Most underrated cities/ Towns in Massachusetts (Boston, Worcester: construction, live, price)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I would also agree with places like Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, Mattapoisett, Marion, etc. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I don't hate that they're fairly undiscovered either.

I hesitated to include Marion and Mattapoisett because they have always been wealthy towns (while in a very low key way), and it's not like they've ever really been lumped in with FR/NB. Certainly a little off the radar compared with the Cape though, in a way more like far N Shore towns such as Topsfield, Rowley, etc. Keep them the way they are, please.

Now Fairhaven, that's a waay underrated gem. Even places like Swansea and Somerset have some beautiful spots.

Another disadvantage FR has over NB (or most places) is its DT. Talking about a huge urban renewal disaster. While the waterfront has potential, I just can't ever imagine DT being reclaimed.

[sparklingforest]

Beverly and Danvers

[thenewtexan]

Southeastern MA - Agree the South Coast towns of Westport, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, etc. --- overshadowed by the Cape.

Northeastern MA - Lynnfield --- Beautiful, quiet, affluent town that gets overlooked because of the name similarity of a neighboring city.

Central MA - Upton --- Nice quiet town, great location and schools but gets overshadowed by the larger Metro West towns like Westboro, Hopkinton, etc.

Western MA - Wilbraham --- Just as affluent and safe (if not safer) as Longmeadow, but never gets any recognition.

[Shorty458]

A lot of the towns/cities in Western Mass... well except Springfield! Western MA is often overlooked. When I tell people that I grew up in MA, everyone always assumes the Boston area. However, I grew up in E.Longmeadow.

[independent man]

Touisett area of Swansea. Seaview Avenue along Coles River & Mt Hope Bay is a private, preserved seaside location. Lots of shingle sided houses maintained as they were when built. Right out of Coastal Living magazine!

[independent man]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I hesitated to include Marion and Mattapoisett because they have always been wealthy towns (while in a very low key way), and it's not like they've ever really been lumped in with FR/NB. Certainly a little off the radar compared with the Cape though, in a way more like far N Shore towns such as Topsfield, Rowley, etc. Keep them the way they are, please.

Now Fairhaven, that's a waay underrated gem. Even places like Swansea and Somerset have some beautiful spots.

Another disadvantage FR has over NB (or most places) is its DT. Talking about a huge urban renewal disaster. While the waterfront has potential, I just can't ever imagine DT being reclaimed.

Swansea has the picturesque Touisett neighborhood. It's a hidden gem. Seaview Avenue, which runs along the bay, is one of the most beautiful roads in Massachusetts.

[btownboss4]

I think under-rated and under-publicized are being a little mixed up
Small Towns like Somerset, Blackstone, etc don't have an undeserved bad Reputation, because they really don't have a statewide image. No one really unfairly puts down those towns.
Not saying Small Towns are not fair game, Orange, North Adams, Greenfield, Amesbury etc all have reputations state wide
Underrated and unknown are different.

[independent man]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

I think under-rated and under-publicized are being a little mixed up
Small Towns like Somerset, Blackstone, etc don't have an undeserved bad Reputation, because they really don't have a statewide image. No one really unfairly puts down those towns.
Not saying Small Towns are not fair game, Orange, North Adams, Greenfield, Amesbury etc all have reputations state wide
Underrated and unknown are different.

While Underrated and Unknown are different, an Unknown town can be Underrated. However, it would be hard for an Underrated town with a poor public image to be Unknown. The media runs with bad publicity.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

I think under-rated and under-publicized are being a little mixed up
Small Towns like Somerset, Blackstone, etc don't have an undeserved bad Reputation, because they really don't have a statewide image. No one really unfairly puts down those towns.
Not saying Small Towns are not fair game, Orange, North Adams, Greenfield, Amesbury etc all have reputations state wide
Underrated and unknown are different.

Blackstone!!!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

I think under-rated and under-publicized are being a little mixed up
Small Towns like Somerset, Blackstone, etc don't have an undeserved bad Reputation, because they really don't have a statewide image. No one really unfairly puts down those towns.
Not saying Small Towns are not fair game, Orange, North Adams, Greenfield, Amesbury etc all have reputations state wide
Underrated and unknown are different.

Somerset gets lumped in with its neighbor Fall River and being home to the power plant. True that; but it also has both beautiful neighborhoods with amazing views, and a character and uniqueness that your typical Rte. 128/Boston Magazine prize winning/5 threads a day on C-D about/overpriced Boston suburb can only dream of. It doesn't even get the love seen by the Framinghams and the Roslindales for cripes sake!

I think that's a pretty good example of a town that's under-rated.