Are these cities are worst places in Masschsetts (Boston, Worcester: violent crime, neighborhoods)

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by gf2020

What's the point of this thread? Just to cause a stir?

Every community has some nice places, and some not so nice places, including the towns on your list.

repped and agree with this.

[cwaggy]

Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence,Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence,Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence and Lawrence.

[Mordi]

yes, they are

[Space_League]

I think Lawrence, Brockton, Holyoke, and Springfield in general leave much to be desired. Lynn and Chelsea aren't that much better but they're at least convenient to Boston and affordable. The rest are pretty nice small cities with some good and some bad

[luvmyhoss]

Lynn, Revere Chelsea. and of course Springfield 12 in crime sprees.

[Coolhand68]

I wouldn't put Lowell in the same class as Lynn or Brockton. Lowell has it's problems but it has more potential than some of the other towns listed IMHO. A major university and lots of construction renovating the old mills into apartments and condos. I wouldn't want to live there with kids, because I think there are better options, but for single folks or couples without kids it's not that bad.

[WoodyWW]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

Lowell and Worcester are nice cities. Taunton is basically a larger-than average town not a city, and it really seems you just hate areas with >2,500 ppsm.

I've been wondering about Worcester myself. I don't know it much at all, but on a whim, I did a search of houses FS $300--$400K. WOW--it looks like you can get a beautiful, "period" house there in the mid-$300's. And from some of the pics, in what look to be in nice areas. Houses that might be--a guess--$900K+ in Newton say.

How bad--or not--is Worcester? Worth considering for someone bummed by the high prices in the expensive Boston suburbs?

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by WoodyWW

I've been wondering about Worcester myself. I don't know it much at all, but on a whim, I did a search of houses FS $300--$400K. WOW--it looks like you can get a beautiful, "period" house there in the mid-$300's. And from some of the pics, in what look to be in nice areas. Houses that might be--a guess--$900K+ in Newton say.

How bad--or not--is Worcester? Worth considering for someone bummed by the high prices in the expensive Boston suburbs?

If you can do a reasonable commute from there and live in the safer parts probably a good option for you. I hear the NW part is pretty safe.

[tovarisch]

I work in Springfield. If you aren't into drugs, or in a gang, it's perfectly safe and even has some interesting tourist-y things (the museums, the b-ball hall of fame). I'm sure some of the other supposedly "down-and-out" Mass. cities have good parts, too.

[Space_League]

Originally Posted by WoodyWW

I've been wondering about Worcester myself. I don't know it much at all, but on a whim, I did a search of houses FS $300--$400K. WOW--it looks like you can get a beautiful, "period" house there in the mid-$300's. And from some of the pics, in what look to be in nice areas. Houses that might be--a guess--$900K+ in Newton say.

How bad--or not--is Worcester? Worth considering for someone bummed by the high prices in the expensive Boston suburbs?

Worcester gets a bad reputation for a few reasons
(a) it's downtown is run down looking and poorly designed
(b) it used to be more dangerous than it is
(c) there isn't a whole lot to do for a city it's size

Worcester isn't as densely populated as most New England cities. This makes the city look barren and intimidating, especially downtown where misguided urban renewal projects from the mid 20th century coupled with white flight left the city center as a hollow shell of what it once was. The area around main street is actually one of the worst parts of the city! This contributes to the lack of cultural ammenties one would typically expect to find downtown.

All of this accounts for Worcester's gritty reputation. Once you leave the downtown area, however, there are some great neighborhoods where you can get historic real estate at a fraction of typical MA prices.