Gardner, MA??? (Boston, Worcester, Leominster: low income, neighborhoods, best school)

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Worcester is the second largest city in New England, after Boston. The crime rate is pretty bad but not as bad as Springfield.

I do think, I read Springfield, and Bridgeport CT were also on the bad list

I think maybe if you have a job in Gardner, stay there? Anyway, I only went to get the puppy?

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by risa1230

Hi, I've recently applied for a position at a community college in Gardner, MA. Does anyone know anything about this area? From what I could find out its about an 1 1/2 outside of boston and 45 min from Worcester. Whats the city like? Is it diverse? Is it possible to commute from Worcester to Gardner? I'm from CA so I know next to nothing about MA! Thanks for you help! =)

No what if you wish to teach in a community college, and what safe, check out Cape Cod Community College? However, if you work in Gardner, I would live there.

[champkind]

I live in a small town, Phillipston, which is next to another small town, Templeton, which is right next to Gardner.

There's all small towns in this area of North Central Mass, of which Gardner is probably the "Big Town".


Not alot like Worcester, but more city like than any of the little towns surrounding it.

If you're looking for a city type enviornment, go with Worcester.

I've lived here most of my life, but I was born is SoCal...Torrance actually, & I've been out there a bunch of times to visit family between Lakewood & Norwalk.

Worcester might be more what you're comfortable with as far as activity & population &, for lack of a better word, congestion.

Gardner will seem like a VERY small town to you compared to what I've seen in SoCal.

I don't know where in California you are, though, but I never saw a town in SoCal even remotley resembling the towns up here.

Here in Phillipston, only a stones' throw away from Gardner, it's practically the Waltons come to life....seriously.

We have no sidewalks, no traffic lights, no downtown, but a Common that circles the local church, Town Hall & Grade School.

No town water or trash pick up...we have wells.

Of course, on the other side of Gardner, you're moving towards Worcester, so you're talking about access to bigger places like Leominster & Fitchburg, but that's a drive.

The traffic is slow up here, too, as Route 2 is the main highway up here, & it's only 2 lanes....1 lane when you get past Phillipston heading towards Greenfield...but that's not pertinent to you, as it's past Gardner going away from Worcester.

2 lane highway...what's that sound like for a California native?

Anyway, I digress.

Big City enviornment...Worcester. Crime is worse there, too, but that would only make sense.

Small City enviornment...Gardner. I feel better & safer pointing you in that direction, as I want to look out for a fellow Californian.

Up here, you have to do some driving to get anywhere anyway, so unless you're going out into a city every night looking for something to do, I'd say Gardner.

If you're looking for something to do every night, Worcester, but be careful.

[risa1230]

Thanks for everyone's advice! I definetly have a better idea of Gardner and Worcester. And it doesnt seem like the commute from Gardner to Worcester will be too bad. But, I'm really open to either one. My only concern is commuting in the snow. Im fro So.Cali so when it rains here we panic! And I don't drive that well in the rain either =) But, I guess I'll get used to winter driving. Thanks again!

[smarty]

Originally Posted by risa1230

Thanks for everyone's advice! I definetly have a better idea of Gardner and Worcester. And it doesnt seem like the commute from Gardner to Worcester will be too bad. But, I'm really open to either one. My only concern is commuting in the snow. Im fro So.Cali so when it rains here we panic! And I don't drive that well in the rain either =) But, I guess I'll get used to winter driving. Thanks again!

Don't worry. Most people here do not know how to drive either. Join the crowd. You'll fit right in You will also find people here are more aggressive when it comes to driving.

Rotary (A New England special) instead of lights or 4 way stop signs. My rules of getting into a rotary is stop, close my eyes, count to 3 and step on the gas.

[Hatless Wonder]

Okay, I'm not a native (as I was reminded many, many times), but I lived in Gardner for 10 years.

Gardner has about 25,000 people, and it's the biggest town in the area. Most of the surrounding towns are villages, and some have dirt roads. Gardner has the local hospital, Wal*Mart, post office, and a big second-run movie theatre. Fitchburg and Leominster (15 miles down Route 2) have malls and commuter rail stops. Boston is a 90-minute train ride away.

The population is very white, with lots of elderly French Canadians. The tallest building in town is an elderly housing project. There were huge protests when the cable station took CKSH (a French-language station out of Sherbrooke PQ) out of the cable lineup. They really hold it against you if you weren't born there. I didn't attend the public schools (Mom was very religious), but they seemed pretty good. There's not much crime.

Depending on where you live, Gardner can be very walkable. There's some public transportation, but it's used mostly by the elderly. You can get a bus to Fitchburg and Leominster.

[Hatless Wonder]

Is it diverse? Is it possible to commute from Worcester to Gardner?

Worcester is a 30-40 minute drive from Gardner. The commute can be tricky in the winter (Worcester isn't very good about plowing), but fine otherwise.

[champkind]

If you're nervous about driving in bad weather, I'd recommend living in Gardner even more.

Worcester will be a nightmare to drive in when there's snow.

[smarty]

Worcester sits on a bunch of hills. If you look at the temperature map of MA, Worcester is often a few degrees cooler.

[jmfikucki]

worcester is not nice at all!!!!!!!!!!!! in fact its scary and keeps going downward FAST gardner is ok not much to do i think you'll miss ca