Western Mass/Springfield- good towns/neighborhoods?? (Agawam, Ludlow: rent, low crime, house)

[Misskika007]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to relocate to the Springfield/Western Mass area and would like some info on "good" (family friendly, low crime, clean) neighborhoods to buy in. We're budgeting at most $200,000 and would like to be no more than 30 minutes away from WNEC. Thanks to anyone with info!

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by Misskika007

Hello everyone,

I am looking to relocate to the Springfield/Western Mass area and would like some info on "good" (family friendly, low crime, clean) neighborhoods to buy in. We're budgeting at most $200,000 and would like to be no more than 30 minutes away from WNEC. Thanks to anyone with info!

OK - I'll start the ball rolling with East Longmeadow and the nicer parts of Enfield, CT.

[njmovetoma]

We just move to Belchertown in April from NJ and love it. We are about 25-30min from Springfield.

[furbee01]

I lived in Belchertown for 18 years. I moved to another part of the state in 1998. I have lost track of people I knew. Can anyone give me an update on the Belchertown Police Dept. and Fire Dept.?

[KH02]

Agawam, Feeding Hills, East Longmeadow.... or like PP said Enfield, CT too!

[WestMass79]

City of Homes | Choose Springfield, Massachusetts

[Xenos]

I say this to everybody, and the collective is probably sick of hearing it, but rent first. The property price boom did not kick in around here until 2004. An extra couple years of renting may wind up with you getting a much better property.

[mamom1]

If you are trying to stay near WNEC then I would go with East Longmeadow, Wilbraham(though they might be a bit above your budget), Ludlow are all nice towns. Stay away from Springfield. I lived there for 6 years and got out as soon as I could. It was ok at one time but is going downhill fast.

[njmovetoma]

I live in Belchertown and I think the Fire department is a paid dept. and they also accept vol. too. Both police and fire have gotten a new fire truck (its huge) and the police have new cruisers too.

[mommytotwo]

Belchertown is beautiful, clean, somewhat rural, excellent schools if you have children, low crime, probably on the cusp of your 30 limit (try it out at your commute time--better to look in the southern part of Belchertown closer to the mass pike) but you could certainly get something in the 200K price range.
I like East longmeadow but it's proximity to springfield (and a bad section of springfield, at that) makes it a bit less desirable to me. (sorry to those of you in east longmeadow--including my brother--LOL)
Regarding Springfield, I'll say this, you could buy a nice house for 200K in springfield, that is for sure, and you can still find nice areas there. I am from springfield and I would never put my kids in school there. Unless for some disastrous reason I had to, that is. That being said, my cousins three kids are in school there, and they are actually better readers (kindergarten and first grade) than my son (a belchertown student) Springfield schools have also gone to uniforms this year.
my other brother lives in Agawam and he likes it.
Wilbraham is nice too, but maybe expensive.