three-bedroom, which home sits on a half acre, has a fireplace, hardwood floors, a Jacuzzi and two-car garage. It' s listed at $339,000.

"That' s a good average price for Holbrook across the boards, but there are new developments like Sycamore Woods where houses sell for over $500,000," he said.

For most of the day the neighborhood is quiet, except for the birds, and there is little traffic. William Nichols said that when rush hour comes, his street (Newton) gets busy because it is a popular cut-through.

The postal worker lives in the house he paid $80,000 for 13 years ago. His grounds are neat, and he has cultivated a relaxing Zen-like garden/patio out back.

"I have no reason to leave here. I like it and I like my neighbors. I can walk to the center of town and it doesn' t take me long to get to work," Nichols said.

He would like to see Newton Avenue turned into a one way or blocked off near Route 37 to stop people from using it as a short cut.

"There was a petition going around about it, and I' d really like to see it change because most of the time it' s peaceful and quiet," he said.

A large colonial home across from Nichols' was just renovated. Nichols said the house was originally a ranch, but the people who bought it from their parents completely rebuilt it. "There are a lot of people here who grew up here," he said.

Holbrook center is a great place to do errands. The main thoroughfare is Route 37 which leads to Route 3 in Braintree. The area is also just a few miles from Route 24. The town offers a diverse mix of living options including new construction, single-family houses and condominiums. The real estate market has changed, but buyers can still get a lot for their money in Holbrook.