North Adams vs Williamstown (Pittsfield, Great Barrington: middle-class, employment, neighborhoods)

[lawmom]

If you were to choose between the two towns, which would you choose and why? (We have 2 kids, DH's employment is all set, and I would wing it.)

What I see as the pros of Williamstown are the schools compared to NA, and I imagine less crime?

What I see as the pros of NA are the lower housing costs and the lack of the "snob" factor that I perceived some in Williamstown. I'm not a soccer mom and while DH and I are well-educated professionals, we are both laid-back and pretty true to our middle-class roots.

[Xenos]

Williamstown definitely rubs some people the wrong way. There can be a clubby atmosphere that can grate on some people. That said, NA is not a middle class town.

Will you be practicing law out there? I gave some thought to opening a practice there once, but decided against it.

[lawmom]

I would open up part-time practice, doing just Social Security disability, at least until I take the Mass. bar exam.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by lawmom

I would open up part-time practice, doing just Social Security disability, at least until I take the Mass. bar exam.

Try just over the line in Vt,....Bennington or go the other way and look at Pittsfield or Great Barrington.

[lawmom]

Is Pittsfield ok? I read about as many bad things about it as NA.

DH's work would be in NA, as a point of reference. Great Barrington sounds nice -- how long of a commute would it be, though?

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by lawmom

Is Pittsfield ok? I read about as many bad things about it as NA.

DH's work would be in NA, as a point of reference. Great Barrington sounds nice -- how long of a commute would it be, though?

Going straight up rt7 I'd say around 25-30mins.As for Pittsfield it is turning around quite nicely,it does have some bad(well, just not nice) spots but I'd say in general it's becoming the Jewel of the Berkshires again.Then there is always Lenox and New Lenox,Lenox may be a bit high but there are things you can find.

[kaday]

Southeast Pittsfield is very nice. The schools aren't so great with the exception of Williams elementary. I'd do private school after that or try and get your kids into Lenox through school choice. There are some nice neighborhoods out that way (neighborhoods off Holmes Road) with many school age kids.


The town is definitely coming back with lots of arts, restaurants (try Elizabeths...weird location but great food). I think in a few years it will be quite a town again.

Miss Hall's School (private boarding) in Pittsfield offers scholarships to local highschool girls.