Town in Massachusetts You’d Least Like To Live In? (Boston: renting, motel)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Which is my point that you can find an ok place to live in any town in Massachusetts. The caveats being you have to be able to afford the best location in town and you aren’t forced to use the public school system.

If I had to use the public school system, I’d put Holyoke at the bottom. Without kids, west of I-91 on the golf course looking up at Mount Tom with the mall right there, Northampton a 10 minute drive, and West Springfield/Springfield close would be just fine.

So what would be your least favorite town to live in, if you had no kids?

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Hm.

I briefly lived in Ware back in the 80s because the rent was cheaper there than renting in the town where I worked the time. Even then it and Palmer seemed forlorn and forgotten. There are some mill towns where thing are happening and there's a bigger population (Lowell, for example, or North Adams) which makes it more attractive to a potential resident. Ware, Palmer, and other similar cities don't fit that ilk for a number of reasons. Ware's biggest issue, as somebody already mentioned, is geographical, aka out in the middle of nowhere, MA. When I lived there you HAD to plan taking the drive to the nearest largest city to do your shopping, and that drive was at least 45 minutes to an hour one way. I had to drive more than an hour to the uni where I was taking evening classes. I suspect it's still the same today. For some people this might not mean anything. For others like myself who don't particularly like driving, it can be agony.

I wouldn't want to live in the more rural parts of the state. Too far from what I call civilization. I like my creature comforts like a nearby supermarket and services. I also like having nearby neighbors. I'm a city kid, lol.

[OutdoorLover]

Lawrence, Springfield, Fitchburg, Lynn

[johngolf]

I certainly do not know all the towns I would not like to live in, but Burlington and Wakefield (more so) do not belong on any least favorable list.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by Atomicdoug

I tend to remember the towns I LIKE, as opposed to the ones I don't like. With that said, the ones listed below left enough of an impression on me, that I remember them as areas I felt were seedy or just not town's I'd want to live in due to demographics, crime etc

Springfield
Palmer
Ware
Fitchburg
Clinton
Fall River
Bellingham
Burlington
Wakefield

Confused by the last three. Seedy isn't what comes to mind.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Blackstone would be one of my least favorite towns to live in. It just feels like it is full of dark secrets. It isn't close enough to Providence, Worcester or Boston to be within any of those metros. It doesn't really have any vibrant exurban or suburban towns nearby either. Nor does it have the mountains or a great beach.

But for having Lowell close-by with some arts and dining scene, Tewksbury would be a close second for similar reasons.

It's basically just a small suburb nestled about 30 minutes to Worcester, 20 to Providence and about the same to Metro West. No mountains or beaches in Blackstone lol. It's really quiet, has low crime, and average schools. It works for a lot of people. It certainly wouldn't be close to my "Don't Move" list.

[davebarnes]

Weston.
I grew up in Wayland.

[Japanfan1986]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Weston.
I grew up in Wayland.

It could have a higher crime rate than people think. The twist is it’s white collar criminals, specifically the kind of white collar criminals smart enough to not get caught

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by massnative71

So what would be your least favorite town to live in, if you had no kids?

I’d pick somewhere with no amenities. Grocery stores and restaurants 30 minutes away and you’re pushed to the dollar store. Cell phone doesn’t work. Most of the town doesn’t have broadband. An hour drive to find a medical specialist. People were pointing at Florida. I’ve driven Route 2 many times but don’t know the town. Somewhere like that.

[FarmCoastLocal]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Am I the only one here who likes the South Coast? Fall River area is actually quite nice outside the run down part in the city.

It's a fairly well kept secret that the SouthCoast is the best place to live in MA if you find a decent job near by. There are some old crabby patty's on this forum that deride it but ask so many young folks in real life how they like it and you'll find lots of people love it.

We have the beaches of CapeCod, minus the sharks. Access to two cities. Abundant nature, and overflowing and diverse culture, thriving art community, and ridiculously convenient for everything. Half hour from TF green which is getting upgraded to an international airport. Traffic is rarely ever bad. Houses are much morr affordable than other Boston Suburbs.

Any negative aspects of the SoCo have kept it reasonably priced for middle class families. Once the Boston crowd starts realizing what they got in thier own state (probably when the rail project finishes up) they are going to start descending down in droves, and that will up the cost of living, but hopefully you would have bought before then and can ride the wave.