Looking for a new spot to live! (Westfield, Amherst: private schools, college)

[frostheaves]

Hi - I'm interested in finding a nice place to live around the western MA area. My wife works in westfield, and I'm looking for a job anywhere from hartford to northampton, but right now hartford looks like the place I'll end up.

So far we've lived in Burlington, VT and Humboldt County, CA (Arcata). Both are very "progressive" towns. We really want a place with a sense of community. I'd love to be able to ride my bike to a whole foods or other type of organic-ish market. I'm very interested in getting to know people in a community, etc. We also would like a place with a good school system for our (now 11 week old) son, but we've got a while before that becomes a serious concern, and there's always private schools. Honestly, we're looking for a place along the lines of a burlington, or an ithaca NY. Northampton/Amherst are nice, but we'd like to find a town that isn't completely college dominated. We're also interested in CT, around the MA/CT border.

Thanks!

[LeavingMA]

I've been through Southwick a few times and it is quiet beautiful with a rural feel to it. It is located right next to Westfield and right on the MA/CT border.

[goldenage1]

[quote=frostheaves;786597]Hi - I'm interested in finding a nice place to live around the western MA area. My wife works in westfield, and I'm looking for a job anywhere from hartford to northampton, but right now hartford looks like the place I'll end up.

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Granby Connecticut is nice, and it's about half-way between Westfield and Hartford. It's flat enough to ride a bike and has some interesting shopping. The disadvange is being fairly close to Bradley Airport.

Naomi