Fitchburg/Leominster? (Boston, Worcester, Springfield: real estate, houses, middle schools)

[exileinsc]

Hi,

I am looking for general information about Fitchburg/Leominster - cost of living, general impression, real estate costs, etc.

In exchange, if intertested, I can give similiar information about the Upstate area (Greenville/Spartanburg) in South Carolina.

[jandrew]

Life here is great. The place is nestled in a bit of a valley, it's affordable, well situated to highways that take you to mountains and the sea, diversely populated and and most important; people smile, say hello and genuinely care.

It is a well run municipality with lots of shopping, restaurants and access to recreation and cultural options.

Call it home and you are likely to be real happy.

Sincerely,

JAndrew

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by exileinsc

Hi,

I am looking for general information about Fitchburg/Leominster - cost of living, general impression, real estate costs, etc.

In exchange, if intertested, I can give similiar information about the Upstate area (Greenville/Spartanburg) in South Carolina.

The population of Leominster is roughly 42,000 people and Fitchburg is about 40,000. Both are older industrial type towns that have tried to convert to other industries. Both are quite hilly, especially Fitchburg. Leominster was once known as "the plastics capital". Out of the two Leominster is nicer and more expensive to live in, but still reasonable for this area of Central Massachusetts. Without traffic you can be in Boston in about 50 minutes. Leominster also has better access to highways and the major routes than Fitchburg. Both towns are located about 20 minutes from the New Hampshire border. You can be in the mountains in an hour or two, the beach in about an hour, and Boston, Nashua, NH, Worcester, MA, and Providence, RI in about an hour or less.

Fitchburg has some serious drug problems in pocket ares (find my a town without drug issues though), Leominster isn't as bad. General rule for Fitchburg is the further away from downtown the better and nicer it is. The school system is pretty good. Many will look at their scores and say the school system isn't as good as many surrounding towns, but the school is also a lot bigger and you have a lot more students. I went to Leominster High School and had some excellent teachers (not sure if they are still there though).

Right now a median house in Leominster will run about $260,000 and Fitchburg is about $220,000. Cost of living is a little high, but not as high as when you get closer to Boston.

[brightdoglover]

Leominster is by far the safer, nicer area. Fitchburg is more of a failing city, Leominster is more suburban. I lived in Leominster for eight months on a main road, and got tired of low-riders blasting through town.
Dunno about schools. I'd assume that Leominster is much better. I just don't see or hear much good about Fitchburg in any sense except that in the few nicer areas, houses are cheaper.

[Tangelous]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

The population of Leominster is roughly 42,000 people and Fitchburg is about 40,000. Both are older industrial type towns that have tried to convert to other industries. Both are quite hilly, especially Fitchburg. Leominster was once known as "the plastics capital". Out of the two Leominster is nicer and more expensive to live in, but still reasonable for this area of Central Massachusetts. Without traffic you can be in Boston in about 50 minutes. Leominster also has better access to highways and the major routes than Fitchburg. Both towns are located about 20 minutes from the New Hampshire border. You can be in the mountains in an hour or two, the beach in about an hour, and Boston, Nashua, NH, Worcester, MA, and Providence, RI in about an hour or less.

Fitchburg has some serious drug problems in pocket ares (find my a town without drug issues though), Leominster isn't as bad. General rule for Fitchburg is the further away from downtown the better and nicer it is. The school system is pretty good. Many will look at their scores and say the school system isn't as good as many surrounding towns, but the school is also a lot bigger and you have a lot more students. I went to Leominster High School and had some excellent teachers (not sure if they are still there though).

Right now a median house in Leominster will run about $260,000 and Fitchburg is about $220,000. Cost of living is a little high, but not as high as when you get closer to Boston.

This person is pretty accurate! Leominster is the better bet hands down! Fitchburg is cheaper because it has more problems. It's a struggling city. Leominster has a better mayor, takes care of its city issues, just re-built the library, built more middle schools, going to re-vamp the high school, a lot of industrialization (big name stores coming to town: Target, super Wal-mart, Lowes, Best Buy, Cold stone creamery...etc). There is just a better quality of life there. Schools are good! I graduated HS and went to a great Private university in CT with a good scholarship! My family has been there for over 20 years and we have never had any major issues besides kids playing pranks. LOL
Mostly mischievious boredom. LOL. Stupid stuff like ringing your doorbell and running, blasting music in their cars, someone took an angel figurine from my mom's hallway. Stupid things! There is no murder though! That's better than you can say for Worcester or Boston!

Plus, you are in the center of Mass so you are an hour from everything!
An hour from boston, an hour from Springfield, an hour from Providence, RI, 35 mins from Keene NH, 1 hour from Nashua, NH, 25 mins from Worcester, 20 mins from Skiiing at Mount Wachusett, 2 hours from Hartford. It's not bad at all! It's definitely worth the look! I love how Leominster still maintains it's small town parades, town meetings, festivals, and stuff.
It's a place for adults/families, but not a great place for "the single life."
Depending on which field you work in, you should be able to get a good job within a 30 mins or less commute.