Nashua, NH/ MA Area… possible relocation… (Dracut: apartments, to rent, condos)

[scarletfire]

Re: your earlier question about renting with a dog, it's tough but not impossible. You'll have better luck with an owner of a single-family home than in a large complex.

Also, re: same-gender issues, I think you'll find MA more welcoming than NH. I've been up there plenty canvassing for Obama (and in 04 for Kerry) and it never fails to surprise me just how different the vibe is there. Plus you can legally marry here! :-) Of course home prices are much lower in NH and there are certainly some places there that are really beautiful (not that they don't have their share of ugly strip malls -- they seem to be cropping up a lot of up there).

ps. Where in CA are you moving from? My husband went to UCSD, and then we did a stint in Santa Cruz, then over near Los Gatos.

[VlyRoadKid]

I know this may be impractical, but, with your concerns about the legal aspects of your marriage, Mass is definitely the place to stay! As for some of the towns you listed, I'd keep a WIDE berth from places like Lowell or especially Lawrence. They're not only grungy, but very conservative. I used to work there.

One place you MIGHT like is Newburyport, about a 35-45 minute ride to Nashua. It's a trendy, quaint town on the coast (which might remind you a bit of where you used to live--but don't expect the ocean water to ever warm up!!). Though the housing costs are high there, some surrounding towns, like Amesbury, or to the south, Boxford, Topsfield, are really nice. You're closer to Boston and its more liberal scene, but without the traffic and high prices!

Another option is Fitchburg, a college town, though it's not that pretty---but you'd get a more open atmosphere.

I would tell you to move to W. Mass (which is intensely open-minded, e.g., Northampton), but that's quite far from Nashua! Could you "tele-commute"? One of my friends has been doing that for years now (he works in Boston for the State Dept. of Employment, but lives in one of the Hilltowns out here).

Anway, good luck!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by VlyRoadKid

One place you MIGHT like is Newburyport, about a 35-45 minute ride to Nashua. It's a trendy, quaint town on the coast (which might remind you a bit of where you used to live--but don't expect the ocean water to ever warm up!!). Though the housing costs are high there, some surrounding towns, like Amesbury, or to the south, Boxford, Topsfield, are really nice. You're closer to Boston and its more liberal scene, but without the traffic and high prices!

Newburyport is a good place but is a bit far from Nashua. I think even 45 mins is too optimistic. More like an hour, particularly at rush hour. Boxford and Topsfield are among the most politically conservative towns in Eastern Mass. and are also fairly expensive. Pretty rural too.

Fitchburg also about 45 mins + on back roads, and not the most happening of places.

[mcj79]

Thanks for the Info., we will check out the areas you have all listed. We would like to stay within 20-40 ish minutes to her work and be within 5-25 minutes of fun stuff to do & places to go. So, many of the places you have listed might work. Keep the ideas coming... thanks!

[brightdoglover]

I'd skip Fitchburg, for every reason. Just because there's a college doesn't mean open-minded or anything else, plus there's a large Latino/Puerto Rican? population and this is not exactly welcoming.
There are some 50 colleges and universities in the Boston metro area. Except for the rundown failed mill towns mentioned, I think most anyplace would be fine.
I say this as a Caucasian hetero feminist who lives alone and can't stand kids and has multiple dogs, so I am a tad odd to the locals.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I'd skip Fitchburg, for every reason.

Correct, but look at the surrounding cities/towns. Leominster, Lunenburg, Ashburnham, Townsend, Ashby are all worth considering. I used to live in Leominster. Well run, safe city and a good mix of business and residential, although with middle of the road schools. Leominster isn't like some towns that are only bedroom communities and you can't even buy groceries without driving 10 miles. You have a small mall and plenty of other business, so you never have to leave town unless you want to.

[scarletfire]

Andover, MA seems like the nicest town that's fairly close to the NH border. I work there & it's a lovely town with excellent schools and commuter rail access into Boston. (This is a suburb but would give you an easy commute to Nashua & within an hour of Boston drive or train ride for weekend trips). Perhaps Westford might be another good option. Perhaps someone local to Westford could chime in on that.

[mcj79]

Thanks, for the info. I think Leominster/Ashburnham/Ashby area are a little to far for us they are like 50+ minutes drive on Google maps. Townsend is closer but it looks like smaller high ways that concerns me a little in the winter. I've been checking out homes in Chelmford, North Chelmford, Billerica, North Billerica, Burlington, Tyngsboro, nutting lake -no luck finding anything in nutting lake yet, Westford, Bedford. All of these seem to be within 30 minutes of Nausha, NH per Google Maps anyway. We either want a classic older (almost historical type) New England home with updates or a newer build (last 10 years) in these areas. Any feed back on these towns/cities/areas????
Areas that might be interesting but are pushing over 30 minutes Wodburn, Andover, Lexington, Arlington, Wilmington. Some of them seem to be a little more expensive and we would probably go more urban in some of these areas. I have gotten a lot of feed back about Arlington/Lexington and a bit about Andover. Any other info?
Thanks.

[Valerie C]

Hi mcj... I must have missed your earlier post. I live 10 miles east of Nashus, 10 miles south of Manchester and 10 miles north of Salem. Maybe I can help a little... The first thing I want to say is that it's really hard to find a rental that will accept pets. Some will allow for cats, but very rarely dogs. It's an unfortunate fact that many renters just let their pets destroy property that isn't theirs... When I moved out to the St Louis area some years back, we had an awful time finding a rental that would allow my dogs (2 German Shepherds) I offered one landlord an extra month of security deposit, and supplied him with letters from my vet, copies of their obedience certificates and Canine Good Citizen awards, and sent video showing how well trained they were, etc. I was VERY lucky, but moving without BOTH dogs was simply not an option...

[mcj79]

So, thanks for all the impute about how hard it is to rent with dogs. I get that it is hard yet not completely impossible as I have found some listing that will allow it. Our other back up might be to consider a boarding house for a few weeks. Either not bring both of our dogs in not a option so unless you can give me some constructive (ie places to look) feed back on the subject, please hold your thoughts.
Any constructive feed back on the area cities would be welcome.
thanks