Lowell, MA - any info would be great! (Boston, Lawrence: real estate, crime)

[grimstuff]

Hi, my wife and I are looking to relocate back east to New England. We are looking for a city at least as big as 20,000, and that also has a univeristy and/or community colleges.

I will be graduating soon with a degree in city and regional planning, and my wife will hopefully be entering into a dental hygiene program within the next year or so, depending on where we move. But we want to make sure to be in an area with colleges that offer dental hygiene and/or nursing, as that is her plan B.

We love the 4 seasons, are not afraid of the snow, and love a city with ambiance, atmosphere, and history. We are young with no children (yet) but would like to live in a place where we could have kids if we wanted to. I.e. a relatively safe place, good schools, etc. We both grew up in California, but I lived for a year in NE and loved it and always wanted to go back.

Anyway, we were researching Lowell because it seemed to match our criteria for colleges, being a sizeable city, relatively affordable, etc. If anyone could give me more info on this place or other cities that might fit, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it.

[AlanD]

First of all, what are you doing moving from an area like San Luis Obispo to Lowell, Mass? You're thinking about moving from a beautiful area close to Santa Barbara into an old mill town with lots of poverty and crime.

If you have to move to Massachusetts and want to be close to centers of higher education I'd suggest moving to a smaller town like Norfolk, Wrentham, or Foxboro (home of the Patriots). You can live in one of these smaller communities and jump on the commuter rail and be in Boston in less than an hour.

I've lived in that area and love it. I went to work in Boston every day and jumped on the train at night to come back to the peace and quiet this area provides.

Boston has everything you'd ever need and it's not so big that you can't find your way around. It's a great city to walk in. It's got some of the finest hospitals and colleges in the country and one other thing....it's got the BOSTON RED SOX.

If you have to leave California and want to move to Mass. don't even think about Lowell. If you do I'll bet you won't stay long.

Me...I'm thinking about moving to South Carolina cause I'm sick of the winters here....give that some thought before you leave sunny California.

Good Luck
AlanD

[grimstuff]

Thanks for your reply, AlanD. I knew some people would consider us crazy to leave San Luis Obispo for the northeast, but I guess it just reflects different priorities and circumstances. One of the reasons is that we would never be able to afford a home here. Well, at least not for a decade or so. We came here for school an we always knew we wern't going to settle here.

I was researching Lowell because as a planner I could see the potential it has. Presently it has poverty and crime, but it won't be that way forever. My job would be helping make these changes, and escaping to a better community wouldn't allow me to assist in these changes.

In any case, I will lookup the cities you suggest. Thanks again.

[julz]

I've been following this post waiting to see someone else reply.I lived in Mass for 30 yrs., moved to Fla. ten yrs. ago.Maybe things have changed but Lowell has always been a very rough area.I hate to label a place, hence the reason I didn't respond earlier, but it is definately a place I would not want to live. Crime and poverty is getting worst not better and people that know the area won't touch it so I don't think it will get better.There are a lot of nice,older Portuguese families that live in their own communities and also a lot of Hispanic and Vietnamese.I hope I don't offend anyone... but keep looking.There are a lot of nice, quiet, suburban areas such as the ones mentioned in previous post.

[ontheroad]

While I've never lived in Lowell, I have been to the city and I think you may be too idealistic to think that you can make the kind of difference in changing what so many of the NE cities/towns have suffered since the mills/factories moved South and then overseas.

Lowell is a depressing piece of land and will need more like a pool full of urban planners, lots of money and a new industry to turn her around.

JMO, but you may find good living elsewhere in MA--with hope not dispair at her back. Good luck!

[grimstuff]

Lowell is a depressing piece of land and will need more like a pool full of urban planners, lots of money and a new industry to turn her around.

Exactly. This is what I am being trained to help with. Anyway, thanks, everyone, for your input.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

Thanks for your reply, AlanD. I knew some people would consider us crazy to leave San Luis Obispo for the northeast, but I guess it just reflects different priorities and circumstances. One of the reasons is that we would never be able to afford a home here. Well, at least not for a decade or so. We came here for school an we always knew we wern't going to settle here.

I was researching Lowell because as a planner I could see the potential it has. Presently it has poverty and crime, but it won't be that way forever. My job would be helping make these changes, and escaping to a better community wouldn't allow me to assist in these changes.

In any case, I will lookup the cities you suggest. Thanks again.

I don't like Lowell either, there was an artice in the Boston Glone regarding Lowell, I think it was today. Go the boston globe and click real estate.

Lawrence in next to Lowell, which is not too great. I like Foxboro, and agree with that choice.

judy

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

Exactly. This is what I am being trained to help with. Anyway, thanks, everyone, for your input.

Hmm, well Thank God for the idealist, who dared to "conceive the impossible". I'm sure you've done your homework, so your aware of the current issues. But there are pockets of Lowell that are fine.

All the best with your career, and hopefully your optimism will catch on there....

[grimstuff]

I'm sure you've done your homework, so your aware of the current issues.

I have mainly just investigated the City of Lowells Planning dept. website, which I found quite informative. I think you will find a lot of optimism regarding this city. You might find their ULI (Urban Land Institute) report rather interesting:

http://www.lowellma.gov/depts/dpd/re.../ulireport.pdf

[ivymm]

Housing is expensive in metro Boston-maybe not as high as CA-still one of the highest around. Even though it's $$$, I love living here. Big city, history, beaches, skiing, lakes, rivers, wildlife, forests, all less than 90 mins.
I would not choose Lowell or nearby, but to each his own. I would not choose Foxboro either. Too many highways and Gillette Stadium-drove by there today.
If I were part of a young childless couple, I'd want to be in Brookline, Watertown, Waltham, etc.-just a few stops on the T to BOS-yet parks, universities, Charles River.
If I knew your price range, it would help. Also, are you looking for large diversified universities i.e. BU, Northeastern or small private i.e. Wellesley, Babson or Stone Hill College?