New job in Worcester - recommended towns to commute? (Boston: transplants, co-op)

[495neighbor]

BJ's Wholesale is the answer our Costcoless landscape, for bulk cheap goods. There is one in Northborough, very close to Worcester. And you can find every dollar store chain imaginable peppering the New England landscape, to the lowest end Family Dollar Store to the more expansive Ocean State Job Lots.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

The W Fitness in front of Lowe's/Target? That's closed.

Place had changed names so frequently that I hesitated calling it by anything other than its location, but yeah that place. Didn't realize it closed.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

BJ's Wholesale is the answer our Costcoless landscape, for bulk cheap goods. There is one in Northborough, very close to Worcester. And you can find every dollar store chain imaginable peppering the New England landscape, to the lowest end Family Dollar Store to the more expansive Ocean State Job Lots.

I guess Costco has sort of a cult following, or that it's a notch above BJ's etc. Wouldn't know, never been in one. Also a Sam's Club in Worcester, as another alternative.

[CaseyB]

Costco has devout fans just like Market Basket (LOL). I guess the closest to Worcester might be in West Springfield. There are none in the Worcester area.

[BRG493]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I guess Costco has sort of a cult following, or that it's a notch above BJ's etc. Wouldn't know, never been in one. Also a Sam's Club in Worcester, as another alternative.

That Sam’s Club closed several years ago. It’s just a warehouse now for Internet orders.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Costco has devout fans just like Market Basket (LOL). I guess the closest to Worcester might be in West Springfield. There are none in the Worcester area.

Nashua, just over the MA border. Or Waltham. From a town like Shrewsbury, you're looking at a 40-45 minute commute on a Saturday morning. I will refrain from pointing the specific advantages of shopping at an NH Costco ...

[Lampert]

How far from your workplace are you willing to live?

[H2ohLibrary]

Wow, thanks for all the feedback. I can live with BJs instead of Costco. Budget- between $300,000 and a mill? Time for commute - no more than 30 minutes driving. Is there a shuttle from Union Station (in Worcester?) to UMass Med?

Is there cross country skiing in the winter?

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by H2ohLibrary

Wow, thanks for all the feedback. I can live with BJs instead of Costco. Budget- between $300,000 and a mill?

That'll get you anywhere in Worcester county
You can get the best house in Worcester. You can get a very nice house in Shrewsbury. I'd look at the good parts of Worcester, Shrewsbury, Northborough, Boylston, West Boylston. Those 3 suburbs have the easiest commute to UMass University Campus - Westbound 290 to Main Street Shrewsbury exit is at most 20 minutes - even the worst of days, traffic backup downtown does go that far east.

Time for commute - no more than 30 minutes driving. Is there a shuttle from Union Station (in Worcester?) to UMass Med?

No.
However the main bus terminal is right out the doors of the train station and the WRTA route 15 goes from the terminal straight to UMass University Campus, and take 10 minutes. Runs once an hour though... There was a push to make buses free to ride last fall, but like every bus system there are problems with schedules and stigma.
It's a 2 mile walk.

Is there cross country skiing in the winter?

Quite a bit. The city of Worcester grooms a couple parks for classic and skate. Many other parks don't, but a good back country set of skis serves well.
There was a nice private, groomed park right across the border in NH, but the owner retired this spring
There's really great XC skiing around the white mountains too, 2 hours away.


Also note: he'll probably have to park off campus and shuttle in, that'll add another 10 or so minutes.

[H2ohLibrary]

What about Grafton/N. Grafton?