Comparison between Worcester and Lowell, MA (Boston, Lawrence: rental, condos, homes)

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Prov>Worc>>Lowell

Providence has no jobs though and is usually out of the discussion. Its the most fun, but least practical in today's market. Say a big thanks to RI's wonderful corrupt state govt.


But anywho...

Lowell>The Woo

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Where actually is the job?

I was also a little confused, Worcester and Lowell are not *too* far apart for a job somewhere between them on the 495 beltway, but throw in Providence and you're really all over the place - Providence, RI is not close to the other two. If the OP is thinking of commuting from any of these 3 cities to the same job (maybe Marlborough?), then he/she should be aware that the Boston metro region has heavy traffic!

[WestieWhitie]

It will be interesting to see what happens to all the less desirable nearby cities once Wu’s feel-good housing policies trigger mass renovation and condoing of existing section 8 rentals in Boston…

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Providence, RI is not close to the other two. If the OP is thinking of commuting from any of these 3 cities to the same job (maybe Marlborough?), then he/she should be aware that the Boston metro region has heavy traffic!

Worcester to PVD isn't too bad to north providence. It can be done in 45 minutes to Mineral Springs rd or Branch rd. BUT if you've got to get downtown PVD? Good luck!

It's about 45 minutes from Worcester to UML too.

But, yeah, to a job in Marlborough/Hudson/Littleton, Providence would be out of the question (unless you are in your 20s and from RI)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Providence has no jobs though and is usually out of the discussion. Its the most fun, but least practical in today's market. Say a big thanks to RI's wonderful corrupt state govt.


But anywho...

Lowell>The Woo

but who actually likes Worcester more than Providence? Providence is a bigger more energetic and notable city with more of that big city feel/offerings. Just cooler. And it feels more connected to Boston.

Is your ranking actually Lowell>Worcester >Prov?? that's left field

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I was also a little confused, Worcester and Lowell are not *too* far apart for a job somewhere between them on the 495 beltway, but throw in Providence and you're really all over the place - Providence, RI is not close to the other two. If the OP is thinking of commuting from any of these 3 cities to the same job (maybe Marlborough?), then he/she should be aware that the Boston metro region has heavy traffic!

Providence is closer to Worcester than Lowell is.

Prov-Woo

Woo-Lowell

its not a tough trip on 146 at all.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

but who actually likes Worcester more than Providence? Providence is a bigger more energetic and notable city with more of that big city feel/offerings. Just cooler. And it feels more connected to Boston.

Is your ranking actually Lowell>Worcester >Prov?? that's left field

No the ranking is Lowell>Woo ... omit PVD. There are like no jobs available in PVD.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

No the ranking is Lowell>Woo ... omit PVD. There are like no jobs available in PVD.

Yep. If you telecommute and your leisure interests revolve around salt water, Providence would be better. In Lowell, you’re right on top of the Boston job market. Route 3 is a really good road for a Bedford commute. Wang Towers. All the stuff in Chelmsford. From Worcester, 495 has jobs but it’s farther and far less high wage jobs.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Yep. If you telecommute and your leisure interests revolve around salt water, Providence would be better. In Lowell, you’re right on top of the Boston job market. Route 3 is a really good road for a Bedford commute. Wang Towers. All the stuff in Chelmsford. From Worcester, 495 has jobs but it’s farther and far less high wage jobs.

My recent interview loops with Boston employers suggest they're much more open to limited hybrid working. Of course, this is highly dependent on role. If this attitude maintains, I fully expect Providence to become much more desirable as the local economy has always been the primary limiter.

Having lived in Lowell, the only thing is has over Worcester is location. It's otherwise trending sideways while cities like Worcester have made very tangible gains post '08. Not sure if it's the Tsongas momentum waning or UMass Lowell being a bit too dominant (e.g., displacing higher end rental units), but regardless of the why the city core lacks the presence of young professionals which was not the case a decade a prior.

IMO, Worcester has benefitted from more diverse private and public investment, as well as having a more diverse local economy.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

My recent interview loops with Boston employers suggest they're much more open to limited hybrid working. Of course, this is highly dependent on role. If this attitude maintains, I fully expect Providence to become much more desirable as the local economy has always been the primary limiter.

Having lived in Lowell, the only thing is has over Worcester is location. It's otherwise trending sideways while cities like Worcester have made very tangible gains post '08. Not sure if it's the Tsongas momentum waning or UMass Lowell being a bit too dominant (e.g., displacing higher end rental units), but regardless of the why the city core lacks the presence of young professionals which was not the case a decade a prior.

IMO, Worcester has benefitted from more diverse private and public investment, as well as having a more diverse local economy.

I shifted to telecommuting in 2009. I eventually hit a wall a few years back where I was between things and the Boston jobs were an impossible commute that typically had management that wanted everyone in the office daily. My life lesson from telecommuting far from the jobs is that you need to be prepared for lengthy stretches of down time. I'd put Providence in that category.