Working in Worcester: Live in Framingham or Worcester? (Millbury, Uxbridge: house, movies)

[Taffee72]

The shorter your commute, the happier you'll be! I now have a 3 second commute to work (bed to computer on my desk). Can't imagine anymore spending hours driving or riding the dreadful Worcester commuter rail.

[bizcuit]

I agree with all of the above and will add this:

Are you looking to buy or rent? If you want to start off renting (which is really the best plan), try it out and see how you like it. After a year or so, you may decide that you really would prefer to be in Framingham (probably not, but it could happen). You may want to stay in Worcester, but you may find that you prefer a different part of the city. Either way, renting will give you the flexibility to change your mind as you get to know the area more.

Good luck with your new job and your move!

[johngolf]

Sometime back I drove for Prov. RI to Worcester or Rte 46. It was a bit rural but some pretty scenery. Towns along the road deserve to be looked at. Might not have the night life of the Framingham area though.

[Lampert]

You mean 146? There is nothing resembling a city in MA along 146. There is 0 nightlife, like 0.

[RLCMA]

It appears there are some really nice apartments in Worcester, especially lofts. Any recommendations for nice apartment complexes in Worcester?

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by RLCMA

It appears there are some really nice apartments in Worcester, especially lofts. Any recommendations for nice apartment complexes in Worcester?

I'm doubtful you'll get many meaningful recommendations on complexes, however, if you note the ones you're considering myself and a handful of other Worcester-centric posters can provide inputs on the advantages and disadvantages of a given area.

IMO, the Canal St. Lofts, Courthouse Lofts, and to a lesser degree the Voke Lofts are in areas which are walkable to some of Worcester's better bars/restaurants. I have no idea what the apartments look like or how good management is, but from purely a location standpoint I would target the Canal Lofts. This places you close to both the Water/Harding St. restaurant and bar scene (e.g., Lock 50, Bocados, Birch Tree, the OG Hotel Vernon) and the backend of Shrewsbury St. which has some great options too (e.g., Volturnos, Wormtown, Via, RIP Simjang ... you are missed). You can Uber to north Main in short order to hit places like Deadhorse Hill or Armsby Abbey.

I am projected a bit here as Covid still has a number of these places closed and who knows whether they'll survive another 6+ months.

[RLCMA]

Here are the places on my list:

Junction Shop Lofts
Courthouse Lofts
Quinn35
Madison Place Shrewsbury
The Brookside
The Lofts at Loomworks
Voke Lofts
Kelley Square Lofts

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by RLCMA

Madison Place Shrewsbury

While nice, be wary of living anywhere in Shrewsbury on rte 9. To go west, you've got to go west and make a U turn. It's a pain in the but.

You can also look at all the grid properties downtown Worcester. Parking kinda sucks and $$$

501 Plantation are worth a look too.

Worcester is much more a rent a floor of a triple decker for the owner kinda town rather than a whole bunch of complexes.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by Lampert

You mean 146? There is nothing resembling a city in MA along 146. There is 0 nightlife, like 0.

146 ends at Millbury St on the edge of the canal district, but...

You mean you don't want booming nightlife like a dive bar in Uxbridge, a chinese restaurant in Millbury, or the Walmart in Norhbridge?
Elm Draught House is surviving though! They aren't showing movies, but they are partnering with restaurants to do takeout.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

Worcester is much more a rent a floor of a triple decker for the owner kinda town rather than a whole bunch of complexes.

Thing is, aside for the WPI student heavy streets off Highland, none of those multi-fams are in 'desirable' areas. Very doubtful OP wants to be living south of Highland or Vernon Hill ... hard pass.

Quinn35 is nice and living next to a Wholefoods is not a bad perk ... bar within isn't bad either. However, you are paying premium for the Shrewsbury School District access and the immediate area is super commercialized and rather congested.