Find Counseling Services Serving
Woburn, MA

Frequently asked questions

Woburn, MA

Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,876 at the 2020 census. Woburn is located 9 miles (14 km) north of Boston. Woburn uses Massachusetts' mayor-council form of government, in which an elected mayor is the executive and a partly district-based, partly at-large city council is the legislature. It is the only one of Massachusetts' 351 municipalities to refer to members of its City Council as "Aldermen."

Woburn was first settled in 1640 near Horn Pond, a primary source of the Mystic River, and was officially incorporated in 1642. At that time the area included the present-day towns of Woburn, Winchester, Burlington, and parts of Stoneham and Wilmington. In 1730 Wilmington separated from Woburn. In 1799 Burlington separated from Woburn; in 1850 Winchester did so, too.

Woburn got its name from Woburn, Bedfordshire. Woburn played host to the first religious ordination in the Americas on Nov. 22, 1642. Rev. Thomas Carter was sworn in by many of the most prominent men of New England including John Cotton, minister of the First Church of Boston, Richard Mather minister of the First Church of Dorchester, and Capt. Edward Johnson co-founder of the church and town of Woburn. Johnson is regarded as "the father of Woburn." He served as the first town clerk, represented the town in the Massachusetts General Court, made the first map of Massachusetts, and wrote the first history of the colony. 

Woburn is located at 42°29′4″N 71°9′7″W (42.484545, −71.152060). It is bordered by the towns of Wilmington, Reading, Stoneham, Winchester, Lexington, and Burlington. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33 km2), of which 12.7 square miles (33 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (1.71%) is water.

Woburn places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Mass General Brigham Urgent Care and Winchester Hospital offer medical expertise and personalized care for the quality healthcare of the community. Start your fitness journey at Today’s Fitness Center offers various lessons and personalized workouts. For a diverse range of classes, Encompass Fitness-Marlborough provides yoga, boot camps, and more. The Fitness Asylum is perfect for those looking to join a supportive fitness community. For a holistic approach, visit the Natural Living Expo, New England's premier holistic health event featuring workshops and exhibits. Engage in a Reiki Sound Bath at Blissful Monkey Yoga Studio for a rejuvenating experience.

Top sites in Woburn, MA are Horn Pond, Middlesex Fells Reservation, Breakout Games - Boston (Woburn), and Stone Zoo.

Population: 43,895 (2024). ZIP codes: 01801, 01888. Area code: 339, 781. Elevation: 100 ft (30 m). Area: 12.9 square miles (33 km2).

FAQs

What is Woburn, MA known for?

The nation’s early rubber industry was also established in East Woburn by 1836, and revolutionized by Charles Goodyear’s pioneer discovery of the vulcanization process in East Woburn in 1839. Demand for shoe leather during the Civil War gave a boost to Woburn’s leather production, and by 1865 there were 21 tanning and currying establishments in town. Immigrants from Ireland, Nova Scotia, and Canada moved to Woburn to take jobs in the tanneries. By 1885, Woburn was the leading leather producer in the area. The city retained this lead well into the 20th century, developing with it a range of associated support industries, including chemical works, machine shops, and makers of tanners’ knives. Henry Thayer of Woburn developed the process of chrome tanning in 1901, which took the place of bark tanning.

Is Woburn MA a good area?

The cost of living in Woburn is fairly low for the area, especially compared to Boston metro. Residents enjoy an affordable healthcare system with about 17% savings compared to the national average. Over the past year, the local housing market has risen about 2.4% setting the average cost of a home in Woburn around $483,700. Woburn has been recognized as one of the safer neighborhoods around Boston, leaving quite a few options for living arrangements. One of the most beloved communities is the affluent neighborhood of Shakerhill, which can be found on the southwest corner of town.

What is the crime rate in Woburn, MA?

Woburn has an overall crime rate of 11 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Woburn is 1 in 90. How does Woburn fare compared to other communities in Massachusetts of all population sizes? Woburn's crime rate is lower than approximately 26% of Massachusetts communities.

Sources

City of Woburn

Wikipedia

Mass Bay Movers

Neighborhood Scout

Horn Pond

Middlesex Fells Reservation

Breakout Games - Boston (Woburn)

Stone Zoo

Mass General Brigham Urgent Care

Winchester Hospital

Today’s Fitness Center

Encompass Fitness-Marlborough

The Fitness Asylum

Natural Living Expo

Blissful Monkey Yoga Studio

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.