Top 5 bad areas to avoid (Boston, Springfield: condo, violent crime, homes)

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by Gauss44

1. Dorchester near Fields Corner.
2. The area directly south of Northeastern University.
3. Jackson Square in Jamaica Plain

Top 5 I would move to with kids:

1. Newton
2. Cambridge
3. Quincy
4. Lexington
5. Belmont

If the OP is looking for an apartment, there are very few in Lexington.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by bitofendearment

woodland heath
beacon hill
dover
wellesley
weston

lmao!

[thenewtexan]

Roxbury, Brockton, Lawrence, Springfield, Athol

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

I've spent a considerable amount of time living and working in the communities surrounding Billerica. I consider certain neighborhoods in Billerica to be the white ghetto with Nuttings Lake the worst of it in my opinion.

Don't forget the Boston media which is dominated by white people has a tendency to demonize the low income minority areas, while the white ghettos are ignored.

Give us a break, pal! The only reason why they get more attention is because of the higher crime rate! When there's a shooting, they are on the news. Minorities from these areas will tell you the same thing. Show us a link that the violent crime rate happens less in Brockton and Springfield than it does in Billerica and your statement will gain some validity.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Give us a break, pal! The only reason why they get more attention is because of the higher crime rate! When there's a shooting, they are on the news. Minorities from these areas will tell you the same thing. Show us a link that the violent crime rate happens less in Brockton and Springfield than it does in Billerica and your statement will gain some validity.

Statistics are all well and good but they don't tell the whole story. Personal experiences account for something.

I spent over seven years living in the Lower Highlands of Lowell and never fell victim to a crime. Before that I lived in Quincy for five years and roamed around that city as well as Dorchester. No crime issues there either. I have been lucky and only fell victim to one property crime in my life. It was a smash and grab while my car was parked in Billerica. I don't judge the town on that one incident. It is also the general sketchiness of the town that impacts my viewpoint.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

I agree. I don't get all the Billerica bashing going on here lately. The last time I drove through people were having a good time on the common enjoying a summer concert.

When I was in the housing market as a buyer, one piece of advice I received from several different people was to view the neighborhood at night multiple times, especially on a Friday or Saturday. When I was residing in Quincy I occasionally drove along Blue Hill Avenue and saw people innocently walking up and down the street window shopping but it would not have been wise to conclude Mattapan is safe from that one observation.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

When I was in the housing market as a buyer, one piece of advice I received from several different people was to view the neighborhood at night multiple times, especially on a Friday or Saturday. When I was residing in Quincy I occasionally drove along Blue Hill Avenue and saw people innocently walking up and down the street window shopping but it would not have been wise to conclude Mattapan is safe from that one observation.

Well, I live not too far from Billerica and have gone there for business and socially dozens of times and have always felt at ease driving through and parking my car and never had an incident. This is often my drive through to other spots. People let me cut into traffic and stop for people walking across crosswalks far more often than when I am in downtown Concord. I was in Liberty Bell on the my way through a few weeks ago and I observed a charming group of senior ladies socializing and laughing, having the best time. Acton and many other towns seem to have so many sad isolated seniors. I see this every time I go to the grocery store. Billerica has many office parks and unlike many towns those office parks are filled, which adds to the economic growth of a town. Save for, the sketchy apartments along Concord street, Billerica seems to have a lot to offer.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

Statistics are all well and good but they don't tell the whole story. Personal experiences account for something.

I spent over seven years living in the Lower Highlands of Lowell and never fell victim to a crime. Before that I lived in Quincy for five years and roamed around that city as well as Dorchester. No crime issues there either. I have been lucky and only fell victim to one property crime in my life. It was a smash and grab while my car was parked in Billerica. I don't judge the town on that one incident. It is also the general sketchiness of the town that impacts my viewpoint.

That's just your experience. Your comment states implies that coverage we see about violent crime on the news is due to the demonizing white Boston media, when in fact it is simply due to the crimes that take place there. Property crimes happen everywhere and are not news worthy. "Sketchiness" is purely subjective. I'm not saying Billerica is perfect, but it would be a far cry from the OP's question of the worst areas in the state to live. Most just happen to have a higher than average minority population for MA. I included Athol, a predominantly white town, because it is isolated, has a poor economy, and the schools have much to be desired for the OP with kids.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

I was in Liberty Bell on the my way through a few weeks ago and I observed a charming group of senior ladies socializing and laughing, having the best time. Acton and many other towns seem to have so many sad isolated seniors. I see this every time I go to the grocery store.

Yes that is commendable. Atkinson has a strong elderly affairs program and you can see it in the vitality of the seniors. I don't think about it much right now but if I stay for the long term then it will become very relevant to me.

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Save for, the sketchy apartments along Concord street, Billerica seems to have a lot to offer.

The sketchiness is not limited to those apartments, many of which are actually condos. My aunt owns one and she cannot sell it right now despite the improving housing market. Anything along either the Concord River or Shawsheen River is sketchy.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

That's just your experience. Your comment states implies that coverage we see about violent crime on the news is due to the demonizing white Boston media, when in fact it is simply due to the crimes that take place there. Property crimes happen everywhere and are not news worthy. "Sketchiness" is purely subjective. I'm not saying Billerica is perfect, but it would be a far cry from the OP's question of the worst areas in the state to live. Most just happen to have a higher than average minority population for MA. I included Athol, a predominantly white town, because it is isolated, has a poor economy, and the schools have much to be desired for the OP with kids.

The OP wrote this: "What are the top 5 areas that you would avoid?" I presume the OP has already looked at the statistics and I simply gave five places where I would not live.

I don't disagree with your choices. I think there was even some overlap between us although you repeated Brockton while I did not repeat any places the OP already indicated. Athol and Billerica sound like they are similar in some respects. Billerica public schools are not highly ranked and would leave much to be desired for the OP with kids. The exception is the Shawsheen Tech which has very strong programs.