Worcester (Boston, Shrewsbury, Reading: crime rates, homes, neighborhoods)

[freyfamily68]

Hi, Looking to move to worcester, I have noticed the crime rates seem very high? Any advice from people living in the area to help out a newbie? I am relocating due to work from NY, but lived out West for a long time. Any advice on local towns without a long commute to UMASS Memorial?

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I used to live in the area, try out Shrewsbury, its almost right around the corner off route 9...I personally would not want to live in Worcester...

I lived in Worcester but later moved out to Shrewsbury and it was alot nicer...

[MAtoNC!]

East of Worcester! Think resale value. Towns with good schools and considered commuting distance to Boston -- Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westborough

[bluewatergirl]

Originally Posted by freyfamily68

Hi, Looking to move to worcester, I have noticed the crime rates seem very high? Any advice from people living in the area to help out a newbie? I am relocating due to work from NY, but lived out West for a long time. Any advice on local towns without a long commute to UMASS Memorial?

Hi, freyfamily

I was born and grew up in Worcester, left for a while and then
came back to be close to family, and begin raising my own family.

Worcester has a great art museum, beautiful parks, gems like
Mechanics Hall. As a college town, I think it has a lot to offer
the younger, single crowd. There are many beautiful old homes,
some nice and very nice neighborhoods, but I have seen the
poor areas get poorer over the years and IMO the public school
system, in a word, sucks.
There are some very good private schools in the city, though.
There is crime, but I don't know that it's any worse than
other urban areas in MA.

Reading between the lines of your post, you are a medical
professional?
Do you plan to be in the area for a while?
Are you looking to buy?
Do you have children?

I know Worcester well, and would be happy to answer any
more specific questions you might have - feel free to ask or
PM me.

bwg

[scarletfire]

There are some very pretty neighborhoods off Salisbury Street and Flagg Rd in Worcester, some even with reasonably priced homes. However, if schools are a concern and you don't want to deal with private schools I'd definately check out Shrewsbury, or if it's not too far for you for work Westborough or Southboro. Holden is nice too.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I really loved Holden but back when I lived there the prices were very high there...but that has been some time ago.

Every once in awhile when we were in a store or something, someone would make a crank call and ask them to call out for someone in the store..

Dick Hurtz from Holden...it was hysterical

[jmfikucki]

I have lived here all my life and have 2 children in elementry school. I cant tell you how badly we want to leave. It is not a good place to raise kids and worcester many years ago had things to offer like nice parks but it has all gone down hill. There are 2 good neighborhoods in Worcester and they arent all that nice. I agree look on the outside of the city there are many towns around here that offer a lot more than Worcester does.

[Woodsey17]

I would recommend living outside worcester as it's not that nice of a place to live. As with all places there are it's 'nice areas' but unless you settle into one of those, life isn't that peachy. shrewsbury is a very nice alternative, and it's a straight shot down rte. 9 to umass

[scarletfire]

Berlin is also very nice. It's a small, quiet town - only about 3,000 people with a real country feel - apple orchards and so forth. Easy access to Rt 290. I think you could get to UMASS in less than 20 minutes taking backroads.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

Wow, I can't believe Berlin is still that small, we used to go there when I was young to what I think was a hardware/lumberyard kind of thing...LONG before the days of Home Depot and Lowes...