Worcester versus Santa Cruz, CA

[darkone]

Does the OP have to live in the city of Worcester? Some of the surrounding towns - Northborough, Westborough might be better than the city itself.

The winters are tough in Central Mass. - they will either make or break you ....

Since the OP is a native New Yorker (from the city?), NYC is about a three hour drive from Worcester - if that matters to you at all.

[SatchelPooch]

I grew up in Greater Worcester, moved away, moved back, moved away, and have again moved back. Greater Worcester is a great place to live. The city has its share of problems, like every other major urban area. But, the quality of life in Worcester County is excellent - and it's a big reason we just moved back.

When someone says they are relocating to Worcester, it doesn't mean they are going to buy a house in the city. It's like when people say they are moving to any big city (where the job is), they often live in a nearby suburb.

Worcester's suburbs are great, with low crime rates, excellent schools, and easy access to Worcester and Boston. Holden, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Westboro, Northboro and Grafton are all great places to live.

People who say there's nothing to do in and around Worcester are just too lazy to find it. There are more great restaurants than you can try in a year, great arts and music, lots of natural beauty and outdoor activities, tons of places to take the kids.

[jdinma]

I'm a Norcal native who moved to an eastern-most Village of Worcester co. along the 495 fwy last yr so I'll try and give you some of my warped perspective on the area, take what you want and toss the rest away (read: don't be offended please!)

My family is all in/around the Bay Area, my parents live off Summit/17 ('White Collar Hillbillies' they call themselves) and I have lived everywhere from Boulder Creek, SF, Oakland, LA and other places in Norcal in between :-)

Worcester IMHO is like Oakland. I lived off Piedmont Ave, a great little st w/lots of coffee shops next to the Oakland hills, Berkeley, etc. and I loved it. Allot of Oakland is poor, blighted, crowded and crime ridden. They have been trying to rejuvenate downtown Oakland for yrs and there are a few great places, Lakeshore, etc. but the gangs move in and have turf wars.

Worcester has some 'gems' of a neighborhood to the North and East that are very nice suburban places to raise kids but not allot of cultural diversity (Holden comes to mind), but mostly its the same in the city of Worcester: poor, crowded, blighted and crime ridden. The roads in town are crowded and in poor cond (like most of the BA). Just drive around (during the day) the downtown area and you'll see what I mean.

The closest you'll get to that free spirited sort of mindset beach town w/diversity is P-town or Provincetown. It's a cross between SF's Castro and Capitola with pretty beaches all around and pretty pricey real estate too. It's about a 3 hr drive from Worcester.

Out side of Boston's Metro Area- it's Norman Rockwell land with over-emphasis on raising kids in the best school districts your money can buy is what you'll find once you leave the 'inner circle' (the 128 fwy belt) my friend. Tradeoff: You'll get the beautiful scenery, LOTS of land to grow 'them apples', less traffic, fresh air and all 4 seasons of it out here in the sticks. But you'll be hard pressed to find a Whole Foods, a cafe with an organic selection on the menu or quality used book store within 20 miles of each other.

I don't mean to sound so pessimistic but just thought you should know what you're in for. We love it out here because we have a big yard (almost an acre), and we're starting a family soon so it suits our needs. I hope to move within 30 mins of Boston eventually when we can afford it. Good luck and let me know if you want anymore of my 'warped perspective' by em me.