Moving help!! Great Barrington vs Lenox vs Pittsfield (Adams, Williamstown: house, theater)

[new chapter]

I am relocating from NY for a job in Lee. I have looked at properties in Great Barrington, Lenox and Pittsfield and would like to know which town would be best for my son who is in 8th grade. He plays sports (football and basketball). Apart from a good school, I want a town that he will feel welcomed.

[semiurbanite]

Lee itself is pretty nice and more affordable than Lenox or GB. Lee is also less touristy other than the shopping outlets. Lenox is the highest income town and therefore has the highest rated schools. GB has the most action - restaurants, live music, theaters etc but is dominated by tourism much of the year. Pittsfield has seen better days and has not been as successful at leveraging the tourism industry, feels rough around the edges but the most afforable. All of those towns have different feels, I would go spend a weekend driving around to get a feel for things.

[Tightlines]

Good points. Lee, Great Barrington, Lenox all fill in with the same demographics, with Lee a bit more affordable. Plus Alice's Restaurant. More to do in GB, a bit further south, so really depends on where you will work. GB and Lenox were generally "better" schools.

Pittsfield is mixed these days. The school systems are still good, though St Joe is now closed (Private Catholic HS). Some very nice areas, along the lakes, south side of town. They are really trying invigorate the downtown again, arts, restaurants and business, though still struggling. It will never regain its glory when Pittsfield was one of the key GE hubs and threw off a lot of benefits for the town.

Sports wise, GB was often a bit better than the smaller schools of lee and lenox. Pittsfield has two high schools and very competitive. Although, the "best" sports teams are often North County - Adams, Williamstown, Dalton. The three towns always seem to be in the state tournament in Football and Basketball.

Lee, GB and Lenox were not impacted as much, while Lenox and GB benefit heavily from the tourist, second home trade (NYC in particular). Lee is nice, more laid back, middle class. GB and Lenox do get impacted during the summer by the Tanglewood traffic.

What outside work activities interest you? If more outdoors, northern realms are better, given access to Greylock, vermont, Jiminy Peak (Year round now).

Good luck - its a great area!

[G1..]

Originally Posted by new chapter

I am relocating from NY for a job in Lee. I have looked at properties in Great Barrington, Lenox and Pittsfield and would like to know which town would be best for my son who is in 8th grade. He plays sports (football and basketball). Apart from a good school, I want a town that he will feel welcomed.

I kinda like GB,Monument Mountain High school is pretty nice and Lee is pretty close. Lenox and Stockbridge can get very high money wise and crowed with tourist.One correction from the other poster Alice's Resturant is in Stockbridge just down from the Red Lion Inn.This might help with the house search.

http://www.massrealty.com/