[brattpowered]

Greenfield, Mass?

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Check out Granby and Belchertown--nice rural towns right next to Westover. Save yourself the long drive. Wilbraham is good too. South Hadley is a little more built up, more suburban--the Center is beautiful and the Falls only OK. Amherst (over the mountain from S H and Granby) has top schools and very academic/liberal/progressive atmosphere with two colleges and the state university but a really fun downtown for you and the kids. Longmeadow, MA is the most "northshore" like town in the area, not as wealthy as Winnetka but... Northampton has the best scene in the area--shops, cafes, performing arts, movies--all in a cozy walking atmosphere. A larger Brattleboro, although without the great Brattleboro food coop!

Awesome recommendations. Lovely area.

I can't see hauling from Bratt to Springfield on a daily basis. Especially when winter rolls around and you have to start dealing with snow and ice.

The traffic gets a little thick on I-91 around the Northampton exits during commute hours.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by chicagonick

Hi All -

We (my wife and 4 sons) are relocating from Chicago in the next 90 days. I have secured employment at Westover A.F.B. in Springfield, MA. Does anyone make the commute from Brattleboro to Springfield? Does that seem crazy? I drive at least 1 hour each way in Chicago, so 1 hour doesn't seem to bad from VT to MA - any suggestions on better places along that corridor?

Thanks -

Nick

I used to commute from Chicago to Wheaton IL and Geneva IL. One of the things I appreciate about living here is not having the long commute. Time in a car (or train) is a waste of time that could be spent with the family.

What exactly are you looking for in a town? I apologize that I haven't read
all the posts but why Brattleboro? Northampton could fit the bill. Very liberal if that is your thing.


I agree about the snow too.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by flu189

The Berkshires can be just as scenic and rural as areas in Vt.

Couldn't agree more and I'm headed there tomorrow (Lenox) for a birthday weekend. Love the Berkshires, and to me it has more of the New England feel
than most towns in VT. When people tell me they're looking for typical New England towns I send them to CT, MA and RI. Vermont has a few towns that people would equate with New England, but for the most part we have a lot of mountain towns and relatively few village green/mainstreet type places
compared to southern NE. Southern NE has more stereotypical New England architecture too, saltboxes, cedar shingle etc.

[westernmass101]

Originally Posted by chicagonick

Hi All -

We (my wife and 4 sons) are relocating from Chicago in the next 90 days. I have secured employment at Westover A.F.B. in Springfield, MA. Does anyone make the commute from Brattleboro to Springfield? Does that seem crazy? I drive at least 1 hour each way in Chicago, so 1 hour doesn't seem to bad from VT to MA - any suggestions on better places along that corridor?

Thanks -

First things first. Westover AFB is in Chicopee, MA not Springfield. As for the commuting part it's fairly easy to commute in the region. I know someone who actually commutes from VT to Chicopee and they said it's only an hour. If you lived in Northern CT, its about a 90 minute drive from Springfield to Bradley International Airport (Windsor, CT).

Other optional areas to live in MA: Chicopee, MA fairly cheap to live in (taxes, etc...), really high quality of education, it's safe and comfortable living. Amherst (home to UMASS) is a 45 minute drive from Chicopee to there.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by westernmass101

First things first. Westover AFB is in Chicopee, MA not Springfield. As for the commuting part it's fairly easy to commute in the region. I know someone who actually commutes from VT to Chicopee and they said it's only an hour. If you lived in Northern CT, its about a 90 minute drive from Springfield to Bradley International Airport (Windsor, CT).

Other optional areas to live in MA: Chicopee, MA fairly cheap to live in (taxes, etc...), really high quality of education, it's safe and comfortable living. Amherst (home to UMASS) is a 45 minute drive from Chicopee to there.

90 minutes from Springfield, MA to Bradley (which is between Hartford and Springfield), did you mean from Bratt to Bradley? Or something else?

[atlaw]

mass is not good. stupid taxes , stupid car inspection, stupid gun laws, stupid health insurance laws. rude people stay away