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Old 07-28-2015, 10:01 PM
 
3 posts, read 3,516 times
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Hi, everyone!

In a few years I will be graduating school and securing a job as a new doctor.

I'm single and childfree - but I don't want to live in a major city. I would like to live somewhere that is somewhat rural but close enough to a nice city with shopping, salons, pet stores, etc.

I don't know if I want to relocate to Connecticut or Massachusetts but they're both on my list.

Can you guys recommend something in that area?
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Old 07-28-2015, 10:12 PM
 
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What about CT and MA attracts you? Knowing that may help narrow down potential areas.
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Old 07-28-2015, 10:20 PM
 
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The weather primarily and I love how "old" it feels. Practically everywhere you go it's beautiful and green. I absolutely love the beach, but realistically, just getting out of medical school I won't be able to afford some $2M property. I don't even need that much house -- I want more land than anything.

I'm looking a little at Rhode Island as well.

I currently live in Texas and hate it. I mean there are jobs here, the winters are decent, the cost of living is relatively low but it's ugly and hot.
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Old 07-28-2015, 10:41 PM
 
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Land is at a premium in MA (or RI and CT), and most of Eastern MA within an hour of Boston is very congested. Central MA is more rural and affordable, but Worcester is not really a "nice" city. It's not awful, and meets all your other requirements; but it's not a place I'd get excited about coming all the way from TX. The South Coast of MA is also affordable for the state (and near nice beaches), but again the two main cities of Fall River and New Bedford leave a lot to be desired.

Would you consider Southern NH or ME? You might do better near Manchester, Portsmouth or Portland. Still expensive, but less than MA in general. Nicer vibe there imho.
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Old 07-29-2015, 12:57 AM
 
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Yes, I would consider Maine or New Hampshire. It looks like NH is gorgeous in the fall. I kind of prefer Connecticut though if Massachusetts is a bust in terms of affordability. I like that both states are somewhat close to New York City.

Does NH have good restaurants, shopping, and salons? I've never been there.

Last edited by PitBullMomma90; 07-29-2015 at 01:06 AM..
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Old 07-29-2015, 05:46 AM
 
Location: MetroWest Boston
317 posts, read 431,546 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PitBullMomma90 View Post
Yes, I would consider Maine or New Hampshire. It looks like NH is gorgeous in the fall. I kind of prefer Connecticut though if Massachusetts is a bust in terms of affordability. I like that both states are somewhat close to New York City.

Does NH have good restaurants, shopping, and salons? I've never been there.
NH has some 'city-ish' concentrations in:

Manchester (largest city, typical city with nice and not-so-nice parts)

Portsmouth (nice quaint, historic city on the coast - yes NH has coastline - some people have referred to Portsmouth as a mini-boston).

There are other areas, of course, but I am not as familiar with them. These include Keene (western NH, college town), Salem (on MA border on coastal side), Nashua (also on MA border, but more central) and Concord (Capital, further north than NH and smaller).

My knowledge is really limited to the Porstmouth/Seacoast Area, which I would recommend, but I would advise checking out the New Hampshire forum on this website. In general, job opportunity is less (and pays accordingly) than the Boston Metro area, but real estate is relatively cheaper as well.
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Old 07-29-2015, 06:11 AM
 
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There are plenty of Hospitals in Worcester as well as rural towns to the west. Prices are reasonable.
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Old 07-29-2015, 07:29 AM
 
Location: 42°22'55.2"N 71°24'46.8"W
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If you're just finishing up med school then I don't think you have an option to choose where you live. You basically apply to a bunch of hospitals and get placed into one of them for your residency. The majority of my friends were placed in 3rd tier cities far from friends and family. Also as a new resident you'll be working long hours 6-7 days per week. You don't really have an option to live anywhere other than within a 15 min radius from the hospital because you'll have no time for a long commute.
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Old 07-29-2015, 07:54 AM
 
Location: near bears but at least no snakes
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I think a better option would be CT. There are hospitals like Yale New Haven and you could live not in the city but in a nice town not too far away. There are hospitals all over the place but that's the most famous one. There are hospitals in Hartford (not a nice place to live but there are semi rural areas not too far away) and there is Manchester Hospital that I know of, near Hartford.

CT is not centered upon one city like MA is. CT is more evenly spread out and the central area is affordable, has land, and is not that far from beaches. Of course there is the CT shore with some pretty towns and higher prices. Nowhere in CT will you be really close to NYC except if you live in the SW corner of CT called Fairfield Country but that's just as expensive as Boston, very congested, and kind of snobby. But if you live in CT you will be closer to NYC than if you lived in MA or NH.
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Old 07-29-2015, 08:33 AM
 
Location: San Antonio
4,422 posts, read 6,261,700 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PitBullMomma90 View Post
The weather primarily and I love how "old" it feels. Practically everywhere you go it's beautiful and green. I absolutely love the beach, but realistically, just getting out of medical school I won't be able to afford some $2M property. I don't even need that much house -- I want more land than anything.

I'm looking a little at Rhode Island as well.

I currently live in Texas and hate it. I mean there are jobs here, the winters are decent, the cost of living is relatively low but it's ugly and hot.
Before we get too involved, where are you originally from? Have you ever spent a winter in New England? If not, visit in January and get back to us. I actually relocated to TX from MA, and made sure I spent 10 days in TX in late July/early August before moving here. The summers in TX are way easier than NE winters but that's just me.

Getting back to your question, I really feel Central MA, south or east of Worcester would be best. There are lots of opportunities in the medical field in Worcester (and yes, Worcester is actually pretty nice in the north and west side), and there are some great small, crime free towns just outside. If you live just to the east, you can commute easily to Boston if you find a better opportunity there or in Metro West (Framingham) . Providence is also 45 minutes or less away, too.
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