Good Western Mass towns?

[carolinajack]

lenox, great barrington, deerfield, Northhampton and amherst

[ontheroad]

I lived in Williamsburg, about 13 miles from Northampton and commuted to NYC with some frequency--not too bad on the highway(s).

If you take a look at an earlier post, I believe I posted some towns that are smaller but within an easy drive to both Amherst and Northampton (like Haydenville, North Hadley, North Deerfield, Cummington and others.

Originally Posted by wayno

Howdy:

My wife and I have been evaluating a move from the Boston area to western MA (I grew up in Granville). We like the Berkshires, but the overall economic conditions seem pretty poor. Adams and N. Adams appear to be improving, but they are quite remote. Northampton and Amherst are nice communities withall the influences of colleges and universities. Even though they may be "expensive", compared to the Boston area they're downright reasonable! My job requires lots of driving with customers in the Boston, NY, NJ, and eastern PA areas. We like the smaller communities, access to outdoor activities, and the lower cost of living, but we still like access to some "energetic" downtowns.

Does anyone have suggestions? Anyone made a similar move recently?

[tao777]

Hello-
I grew up in the Berkshires and returned a few years ago (I'm in my 30's, an artist, and now in Eastern Mass.)

I would stay away from Pittsfield, living or doing business. It just doesn't have a very good rep., and I did not see any improvements or any money going into it- although admittedly there are some nice homes -you just have to know in what parts. Talk to a realtor. The prices are better there too than its southern neighbors.

I lived in Lenox, and Great Barrington, spent alot of time in Stockbridge. It can get pretty snooty, both the locals/long-timers, and the out-of-staters. You've got your NYers with alot of money and high expectations (Great Barrington caters...so do some Lenox restaurants and boutiques, both in Lenox Square -it's like mini-NY), and then the people who live and work there. Business is seasonal -absolutely gorgeous in the summer.

If I'd stayed, I would've looked into towns closer to the Conn. border; very picturesque and I dare say relatively undiscovered. Prices can vary dramatically, and winters would be pretty isolating. If you visit, be sure to factor that in.

I'd be happy to answer more detailed questions, just email me.
Best of luck-

[jimmyjames]

unless you are a school teacher, hospital employee, or social servies employee, where can you work in western mass? are there even jobs in north adams, lee, pittsfiled, or sturbridge? if you insist on living in western mass, look at northampton or amherst.

[ontheroad]

I think you are probably right, jimmyjames. When I lived in Williamsburg, I worked in the tri-county area and traveled to Springfield, Northampton and Holyoke each day; and occasionally to Franklin County.

And yes I worked in social services, and even then, jobs were tight in this field.

However, I do think some of the towns and communities do have job opportunities. Here's a map of Western Massachusetts:

http://www.springfieldmrf.org/mrf2/Western_Massax.html

Originally Posted by jimmyjames

unless you are a school teacher, hospital employee, or social servies employee, where can you work in western mass? are there even jobs in north adams, lee, pittsfiled, or sturbridge? if you insist on living in western mass, look at northampton or amherst.

[wpotsie]

Sturbridge is not western Mass!!!! It is in Worcester County in CENTRAL Mass!!!!

[winnie]

I thought everything west of Worcester was "western MA"
Kind of like how everything north of the tappan zee in NY is "upstate"

[wpotsie]

Originally Posted by winnie

I thought everything west of Worcester was "western MA"
Kind of like how everything north of the tappan zee in NY is "upstate"

Anything in 413 is considered Western Mass. Area code 508 is central Mass. It sounds like you are from eastern Mass OR from out of state. Just wanted to point that out...

[Noodle]

I vote for western Mass. seceding from Eastern Mass. Then all you easteners can pay for your own big dig fiasco. Leave my pie alone.