Looking at relocating to Gardner, Massachsetts (Boston, Cambridge: housing, rent, job)

[Southwesterner]

I am looking at locating to the Gardner, Massachusetts area. It seems more affordable than most of the areas in Mass. I have school-age children and I want to make sure that I am placing them in a good area with good schools. Does anyone know much about Gardner and the nearby towns?

[MovingForward]

It is more affordable, but Gardner does not have a good school system. Neither do any of the nearby towns: Fitchburg, Leominster, etc. Also, the crime rate is rather high for MA.

[writerj]

Gardner offers no job prospects, current unemployment rate for Sept. 07 is 5.8%, a slight dip than last year and as always, above the state average.

Nearly half of downtown is boarded up, and officials do little to make visible drives for new businesses. The CEO of Chamber of Commerce, in reply to why there are so many vacant business said the city was picky as to who they allowed in to have a business. With the blight, they cannot afford this thinking!

The schools are still on the underperforming list, nothing new.

There are NO safe gathering spots for children and teenagers. Many teens resort to alcohol and recent checks of police logs show many arrests for underage drinking. Drugs and drug distro are common.
Recently as Oct. 17, 2 men were busted in a drug raid for illegal caliber firearms ammunition, 3 pounds of pot, amounts of heroin and coke, and distributing dope in a school zone. City offers very little resources for residents who wish to seek drug detox services; despite the clear need for them.
Go ahead and check the police logs: MANy CASES of domestic violence and assault and battery. The area offers little resources for victims of domestic violence, despite clearly demonstrating the need for it.

Many older residents live off SSI or unemployment, and can be seen loitering the streets in front of businesses at all times, night and day.

Rent for apartments are cheap, you find one in good shape its a value! however, many landlords are absentees, and there is currently NO housing advocacy groups to help residents.

Residents and officials fool themselves into thinking industry is coming back; when fact, the city comprises of the walking dead with no proactive thinkers around.
There are various community non-profits that help, but a true change is a LONG time coming. trust me on this.

[LeavingMA]

I live not too far from Garnder and also know teachers that work there. I would agree with most of the other posts here. Gardner is more affordable, but their are lots of issues with the school system.

[writerj]

Gardner, MA is home to some of the most depressing, un-cultured people I have ever had the displeasure of interacting with.
A simple stroll through the district court shows just that and be advised, the court is ALMOST ALWAYS FULL.
I strongly recommend people to choose another place to live, for this "city"
is home to the walking dead.

[UrbanQuest]

So even though this city is in the Boston Metro, it doesn't get any commuters who want affordable exurbia?

[brightdoglover]

It's pretty far west to be of interest to people who work in town. I think it's about 50 miles or so west of Boston proper, and it's essential a town, not suburbia or exurbia. How are the prices in Westminster, which is nearby? I think it's a much better town/school system.
Technically, I think "metro Boston" might be considered to end at I-495 (used to be ending at Rt.128). A lot of people who live west of I-495 drive to the interstate and then go north or south for work, not into Boston/Cambridge.

[twiggy]

Wow, how sad. My father grew up in Gardner and it was a ok town at one point. I wonder why it went so far down hill? Do people have any theories about this?

[brightdoglover]

LIke so many New England towns, the manufacturing ended, be it mills, shoes, furniture.Most towns were centered around that employment, and when it left, there was little for people to do.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

LIke so many New England towns, the manufacturing ended, be it mills, shoes, furniture.Most towns were centered around that employment, and when it left, there was little for people to do.

That explains it. My grandfather shipped furniture out of there. Oh well, that's to bad.