getting nervous about moving to MA (Boston, Worcester: real estate, crime, houses)

[katzenfreund]

Hi again
I have seen that Thai restaurant you mentioned and we will have to go there next time we come, probably later this month. I had heard that Worcester has lots of nice restaurants, great, we like to eat out . That is one thing we have lots of in the DC area, ethnic food, so I KNOW I am spoiled. We will be meeting a realtor here to talk about selling our house next week and I am hoping the market here isn't totally flat. We'd like to move this year, if it doesn't work out, next spring. The sooner - the better.

[relocator508]

Leicester is getting a Super Walmart in the very near future. I think an Olive Garden, too. Nice rural town with decent house prices. With the planned Walmart, should see alot of growth in the near future.

[ScranBarre]

Relocator, let's just hope that this "Wal-Mart growth" doesn't kill off all of the town's "mom-and-pop" charm, as it has done to smaller downtowns here in the Keystone State. If you want to see just how this "beneficial growth" affected a formerly-thriving city, come to my hometown of Pittston, PA---A literal ghost town now surrounded by McMansions, strip malls, and upcoming "big-box" stores. Be careful what you wish for, my friend! I saw a lot of thriving, gorgeous, quaint downtown districts while visiting MA, and I wouldn't want them to suddenly evaporate as the idiots in town shunned Main Street and gave into Wal-Mart's "everyday low prices!" If you think Leicester can support both "big-box" development AND small-town charm, then by all means support this project, but if these new stores will do nothing but leech off of "mom-and-pop", then you may want to curb your enthusiasm.

[Miker2069]

That area is fine, you should be happy there. Most of the whining, and a lot of it is legit or based in real issues (big dig, the MA pike tolls which have paid for the pike about a billion times already but won't come down...,etc...). Also outside of Boston, you'll experience the quaint New England towns, quite, peaceful, family oriented.

Incidentally I left Boston about 2 weeks ago
But if you like the area and can make the cost of living adjustments (particularly coming from DC/MD which is on par or may be worse in terms of housing costs) you should be happy.

Just don't get caught in Red Sox fever in August (of next year). Once you catch it, you can't shake it...

Best of luck.

[scottinmass]

Mike, How are you watching the SOX now? Directv? Dish?

[Dragondog]

Climate wise Boston is a USDA Zone 6/7. Plymouth is a zone 7 as is Providence RI Fall River and New Bedford, Cape Anne/Gloucester and Cape Cod- meaning the lowest average temp. in the winter is around 0.

Central MA -Springfield, Northhampton Worcester and north central PA Wilkes Barre to Scranton are a zone 6-
Harrisburg and York in southern PA are a zone 7.

[scottinmass]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

Climate wise Boston is a USDA Zone 6/7. Plymouth is a zone 7 as is Providence RI Fall River and New Bedford, Cape Anne/Gloucester and Cape Cod- meaning the lowest average temp. in the winter is around 0.

Central MA -Springfield, Northhampton Worcester and north central PA Wilkes Barre to Scranton are a zone 6-
Harrisburg and York in southern PA are a zone 7.

actually here is the zone chart, central Ma. is zone 5b

[Dragondog]

That is the old zone map
check out the updated one at http://www.arborday.org/

scott- there is something called global warming-although I know for a bay stater you are right wing-
you are ashamed of the states liberal laws on gay marriage and rights- as I am sure you are just as negative about the reality and science about carbon based fuels fouling our air

oh well....

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by scottinmass

Mike, How are you watching the SOX now? Directv? Dish?

Ohhh, a sore spot Scott
I've watched the Red Sox on HDTV at a friends house in Woburn. MAN!!! You can see the different shades of the blades of grass! The discoloration in the hard hats...It's awesome. But while I have an HDTV I don't have the HD service from Comcast.

However I just completed my DirecTV order for NC, and got the NFL Sunday ticket pass...Can't wait to watch the Pats, Panthers, and Redskins (my wifes team) in HDTV!

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

That is the old zone map
check out the updated one at http://www.arborday.org/

scott- there is something called global warming-although I know for a bay stater you are right wing-
you are ashamed of the states liberal laws on gay marriage and rights- as I am sure you are just as negative about the reality and science about carbon based fuels fouling our air

oh well....

Woah! Where'd the come from????