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Old 04-06-2007, 08:36 PM
 
2 posts, read 6,118 times
Reputation: 10

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I just accepted a position at a company in North Andover, and I have next to no experience with the East Coast. I'm looking for a good place to live that's fairly urban, young, hip, artsy, etc. but I would like to keep my commute under 45 minutes. I have about $1300/month tops for rent, and I dont mind living in a closet.
I was looking at the Somerville area, but I've heard nothing but terrible things about driving around Boston. Is the commute out of the city painful? How long would that drive take?
I was wondering what towns north of Boston would suit me that would be closer to work.
Are there any grittier towns or areas of Boston? I've been living in Detroit for quite a while and moving to Stepford might be a bit too much of a culture shock for me.

Thanks for your help!

Amy
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Old 04-06-2007, 08:56 PM
 
Location: Mass.
345 posts, read 1,533,559 times
Reputation: 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by detroitdesigner View Post
I just accepted a position at a company in North Andover, and I have next to no experience with the East Coast. I'm looking for a good place to live that's fairly urban, young, hip, artsy, etc. but I would like to keep my commute under 45 minutes. I have about $1300/month tops for rent, and I dont mind living in a closet.
I was looking at the Somerville area, but I've heard nothing but terrible things about driving around Boston. Is the commute out of the city painful? How long would that drive take?
I was wondering what towns north of Boston would suit me that would be closer to work.
Are there any grittier towns or areas of Boston? I've been living in Detroit for quite a while and moving to Stepford might be a bit too much of a culture shock for me.

Thanks for your help!

Amy
you may not get any replies after making fun of "stepford"..... if you want help you might want to start by being nice....
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Old 04-06-2007, 09:11 PM
 
2 posts, read 6,118 times
Reputation: 10
Its all in jest, yes? I have no ill feelings towards East Coasters. The internet isn't the best for conveying wit and sarcasm. I'll take any crack about Detroit in stride. I'm sure you have one.

Best regards.
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Old 04-06-2007, 10:03 PM
 
Location: Boston
137 posts, read 977,819 times
Reputation: 68
The whole point of Stepford is satire, so why be offended if someone makes fun of it?
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Old 04-06-2007, 10:37 PM
 
Location: Mass.
345 posts, read 1,533,559 times
Reputation: 135
okay, here goes.... why not consider andover??? they do have a downtown area (sorry, i may be thinking of north andover...) i had to drive through the town a lot last year (Phillips Academy)...anyway just an idea!! Not to stepfordie!!
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Old 04-07-2007, 05:40 AM
 
Location: Massachusetts & Hilton Head, SC
9,136 posts, read 14,191,219 times
Reputation: 7581
You could look into Lowell, which is about 15 miles away. Lowell is an older mill city but it's being revitalized. I'm sure you could find something in your price range.
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Old 04-07-2007, 03:22 PM
 
124 posts, read 880,510 times
Reputation: 78
Lowell might be good. It does have something of a drug and crime problem, but honestly, there are a lot of areas that are "up and coming" and getting a lot better, and if you're coming from the Detroit area, I think you'd feel fine there. It is affordable, so in the past few years, more single 20-somethings have been living there.

Somerville for a single person is fine. I woldn't live there with families -- some of the areas are kind of seedy, and the schools are not good -- but again, a single person doesn't have to worry so much about that. Check out Watertown, too. That would be about 45 minutes.
And though driving in Boston is not fun, if you're coming from Somerville or Watertown, you'd be going the opposite way of traffic, so you ought to be fine.

You'd get the most for your money in Lowell, I bet, then Somerville. All three -- but especially Lowell and Somerville -- would probably be the least culture shock for you. :-)
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Old 04-07-2007, 04:21 PM
 
2 posts, read 6,410 times
Reputation: 11
Salem would be right up your alley. I think it has a lot of what you are looking for. its also a pretty straight shot up 114 to Andover.
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Old 04-09-2007, 02:28 PM
 
Location: Newburyport, MA
14 posts, read 68,349 times
Reputation: 16
Stepford Wives was filmed in New Cannan, CT, so ....

Newburyport is a pretty town. It doesn't have a huge nightlife, but it has the sea and a vibrant downtown and plenty of beaches! It has trains to Boston and near major highways 95, 495, Rt1, and 1A. I moved here 2 years ago. North Andover might be 30 minutes commute, but there will be no traffic snarls like there would be in Boston. ( ie, sometimes a 10 minute commute can turn into 30 minutes...ugghh... )
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Old 04-09-2007, 03:07 PM
 
Location: Tolland County- Northeastern CT
4,462 posts, read 7,398,161 times
Reputation: 1237
Yeah 'Stepford' takes place allegedly down along the gold coast of Connecticut and jazzy Fairfield county- actually there is no town of that name.
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