Waban is a picturesque and neighborly village of Newton. Despite being located only a few miles from Boston, Waban has a decidedly small town feel. Waban Center on Beacon Street is a block of mostly locally-owned businesses, sharing a brick building. Across the street, in a similarly cute and old-fashioned building, you can find a Starbucks and a nearby Bank of America. The D branch of the Green line runs through Waban and stops at Waban Center, making for a relatively easy daily commute or a day trip to Boston.

Waban has the feel of a TV-sitcom suburb, where neighbors actually get together and kids ride their bikes down the street. Yards are bordered by honeysuckle and pine and rhodedendron. The local elementary school, Angier, has a large field used for kids’ soccer games on Saturdays. The school’s extensive jungle-gym is frequented by moms and nannies after school hours.

Varying architectural styles define Waban’s look. Victorians are mixed among more modern stucco and brick homes, but tackiness is seemingly banned. This is a rich suburb where there is no place for a McMansion. There is really no need to visit Waban without a particular reason to do so, but it is lovely to drive through, given the chance.