Massachusetts or New Hampshire? From the midwest... (Worcester, Medford: renters, car insurance)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

Marlborough also looks nothing like Boston or the inner suburbs if you haven't been out here. It's very suburban. I joke with my friends that this is where all of Massachusetts' big box stores and Applebees live.

Disagree there, the downtown area is quite urban relative to anything nearby. The other boros' are far more "suburban" in my eyes. Not really a lot of big box stores there for that size town. There is the mall, Target and some smaller stuff on Rte. 20. Beyond that??? Is there even an Applebees in Marlborough? I recall one in Hudson.

Originally Posted by charolastra00

Car insurance is cheaper than other parts of Mass, but I pay almost double what my parents pay for 2 newer SUVs in Georgia for a several-year-old Prius (with no accident history).

Never heard of insurance being that much cheaper there than elsewhere in the state save for inside 128. I lived in a neighboring town and paid <$400/yr for basic coverage.

[ECPCVC]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Disagree there, the downtown area is quite urban relative to anything nearby. The other boros' are far more "suburban" in my eyes. Not really a lot of big box stores there for that size town. There is the mall, Target and some smaller stuff on Rte. 20. Beyond that??? Is there even an Applebees in Marlborough? I recall one in Hudson.

The Apex Center has tons of chains and is massive.

[Louisville Slugger]

If you like bike riding there's a nice paved trail that goes from Marlborough to Hudson. It's a little over 10 miles round trip.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by ECPCVC

The Apex Center has tons of chains and is massive.

It's good sized, but no real big box stuff there. Mostly restaurants, bowling alley, entertainment type stuff.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Disagree there, the downtown area is quite urban relative to anything nearby. The other boros' are far more "suburban" in my eyes. Not really a lot of big box stores there for that size town. There is the mall, Target and some smaller stuff on Rte. 20. Beyond that??? Is there even an Applebees in Marlborough? I recall one in Hudson.

It's a joke, but I'm thinking the Apex Center area. And not just Marlborough, but the whole 495 belt. Most of my friends live way inside of 95 and, until I moved to Marlborough, I rarely ventured out this way.



It's only been in the last few months that downtown has gotten anything worth going to downtown for - the two new breweries. There's a few restaurants, but I wouldn't call it urban by any stretch of the imagination. Hudson downtown reflects the investment the town has put into it more than Marlborough, though Marlborough has potential.

Never heard of insurance being that much cheaper there than elsewhere in the state save for inside 128. I lived in a neighboring town and paid <$400/yr for basic coverage.

I cut my car insurance in half when I moved from Medford to Marlborough. I still pay over $1000 a year.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

I cut my car insurance in half when I moved from Medford to Marlborough. I still pay over $1000 a year.

I cut $1K off my car insurance premium as well when I moved from Revere to outside 128.

[panchilly]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

Marlborough is the outer burbs, but it's still gotten pricey. It's cheap for the region (which is why I moved here), but probably mind-boggling for someone from Oklahoma. I pay $1500 a month in an apartment complex with a small gym and heat/hot water included, and feel like that's a pretty good deal. I could have gone cheaper, but the quality of housing dramatically drops off from there.

Marlborough also looks nothing like Boston or the inner suburbs if you haven't been out here. It's very suburban. I joke with my friends that this is where all of Massachusetts' big box stores and Applebees live.

I agree with others - I'd stick near Marlborough itself. Driving from NH makes no sense - any tax benefit would be lost to commute time and cost. T

A few things to keep in mind with budgeting: electricity costs are fairly high in Marlborough. Not sure why - I pay more on my 1 bedroom with just me than my entire 3 bedroom with 2 roommates plus their partners visiting frequently when I lived 20 miles away. In the year I've lived here, I don't think I've paid less than $100 a month, even in winter when I don't have the AC going. Car insurance is cheaper than other parts of Mass, but I pay almost double what my parents pay for 2 newer SUVs in Georgia for a several-year-old Prius (with no accident history). You would do well to find an apartment that covers heat/hot water - the first few years I lived here after college, paying for oil every few months (they come and fill up the tank) really threw my finances!

Why are you renting out in Marlborough? Why not buy since prices are low.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by panchilly

Why are you renting out in Marlborough? Why not buy since prices are low.

Not a good idea for them to buy when they've never been to the area, and one of them has no idea where he'll be working.

[panchilly]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Not a good idea for them to buy when they've never been to the area, and one of them has no idea where he'll be working.

Scroll up, i wasn't talking to the OP i was talking to the fellow who is spending 1500/month on rent in Marlborough.

[chicagoliz]

I'd rent a place in Marlborough for a year, so you can live and work in Marlborough and you can really learn the area to see what you like. Also it will be better once you know where your boyfriend will be working.

Hard for me to say what sort of premium you'd need to move here. How badly do you really want to stay in northern OK? It will certainly be a change. I think MA is one of the best states in the country to live, although it certainly has its drawbacks. It is expensive and the weather is not the best. Spring is nonexistent, although Summer is usually pretty nice. There is a lot of traffic. But, there is a lot here in terms of employment opportunities and education. Lots of different places to visit easily, and lots of accessibility to other parts of the east coast. Quite a bit of good food. A lot going on in general.