lowell (Boston, Cambridge, Chelmsford: low income, fit in, loft)

[pinarello]

I've been checking on this site a few times a week for the past few months. My family and I are moving to the Boston area very soon from Ann Arbor, MI. We have two teenage sons. My husband moved a few months ago to begin his new job located in Burlington, MA. Most people are aware that the economy in MI (and neither of us work for the auto industry) has been hard hit, so while we feel fortunate to have sold our home, times and money is tight. Here are the areas we're looking:

• Chelmsford (including North Chelmsford)
• Lowell
• Reading
• Andover
• Wakefield
• Melrose
• Stoneham

When we began looking our list was much different than it is now. Andover, which has a very nice downtown, is likely just too, well, too much. Ann Arbor is a college town, but I'm afraid we just wouldn't fit in very well in Andover. The areas we're leaning towards are Chelmsford and Reading. There is a huge part of both my husband and I however that are really into Lowell. That's the reason for this posting and my request for feedback.

This is some of what I hear about Lowell:

• Gangs
• Horrible high school
• Dump
• Cesspool
• Amazing ethnicity
• Very diverse high school with a great AP program
• Terrific restaurants and funky shops
• Some neighborhoods are awesome (Belvedere, etc.)
• Lowell is turning itself around and the high crime rate, etc. are due to a large immigrant population and/or lower income families struggling.

I don't have a problem with a multi-cultural area. In fact, one of the drawbacks in the towns we've been looking in is the lack of diversity. Certainly, MI is pretty 'white', but we live in a college town and have enjoyed the diversity that that offer. My sons have often been the 'minority' in their classrooms (white and blonde) and we have all come to really put a value on that. We don't mind funky, we don't mind hanging with people of many different social/financial backgrounds. In fact, we prefer it!

So, the question I'm putting out is about Lowell. Let's hear it.

Thanks in Advance

[brightdoglover]

You seem to have a pretty good read on the towns you list. I think Lowell has a lot going for it, many of the things you listed, and crime/gang problems are nothing like I read about in, say, Arizona. However, I do think the schools could be an issue. I don't know much about schools (no kids) but no one moves to Lowell for the schools.
If you chose N. Chelmsford, you'd have easy access to all the urbanity of Lowell (and it's plenty) and not a tough drive to Boston/Cambridge, and would be living in a more family-suited community.
Whatever you choose, congratulations on pulling through the sad economic times in Michigan, and welcome to Massachusetts!

[jbub22]

I live outside of Lowell. Lowell is not the hood. Lowell looks bad because the surrounding areas are great places to see and live while Lowell is ok. I have been to many places and Lowell is not that bad. I would not live there because I had choices. If I did not have choices I would not have any problem living there. Even though, I do agree with your list because I do see those elements. Just make sure to shop smartly and more importantly stay within your budget. Welcome to the area!

[pinarello]

Thanks for your responses. Reinforcement is always good. If anybody else has anything to add, don't hold back!

Peace

[Urban Peasant]

Lowell is not at all the worst place in the world. The downtown is very hip with several interesting museums, parks, and canals to see and restaurants and shops to sample. I had a former co-worker who grew up in Lowell and actually still lives there. She once told me that the bad neighborhoods of Lowell are some of the parts further away from the downtown. Yes, there is still crime in the city though not the worst in Massachusetts and it is still pretty low income but that is usually the trade-off for diversity. I suggest driving around the city and observe the different neighborhoods when you have the chance.

The schools in Lowell are arguably not the best in Mass and at the very most not spectacular but I had a former student here in Boston that moved to Lowell and later told me that he found Lowell High School more academically challenging than the schools here in Boston. That said, the Boston Public district schools are among the worst so there is probably no comparison but you are better off sending your children to private school or moving to a suburb or exurb with high quality schools if that suits you.

[BGF]

Go Blue! I lived in Ann Arbor for 2 years while attending grad school at Michigan, and I now live in downtown Lowell. Let's just say that Lowell has all the interesting feel of downtown Ann Arbor but with a bit more of an artistic feel and a bit more of a hoody edge to it. There is an artistic feel because the artists are attracted to the large and cheap loft spaces around town, and the result shows because there are a lot of interesting art galleries downtown. It's got a hoody edge to it because some of the surrounding neighborhoods are poor.

I'm single, so I don't have the same concerns as you do about public schools. I'm here because it's walking distance to the restaurants, cafes, events, and concerts. The noise can get bad sometimes, but then again, if I were living right above a restaurant on the corner of State and North University, I'd be listening to the same kind of noise.

[batgirl77]

My husband I just moved to a lovely neightborhood in the Christian Hill area of Lowell about a year ago. We don't have children, so I don't know much about the schools, however our neighborhood and surrounding area is great! It's a very family friendly neighborhood and I feel perfectly safe there, have no problem walking around at any time of day. I had all of the same concerns you have mentioned going into it, but after looking at a million homes, we finally found everything that we were looking for in our price range in Lowell, so we went for it and have not regretted it one bit.Good luck with your search and welcome to MA!