info on Springfield, MA (Boston, Quincy: real estate, high crime, buying a home)

[Woodsey17]

springfield was, at it's highest, ranked as the 9th most dangerous city in the entire nation. simply put, it's a dive. I've been gung-ho for western mass my entire life, and I live in agawam, a 5 minute drive from springfield, and there is nothing really good to say about springfield. The school systems are not good at all (in the neighborhood of 30-40% Highschool graduation rate) and certain surrounding areas are not much better. But, nice towns in western mass include westfield, southwick (little bit smaller, country living), agawam, longmeadow, and ludlow. Just north are northampton, amherst, hadley, and wmass certainly has it's nice areas, but for the most part just has a 'bumpkin' feel to it.

[jusbeinlance8908]

PEOPLE!! stay away from springfield unless u want ur life to go downhill, its plain and simple i have lived here for 9 years and seen crazier things then i saw in new york, new york. people are nuts out here, neighbor hoods are violent and dirty, people are poor and filthy, 1 in 3 people in springfield carry an Sexually transmitted disease wether they kno it or not, and i myself have found needles in the streets of some neighbor hoods especially the hollywood projects.

[WestMass79]

jusbe....you made the same exact post about living in Greenfield for the last 9 years....so either you have a home in each town, or you are just making stuff up.

As for finding needles in Hollywood, of course you did, it's a hole down there. What were you doing hanging out in Hollywood?

Springfield is 40ish square miles. Hollywood is two blocks near Longmeadow. That doesn't make the whole city bad.

I've lived here for years and love Springfield. I wouldn't trade it for the generic overpriced suburbs like westfield, southwick, agawam, longmeadow, or ludlow. If you are looking for a $400,000 tiny ranch house be sure to look up those towns.

[ParadiseValleyTraders]

Hi, I'm thinking of moving to Springfield, and I could use your help. Though its totally subjective as to what are "good" neighborhoods and what are "bad" neighborhoods, I was wondering if you could list for me by zip code which areas to consider, and which to avoid. I know Forest Park is supposed to be nice. But I don't know the names of other neighborhoods or sections of town. And knowing which areas of the city to look at by zip code could really help a lot. Anyone else who has posted about loving living there can answer this too. Thanks!

[curlysue]

Hey i live in springfield there are some good and bad parts and i live in the forest park area and it is a good plays over here u might like it u should give it a try this whole down is crazy but that's because people make it like that right.

[WestMass79]

I don't know the zip codes, but Forest Park, East Forest Park, Sixteen Acres, Atwater Park (part of Liberty Heights) are all very nice suburban-type neighborhoods.

[ParadiseValleyTraders]

Thank you. That gives me something to go on to start with. I have be to able to narrow it down some how. I want to save myself driving around all over the place. I can check with the post office for the zip codes.

[jusbeinlance8908]

westmass i lived in springfield for 9 years and ive lived in greenfield for 9 years now also.. and springfield is much much worse im not saying ALLL of springfield but for as little of a city as it is, its a dump, and very violent and full of crime, hollywood area is nasty an its kinda scary rly but i was only there wit a friend

[poetic4springfield]

It's interesting to read the posts about how horrid Springfield is considering most of the posters do not live here. Many work here and do not mind stealing jobs from Springfield residents or worse, come here to buy their drugs and then escape to their quiet sub-urban homes... hilarious... I moved to Springfield in 1994 and had my home built from the ground up, my neighborhood is extremely beautiful, quiet, (oh yeah) and CRIME FREE... It's funny that after over 10 years, i've yet to see or experience what many of you people speak of in your posts. Maybe I live in the wrong Springfield, because the people I've encountered over the years are friendly, warm, caring,and hard working individuals. Many (including myself) have degrees from prestigious institutions of higher learning and earn incomes much higher than many of the working class trudge who spew the typical unproven rantings on this site.

I've been following this thread for a while now, just to see how far many of you would go, and I'm so disgusted with you bigoted people that I say to hell with you all...

If my city disgusts you that badly, tell your friends and neighbors who work here to resign from their jobs and allot "real" residents an opportunity to succeed economically.

[Noodle]

None of your "island people" wouldn't even know the first thing about doing my job, let alone even work for a living.

Get real. Do you really think I want to work in Springfield? It just happens to be where the outfit I work for is located. Our yard and building get broken into regualrly, the building painted with graffiti, rocks thrown through windows of our vehicles, right in broad daylight. That does Not happen in the suburban town which I live in that you loathe so much.
Springfield has a few decent areas still left, and there are some fine citizens still living here, but for the most part, it's a filthy welfare ridden sh1thole.