Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Massachusetts
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 07-06-2012, 12:33 AM
 
25 posts, read 127,892 times
Reputation: 17

Advertisements

I am in my 20s and will be attending grad school at Springfield College and need to find a place to live within the next few weeks. I still cant decide which area around Springfield would best fit my needs. I would like to live somewhere with similar things I am used to now, such as a college town, lots of retail chain shopping and malls, lots of chain and local restaurants, and entertainment. I do not want to live in an area where theres only one grocery or retail chain store and have to drive 20 minutes to get to the closest civilization. Safety and cleanliness is also important. I don't mind a short 30 min max. commute to Springfield. I have considered Northampton, but due to a possible job in Hartford, CT I would ideally like something closer to both.

I would specifically like descriptions of West Springfield, Easthampton, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Hartford CT since I have not had the opportunity to visit, am pressed for time, and have no idea what these places are like and if they fit for what I am looking for. Also, if there are any areas that I should absolutely not consider, please feel free to let me know. I am open to all suggestions! Thanks in advance!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-06-2012, 02:00 AM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,324 posts, read 26,795,586 times
Reputation: 6920
Not all of the towns fit all of your requirements. For example, if you want a good mall and chain restaurants, look at Enfield, CT. Longmeadow also has a mall.

Westfield has a college and an attractive town green, but I don't think it is a "college town". Westfield also does not have a significant mall. Both Chicopee and Holyoke have run-down downtown areas, but Holyoke has nice residential areas up in the hills.

West Springfield is middle-income residential, it has apartments, but it's a bit worn looking, with local shopping but no significant malls or entertainment. East Longmeadow is a nice residential area, but no apartments to rent, that I can find.

My personal favorite is Easthampton, as it is clean, quiet and safe, with a lot of charm and mom-and-pop restaurants. However, no mall, no college and no chain restaurants.

My best suggestion for you is probably Enfield, Connecticut, as it has newer housing and shopping. I think Hartford is too far to drive regularly to Springfield, but Enfield would put you in closer to the Hartford entertainment and your possible job.

In general, none of the towns you mentioned are out in the boonies. You can drive to college attractions in Amherst or Hartford easily from any of the towns you mentioned. They all have some shopping and some apartments.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-06-2012, 09:04 AM
 
68 posts, read 110,565 times
Reputation: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldenage1 View Post
Not all of the towns fit all of your requirements. For example, if you want a good mall and chain restaurants, look at Enfield, CT. Longmeadow also has a mall.

Westfield has a college and an attractive town green, but I don't think it is a "college town". Westfield also does not have a significant mall. Both Chicopee and Holyoke have run-down downtown areas, but Holyoke has nice residential areas up in the hills.

West Springfield is middle-income residential, it has apartments, but it's a bit worn looking, with local shopping but no significant malls or entertainment. East Longmeadow is a nice residential area, but no apartments to rent, that I can find.

My personal favorite is Easthampton, as it is clean, quiet and safe, with a lot of charm and mom-and-pop restaurants. However, no mall, no college and no chain restaurants.

My best suggestion for you is probably Enfield, Connecticut, as it has newer housing and shopping. I think Hartford is too far to drive regularly to Springfield, but Enfield would put you in closer to the Hartford entertainment and your possible job.

In general, none of the towns you mentioned are out in the boonies. You can drive to college attractions in Amherst or Hartford easily from any of the towns you mentioned. They all have some shopping and some apartments.
Hi Goldenage~You are a long way from home. First of all Longmeadow does not have a mall,it has very little shopping. Holyoke is the big mall in the area,even CT people shop there. West Springfield`s RT5 has tons of shopping a wonderful theater and a 15 screen cinema
The OP should check out Agawam Ma, just north of CT line, 30 min to Hartford,home of six flags. Also Ct is taxed to death on everything. People from CT go to Ma to buy gas,property taxes are very high in CT,and food and clothing in CT is taxed,not so in MA
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-06-2012, 09:34 AM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,324 posts, read 26,795,586 times
Reputation: 6920
Quote:
Originally Posted by makeawish3 View Post
Hi Goldenage~You are a long way from home. First of all Longmeadow does not have a mall,it has very little shopping.
I grew up in West Springfield, and have relatives in Springfield and Northampton, but it's been a couple of years since I've been back.

I was thinking of Eastfield Mall, which has a Springfield address, not Longmeadow. I also realize the Holyoke Mall is good (been there). Holyoke has a few apartments near the mall, which might be worth looking at.

Makeawish3 has some good suggestion, esp Agawam. The OP has been told Springfield is undesirable, however, it's worth looking at the Sixteen Acres and Pine Point areas of Springfield. The Craiglist ads for Springfield which are directed to college students are also probably safe.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Massachusetts
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top