Where should I go? (Boston, Leominster: for rent, sex offenders, houses)

[Samsoncat]

Single mom ISO of good areas to live in that have good schools and the rents are not $

I traveled QUITE far and visted WM, although very pretty it appears to cater to the collage kiddos thus making the rents high.

Any ideas on where (other than $$ Boston) would be family oriented, access to good medical care, I have one who will be entering high school and the other 5th grade?

Oh and being near a Kennedy wouldn't be so bad either

[skytrekker]

Folks on the Mass forum

lets help Samsoncat- she visited New England and western Mass last month all the way from the 'Last Frontier'.

I suggest Adams & North Adam's Mass- not so many College Kids. How About Athol, Gardner, Leominster, & Fitchburg.....

Also out of Mass- in and around Bangor Maine.

[brightdoglover]

I wouldn't want my kids in Athol for anything, or in the schools in Athol or Fitchburg. Likely not Gardner.
I don't remember what the OP needs for employment- that could color things a lot.
But I'd stay away from Athol/Orange. Terrible social statistics (sex offenders, substance abuse, halfway houses, etc.)

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I wouldn't want my kids in Athol for anything, or in the schools in Athol or Fitchburg. Likely not Gardner.
I don't remember what the OP needs for employment- that could color things a lot.
But I'd stay away from Athol/Orange. Terrible social statistics (sex offenders, substance abuse, halfway houses, etc.)

Thanks for the advice

however lets make some suggestions for the OP. I believe the OP is not seeking FT employment.

[Samsoncat]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Thanks for the advice

however lets make some suggestions for the OP. I believe the OP is not seeking FT employment.

Thank you Sky

Everyone, what I stated in my op is where my needs are.

[leorah]

Boston.com has community snapshots and you can search them for school quality and home price. Massachusetts Town Information- MA Community data - Boston.com.

[Samsoncat]

Thought I would elaborate abit more based on what I learned from my trip.

I would like to pay a MAX of $800 @ month for rent, 3 bd would be nice however I can make do with a large 2 bd. it MUST be a ground floor entry meaning no stairs to climb to enter the unit... stairs inside the unit however are fine such as bedrooms are upstairs.

Gas heating vs oil, wood, coal, electric... I cannot afford the latter.
Living in a suberb is ideal vs a crowded city or far off in the country (rural) because I have a full size truck that gets 11 miles to the gallon
we also have 2 beloved cats and I do not smoke... anything lol

A funny thing, when we were flying back I got to chatting with one of the flight attendents, I told here where I had come from and how far I had flown with my 2 kids. when I told her I liked MA she replied 'isn't that a little blue blood overthere?'. LOL I told her that I am originally from Santa Barbara, CA and I can handle it

[willdufauve]

Why don't you tell us where you've been in western Mass, what you saw, liked or didn't like. It's a little bit of a waste of time to be pulling the names of towns out of a hat for you when you're not giving very much input. Give us your critique of the areas you visited, how long you were there, etc.

As far as a combination of low rents and good schools, good luck. Cheap housing usually, in general, means crummy schools. A top of $800/month means subsidized housing, not market rate.