Best affordable artsy towns/cities to live in ~ the Berkshires? (Worcester: section 8, apartments)

[time for change again]

Hi all,

(Sorry for the cross post…) I'm moving my family (5 daughters & my mom) from SoCal and I'm having trouble finding affordable housing. I currently have a preference for MA (over NY or CT) partially because I went to college there, parially because MA feels somewhat more like my vibe than CT, and eventhough I am a native NYer, I moved away long ago… (and the property taxes in the Hudson Valley are insane…)

I'm looking for a somewhat spacious area, trees, but not too far from town. I need lots of house (5+ BR, 2+bath), on the outskirts of town where there are woods and fields and such.

I have been looking at the Berkshire corridor from North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield area (including Dalton, Otis, Lenox, Lee, etc.), down to Great Barrington and Sheffield… I don't mind a 15 min drive to town, 30 might be pushing it… but unavoidable.

I've read about people who either love or hate the folks who come up for the summer… I don't know. I think I'd be ok living in a town year-round which attracts the city sophisticates during summer months… I'm willing to find out!

Any and all help would be appreciated!
TFCA

[timberline742]

Renting? Where are you working? Budget? Need more info.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by time for change again

I'm looking for a somewhat spacious area, trees, but not too far from town. I need lots of house (5+ BR, 2+bath), on the outskirts of town where there are woods and fields and such.

Pittsfield and North Adams have some older tenement-style housing. But, without knowing your budget, it's impossible to know where on the acceptable-to-affordable spectrum you would be. Most of the decent, larger houses will be expensive, and the affordable places will be run-down.

The best prospect I saw on Craiglist was in West Brookfield, (Franklin County north of Amherst Massachusetts). It was $2550/month. Anything cheaper was section 8 places in Springfield. Another prospect was on Realtor.com in Clifton Park, NY at $2750/month.

I also sent you a DM about a Realtor.

[ftgrfr]

I would be looking at Pittsfield, east of South St. (not North St.), at some of the big old victorians in the area. Pittsfield property taxes and home prices are generally lower than other Berkshire County towns. There is a good local art scene. Third Thursday festival, first Friday art walks, Barington Stage (first class theatre) in town, in town Beacon Cinema on North St., museum, library, high school, and more. All within walking distance.

[tovarisch]

FYI -- West Brookfield is significantly EAST of Amherst and is in WORCESTER County. Not close to the Berkshires at all.

[goldenage1]

To the OP - I saw from other posts that you were looking to buy at under $220K. In that case, I would second the recommendation of Pittsfield. These places may be configured as 2 or 3 family apartments, but you can definitely find 5-7 bedrooms.

There is enough of a culture scene that I would consider retiring there.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by tovarisch

FYI -- West Brookfield is significantly EAST of Amherst and is in WORCESTER County. Not close to the Berkshires at all.

Sorry, I was assuming the OP wanted to rent. In that case, rentals are scarce, and many people rent seasonally. After I realized she wanted to buy, there are many options available in the Berkshires. See my prior post.