What's the best place to live in the east??? (Boston: income, work)

[brit_nit]

Hi, I am from montana (born and raised) and I am hoping to move east when i graduate from college in a couple years. I have started looking at possible places to shoot for, but i have no idea!! I am looking for a smaller city about 20,000-60,000 pop. and friendly people are very important to me. I would like to live in a community where people wave and say hello to you as you are walking or driving by. (here in montana, thats a given...at least where i've lived). I'm going to be a pharmacist so i'm looking for a middle income sort of city. I'm single, but i do want a family eventually, so a city with nice neighborhoods and schools is also important!

Please give me some advice!!

Thanks!

[baystater]

Pharmacists

[ogre]

One question would be whether you'd be comfortable in a suburban town of the population you describe, located in a larger metro area, or you'd be looking for something more like an independent, non-suburban town or small city in that population range. Based on the basic idea of the kind of place you describe, if you're looking for more of an independent town, you might look at Keene or Concord in NH. Maybe Bangor, ME. If you'd like something such as a small metro area with some small cities the size you're looking for included, you might try Portsmouth, NH, or Portland, ME.

In MA, it's expensive and a lot of it is touristy, but you might look at some towns on Cape Cod. A lot of towns in western and central MA are either smaller than you describe or are kind of old and run down. Two exceptions would be Northampton and Amherst. Physically and esthetically they're both nice towns. However, they're both college towns, very leftward-leaning politically, and heavy with the overall atmosphere associated with college towns. Depending on your preferences, you're likely to either love or hate living in either of those towns, without much middle ground in your feelings.

A solid, decent town in central MA is Sturbridge, though it's smaller than your preferred population range. I may be forgetting some, but off hand I think most other towns in MA that fit the basic description you've give would be in the Boston metro area, so then there's the question of whether a suburb in a large metro would work for you.

A little basic info to get you started. Best of luck with your search.

[jandrew]

If friendly is what your accustomed to, then you'll feel right at home in Leominster. People are apt to bring you nice chicken dinners and plants and such when you move in!

Here is a really nice housing option that you might love to live in. It is right in the heart of downtown so it's within walking distance to lots of cool things.

The website also tells you a bit about the city and why it's great. Good luck!

www stylishtownhouse com

Sincerely,

JAndrew

[brit_nit]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, I will look them up...I needed a place to start!!

[skytrekker]

I suggest Northampton Mass also- great town in western Mass. along the Connecticut river- close to Amherst, Springfield to the south and Vermont to the north.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by brit_nit

I'm going to be a pharmacist so i'm looking for a middle income sort of city. I'm single, but i do want a family eventually, so a city with nice neighborhoods and schools is also important!

Yeah... go live in a city... If you live in the burb.... you'll be single for the rest of your life.

There is only one city in MA... Boston... may be Brookline or Newton too.