Moving from Erie County, NY to Middlesex County MA (Boston: rental, health insurance)

[SweetKay]

My husband got the opportunity for a job interview with a fairly big company in Billerica, MA and we are wondering if we should follow that call and go for it, because change is good or should we play it safe and stay here in WNY - we have the same snowy winter, maybe a bit more (thanks to the Great Lakes) and the same good education, taxes are higher here than in MA - (believe it or not, but we pay 8.75% on retail) but housing seems to be more affordable here then at the coast. Income would be significantly higher in MA (around $120K compared to $85K here), but then again housing is 80% higher there, too. We are originally from Germany, moved to the US 10 years ago and have a 6 year old son. Living close to Buffalo, NY (Southtowns), we do miss some sort of real culture here and would love to move on, if everything fits. Are there any areas around Billerica that are affordable within our income range, family friendly, with fairly good elementary schools (the website GreatSchools.net helps a bit, but is confusing too), and a decent infrastructure (hospitals, shopping, doctors within 30 min drive) that are worth considering uprooting our little family again ??? Son and I are ready to go on, need some good reasons for dh though to give up house and garden here and start all over again.

Thanks to everybody for the input!!!

[brightdoglover]

I'd say offhand that the snow and winter weather isn't remotely comparable. The weather here is far milder than your area, in every way. Yes, the culture and history and all can't be beat, but the cost of living...
Have you visited here?

[SweetKay]

- had to choose that title, it played on the radio while I read the reply -
No I have not visited that area, husband had - just 2 weeks ago, while on a business trip with his company and BEFORE he got the chance to interview. He had been to Boston before (which is not in our calculation to move to, the outer outskirts are just fine with us) and said I would love it because of the European flair (which I truly miss here) ... I would love to go and visit, but so far I have to get my information from the net . Not worried about the cost of living, with taxes so high here in NY state living is cheaper EVERYWHERE else it seems - our houses are 80% less expensive, yet we pay the same amount, most likely more taxes on them. We do not pay taxes on cars, but fuel and health insurance is more here. The main issue really is buying a house in the first place, and a condo/ townhouse or rental is a big NO! Luckily husband would not have to work in Boston, so the commute is not a big issue either. Well I guess we have to wait for the interview to go well in the first place before jumping to conclusion, but I like to be prepared