Moving to Amherst MA from England Help!! (Boston, Holyoke: houses, rent)

[bearanddolly]

My wife and I are considering moving to Amherst MA from England and are feeling overwhelmed at the idea of living in the US, me are especially worried about health and education. We are used to living in a cosmopolitian area and are concerned that we might be moving to a provincial backwater????

We do want to live somewhere safe and quiet but also need some culture to sooth our weary souls

Does anyone live in Amherst? can you help?

[pondhopper]

don't live in Amherst but could answer any question about moving to the US having moved several execs from UK and now living in UK and US myself. Got any specifics? Where in UK are you now, that will give some comparative data.

[airedaly]

My daughter just moved to the Boston area from Amherst. It is not a provincial backwater town, but a very lovely area of Western Massachusetts. Since it's the '5-college' area, there are lots of things to keep you busy. From September until June, the population increases tremendously, and the summers are lovely and quiet. I assume you're heading there because you'll be attending school or teaching.

Take a look at what cultural opportunities there are in the Amherst/Northampton area:
University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center - Calendar of Events
City of Northampton: Arts & Entertainment
Events Calendar - Hampshire College - Amherst, MA
Amherst, MA Area Chamber of Commerce

Plus, if you like to hike or cross-country ski, it's the perfect spot. If you want to go downhill skiing, it's about two hours away - perfect for a day-trip. If you like antiquing, there are lots of great spots in Western Mass, Southern NH or Vermont.

It's not a big city, but it's a great place to live. If you must have a "city" fix, you can drive less than 2 hours to Boston, or take the bus to NYC for the weekend.

[ontheroad]

airedaly's given you some great info. I lived outside Amherst, and originally lived in only large cosmopolitan areas, including abroad, earlier. This Western Massachusetts area is among the most cosmopolitan on the East Coast, perhaps nationally. I can't think of anything you can't get within a 1/2 drive.

If you have specific questions, feel free to inquire.

Originally Posted by airedaly

My daughter just moved to the Boston area from Amherst. It is not a provincial backwater town, but a very lovely area of Western Massachusetts. Since it's the '5-college' area, there are lots of things to keep you busy. From September until June, the population increases tremendously, and the summers are lovely and quiet. I assume you're heading there because you'll be attending school or teaching.

Take a look at what cultural opportunities there are in the Amherst/Northampton area:
University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center - Calendar of Events
City of Northampton: Arts & Entertainment
Events Calendar - Hampshire College - Amherst, MA
Amherst, MA Area Chamber of Commerce

Plus, if you like to hike or cross-country ski, it's the perfect spot. If you want to go downhill skiing, it's about two hours away - perfect for a day-trip. If you like antiquing, there are lots of great spots in Western Mass, Southern NH or Vermont.

It's not a big city, but it's a great place to live. If you must have a "city" fix, you can drive less than 2 hours to Boston, or take the bus to NYC for the weekend.

[skytrekker]

Amherst is not backwater, but a reasonably cosmopolitan sophisticated area, along with nearby Northampton. Schools are very good, and the local colleges among the best in the USA. It is mandatory in Massachusetts to have health care insurance. If one does not have it offered by their employer, one must purchase it according to household income. The health care plan in the state is a first in the USA, which parley's out health care in a dated laissez fair fashion reminiscent of a different age.

[bearanddolly]

Thank you everyone for the very positive info!! We ARE moving due to husbands job ; he has been offered a tenure at the university. I run a wedding business from home. Can anyone offer any advice on where are the nice spots to live? We don't want to live tooo near the uni due to rowdy students at night etc. We've seen some fabulous houses on the web but are unsure of locations.
Also how friendly are people especially to new people and foriegners? Am sooo worries that we won't make new friends. We have such a good group of supportive pals here who all have children and it makes life so much easier/nicer! Does anyone have any info on activities for young children, playgroups, clubs, ballet classes etc?
We definately do want to move to the US. We think our quality of life and standard of living will be much better.
Any more info would be extremely welcome!!!!!! Thanks again.

[ontheroad]

When you say Uni, I think you may mean the University of MA but if not please correct me (we also have Amherst, Hampshire, Holyoke and Smith (in Northampton).

Some lovely places to live are Shutesbury (up the hill from Amherst); Leverett, Pelham, Hatfield, the roads going up to Shutesbury, still Amherst, are quiet, quaint and charming.

As for people being friendly, I'd say you'll find most people very friendly, enormously helpful, very community spirited and good conversationalists.

Can't speak about children activities, but I do know the general Amherst area is very family-oriented, with good schools, and private/public transport to and from the school.

The overall region has a plethora of activities from coffee drinking to UFO viewing, so you'd never, or rarely, be short on things to do yourselves, or for the children.

Originally Posted by bearanddolly

Thank you everyone for the very positive info!! We ARE moving due to husbands job ; he has been offered a tenure at the university. I run a wedding business from home. Can anyone offer any advice on where are the nice spots to live? We don't want to live tooo near the uni due to rowdy students at night etc. We've seen some fabulous houses on the web but are unsure of locations.
Also how friendly are people especially to new people and foriegners? Am sooo worries that we won't make new friends. We have such a good group of supportive pals here who all have children and it makes life so much easier/nicer! Does anyone have any info on activities for young children, playgroups, clubs, ballet classes etc?
We definately do want to move to the US. We think our quality of life and standard of living will be much better.
Any more info would be extremely welcome!!!!!! Thanks again.

[bearanddolly]

Thanks so much 'ontheroad'!! You are a star! It all sounds good! Would you be able to let me know a little more about the weather please? I know that it snows alot (daughter is VERY excited about this!!). How cold does it get and what are the summers like? Do you live near Amherst?

[bearanddolly]

Not sure about the UFO watching !

[ontheroad]

The weather in winter can get nippy (10-35oF); some winters have had a great deal of snow (1990s); more recently the snow has slackened off some. Summers can get muggy, and humid, but if you are out of the towns, and near good foliage, I find the humidity is less of a bother. And I don't recall using any air conditioning.

I do think getting comfortable driving in the various weather patterns is good; and therefore, a good car is essential. I had a Honda wagon, good mileage, and all weather tires and did fine.

I no longer live near Amherst, but lived both in Shutesbury and on the other side of rte 9 in a wonderful town called Williamsburg. However, the cross over on rte 9 is more congested than you'll find if you stay on the Amherst side.

Route 9 is also a major shopping strip with the major bulk stores, two supermarkets, a movie theatre, etc. However, I like to buy in local, smaller shops and only frequented these bi-weekly or less. There is also a health-food supermarket on Route 9.

Originally Posted by bearanddolly

Thanks so much 'ontheroad'!! You are a star! It all sounds good! Would you be able to let me know a little more about the weather please? I know that it snows alot (daughter is VERY excited about this!!). How cold does it get and what are the summers like? Do you live near Amherst?