Fall River, New Bedford

[FrozenAngel]

Originally Posted by twiggy

Why is Fall River and New Bedford so cheap for a house? Is there a reason? Online the town looks so cute but I'm from AZ and anything green with colonials looks good to me.

Go to Google "Images" and type in New Bedford, MA. and after that, type in Fall River, MA. I believe New Bedford will have more scenic photos. That is what I usually do when I want to check out an area. I've spent too much money flying to a town I thought might be a good. Fairhaven and Dartmouth are going to be less costly, from there the cost goes up as you go in any direction (west to Providence, east to Cape Cod or north to Boston). Becasue I am looking to move south, I wouldn't pick MA. but if you have family here than that is a good reason to move here. If you don't mind crappy weather, November to April and sometimes longer, this area is could work for you.

[almiten]

Originally Posted by FrozenAngel

The funny thing is, people from New Bedford thinks Fall River is worse and the people from Fall River thinks New Bedford is worse. I guess for each of them, that's a good thing. If you are going to live in either city, I think it's great that you stick up for NB or FR but if someone from out of town is asking advice about NB or FR I think you should tell them the truth. DON'T COME HERE!!! It' AWFUL!!!!

I here you. I'm not from either but we lived very close to both and I don't care for NB at all. I was going to work there but changed my mind. My husband has a friend who moved from the Cape to NB to save money but he ended up in a bad neighborhood and I think they robbed his house and stole his car

[kjs213]

...you keep on about how awful FR is, but I have yet to read any particular reason why you think that is so, other than that you keep repeating how awful you think it is. Most of the rest of the world calls that circular reasoning: "This place is awful.", "Why?", "Because it is awful."... What is SO terrible? A couple of not so nice neighborhoods? Okay. Under performing public schools? Yes. Other than those two things, I fail to see any inherent awfulness. And I can think of quite a few cities and towns in Massachusetts (and nearby Rhode Island), that have a higher number of "bad" neighborhoods.

My personal opinion as to why anyone would think FR is terrible is because the "ideal" town for most people includes either a huge amount of entertaining things to do, or brand new homes with excessive amounts of square footage and gigantic, perfectly manicured lawns--and a guarantee that they will never meet anyone poor. It astounds me how poverty offends some people. They don't mind that the poor exist; they don't mind helping them, but heaven forbid they should have to live in the same town with them. After all, aren't all poor people drug addicted criminals?

Maybe you are right: To all of you out there who are offended by the thought of living in the same city as blue collar workers, or bored to death in a city that usually spends Friday night sleeping, by all means don't move here. You'll hate it here and we'll hate having you here.

[FrozenAngel]

Originally Posted by kjs213

...you keep on about how awful FR is, but I have yet to read any particular reason why you think that is so, other than that you keep repeating how awful you think it is. Most of the rest of the world calls that circular reasoning: "This place is awful.", "Why?", "Because it is awful."... What is SO terrible? A couple of not so nice neighborhoods? Okay. Under performing public schools? Yes. Other than those two things, I fail to see any inherent awfulness. And I can think of quite a few cities and towns in Massachusetts (and nearby Rhode Island), that have a higher number of "bad" neighborhoods.

My personal opinion as to why anyone would think FR is terrible is because the "ideal" town for most people includes either a huge amount of entertaining things to do, or brand new homes with excessive amounts of square footage and gigantic, perfectly manicured lawns--and a guarantee that they will never meet anyone poor. It astounds me how poverty offends some people. They don't mind that the poor exist; they don't mind helping them, but heaven forbid they should have to live in the same town with them. After all, aren't all poor people drug addicted criminals?

Maybe you are right: To all of you out there who are offended by the thought of living in the same city as blue collar workers, or bored to death in a city that usually spends Friday night sleeping, by all means don't move here. You'll hate it here and we'll hate having you here.

It's impossible to separate the decent poor people who live in a bad neighborhood but keep their property clean, from the drug addicted people who don't give a crap about anybody or anything. I have compassion for the poor but you have to be open to the fact that poverty can be inherited or a state of mind, and not an actual tragedy. Even though the poor are wonderful people, they can’t afford to keep their property up which brings down the cost of their neighbor’s property. Either way, why would you want to invest money in either city when you have so many poor neighborhoods? Not to mention the taxes are high in both cities. Do you own your property?

My answer is to someone who is considering moving here. If she wants to know more reasons why not to come here ... she can ask me.

[kjs213]

... pretty sure I can differentiate between people who are nice neighbors and those who have the cops at their house every other day. And if nobody invests any kind of money into a city because the majority of its population is blue collar, of course that city is going to have things like higher taxes-- how exactly do you think cities pay for things?

The attitude you present is that the lower classes should be segregated from the upper classes because the lifestyle they can afford to maintain does not benefit the upper class (like lowering your property values because they can't afford to keep their property as nice as you keep yours). This kind of caste mentality is just abhorrent to me.

By all means-- tell people who share your attitudes about those less fortunate than you not to move here. I certainly won't miss having them as neighbors!

[FrozenAngel]

Originally Posted by kjs213

... pretty sure I can differentiate between people who are nice neighbors and those who have the cops at their house every other day. And if nobody invests any kind of money into a city because the majority of its population is blue collar, of course that city is going to have things like higher taxes-- how exactly do you think cities pay for things?

The attitude you present is that the lower classes should be segregated from the upper classes because the lifestyle they can afford to maintain does not benefit the upper class (like lowering your property values because they can't afford to keep their property as nice as you keep yours). This kind of caste mentality is just abhorrent to me.

By all means-- tell people who share your attitudes about those less fortunate than you not to move here. I certainly won't miss having them as neighbors!

You are taking this all too personal. You don't have to worry, I won't ever be your neighbor. I bought a small house in the woods away from neighbors so I don't have to keep up with the Jones. My yard is untidy and my house is half unshingled but at least no one but myself has to look at it an I am not bringing down my neighbors property value. I am not rich and I have worked very hard for what I have. My dad died with $6,000. to his name so I am not from money and I have had nothing given to me. I am not about to let what little I have be devalued by moving to an area like NB or FR. You can think of me as a snob all you like. I didn't cause the problems that NB and FR has so keep your attiude to yourself. I see you didn't want to say if you are a renter or a home owner. I think if you were a home owner, you might feel differently.

[pinky5800]

I have just been reading the posts regarding FAll River and New Bedford. During the Viet Nam War my husband was stationed at the naval base in Newport. We couldn't live in base housing b/c there weren't any vacancies, so we lived in Newport for a couple of months and then we moved to Sunset Hill b/c it was affordable, and after the rent we had to pay to live on Sherman Street in Newport the rent at Sunset Hill was a blessing. Back in the late 60's the Navy didn't pay enough to live like decent people should be able to live. Anyway, as I read the posts it seems as though Fall River has deteriorated over these many years and I'm sorry to hear that. The only thing I noticed about the residents of Fall River and surrounding areas were the unintelligent people. Maybe that was b/c of the schools, here where I come from those people are called hoosiers. I contemplated an East Coast vacation, stopping in Fall River just to see what it is like now, but quite frankly. I have no desire to return to the East Coast with the racial problems, the crime, drugs and all the other various and sundry less than desirable antics of the city. I'd rather just remember the peaceful enviroment of the era of the
Viet Nam War. LOL

[brightdoglover]

I think the OP was considering FR or NB themselves because of affordable housing (and some primo pics on the Internet). Moving to "nearby towns" would sort of defeat the purpose of the affordability of those cities.
I do know that Boston Section 8 housing vouchers are often given for FR because housing is cheaper there.
A lot would depend on where the OP will be working. That area of the state doesn't offer a lot, so could end up with quite a commute for that affordable housing.

[ProvGuy]

What exactly are the "racial problems" on the East Coast?

[BostonYoureMyHome]

Originally Posted by FrozenAngel

I have too much of a conscience to give anybody the impression that this area is anything less than the cesspool it is. Unless you live in the Highland of Fall River, Fall River is as bad as New Bedford. Fall River and New Bedford are the matching bookends for Dartmouth and this area is getting worse by the minute.

That's exactly how I felt when I lived in Dartmouth a few years ago. Personally, I just didn't feel safe in certain areas of NB and FR. I hate the feeling of having to lock my doors and windows driving through a bad part of town, which I routinely had to do in New Bedford. <shudders> New Bedford is worth a visit for the historical stuff and whaling museum, but I'd never move there. JMO.

Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven... much nicer.