Oklahoma to (likely Western) Massachusetts - Beginning Research (Boston, Springfield: schools, wages)

[FCMA]

Keene and Brattleboro are great, though very self-contained and isolated from metro areas. Nice towns with great quality of life but basically no transportation to other places besides Greyhound.

Some previous posts make it sound like these two towns are conjoined but they’re about 20 miles apart, 20-25 minutes by car.

Neither typically floods, exception of limited areas of town during freak rain incidents like in 2005 and 2011. Choose a place more than 20 feet higher than any river and it will be no worry. New England is far from flat in most places making it easier to live somewhere above the local floodplains.

[DaIceman]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

I live half of the year right south of the border, in Simsbury CT.

I LOVE Western MA and North Central CT. Its ideal. PVTA is great.. most of the US has bad transit, but I feel PVTA is much nicer than its equivalents.

Also do not shy away from CT too. You will be within 40 minutes of Northampton etc.

My best advice is wven trying Greenfield MA If Amherst and Northampton are pricey.

I know I'm a little late to the conversation, but it might be worthwhile for the OP to check out the CT Fast Track busway between New Britain and Hartford. There are a number of insurance companies in Hartford, so there are quite a few jobs there, and if the OP lives in New Britain it's relatively inexpensive for CT. Added bonus is that Central Connecticut State University is there in New Britain, too.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by DaIceman

I know I'm a little late to the conversation, but it might be worthwhile for the OP to check out the CT Fast Track busway between New Britain and Hartford. There are a number of insurance companies in Hartford, so there are quite a few jobs there, and if the OP lives in New Britain it's relatively inexpensive for CT. Added bonus is that Central Connecticut State University is there in New Britain, too.

Never been there, but from what I hear it's inexpensive for a good reason.

[Lettyfinhaden]

I've been a longtime lurker on these forums, but I had to register to reply to this thread.

I am from Arkansas and am considering a move to Western Massachusetts in a few years, with my husband and youngest son. Unlike OP, I have lived in MA before - I spent a year in Cape Cod after Katrina. I also spent a few years in New York before that. Also unlike OP, we would be moving with jobs - we both work remotely.

What I don't think some people on this forum understand is how... Exhausting it can get, politically. Even living in a blue dot in a red state! Which is about to be all red, as our one blue county has been gerrymandered away! When I first moved back here to be closer to family, I quickly learned not to tell people - coworkers - I had had an abortion, or they would literally call me a murderer to my face. Don't mention religion at all, God forbid you say you don't go to church or believe in Jesus. I made the stupid mistake of letting slip to some former co-workers that I was interested in Tarot cards, and now I'm pretty sure they think I'm halfway to devil worship.

I'm not looking for a San Francisco (I suspect I would find that a different kind of exhausting!). Just a place where I don't have to second guess what I say about who I am and what I do.

So OP, I feel you on this, for sure. Dream those dreams. And if it doesn't work out? You can always move back.

P. S. For all these people talking about how expensive MA is, you should Google one of the many cost of living calculators which factors in taxes, etc. I just used one which figured that Western Massachusetts is about 6% higher than where I am in Little Rock.

[aboucher33]

Originally Posted by Lettyfinhaden

I've been a longtime lurker on these forums, but I had to register to reply to this thread.

I am from Arkansas and am considering a move to Western Massachusetts in a few years, with my husband and youngest son. Unlike OP, I have lived in MA before - I spent a year in Cape Cod after Katrina. I also spent a few years in New York before that. Also unlike OP, we would be moving with jobs - we both work remotely.

What I don't think some people on this forum understand is how... Exhausting it can get, politically. Even living in a blue dot in a red state! Which is about to be all red, as our one blue county has been gerrymandered away! When I first moved back here to be closer to family, I quickly learned not to tell people - coworkers - I had had an abortion, or they would literally call me a murderer to my face. Don't mention religion at all, God forbid you say you don't go to church or believe in Jesus. I made the stupid mistake of letting slip to some former co-workers that I was interested in Tarot cards, and now I'm pretty sure they think I'm halfway to devil worship.

I'm not looking for a San Francisco (I suspect I would find that a different kind of exhausting!). Just a place where I don't have to second guess what I say about who I am and what I do.

So OP, I feel you on this, for sure. Dream those dreams. And if it doesn't work out? You can always move back.

P. S. For all these people talking about how expensive MA is, you should Google one of the many cost of living calculators which factors in taxes, etc. I just used one which figured that Western Massachusetts is about 6% higher than where I am in Little Rock.

We would love to have you in Western MA!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Lettyfinhaden

What I don't think some people on this forum understand is how... Exhausting it can get, politically. Even living in a blue dot in a red state! Which is about to be all red, as our one blue county has been gerrymandered away! When I first moved back here to be closer to family, I quickly learned not to tell people - coworkers - I had had an abortion, or they would literally call me a murderer to my face. Don't mention religion at all, God forbid you say you don't go to church or believe in Jesus. I made the stupid mistake of letting slip to some former co-workers that I was interested in Tarot cards, and now I'm pretty sure they think I'm halfway to devil worship.

Uhhhh, that's not really stuff one should discuss at work in any state (including MA). Are you sure it's "there" that's the issue?

[bostongymjunkie]

And why do some people falsely believe they speak for an entire region? Bizarre.

[Lettyfinhaden]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Uhhhh, that's not really stuff one should discuss at work in any state (including MA). Are you sure it's "there" that's the issue?

Well, that's sort of my point. I don't want to be invited to Bible groups while I'm at work, and then have to politely demur and be expected to give reasons why. I DON'T think it is appropriate to talk about religion at work, at all.

When it comes to abortion, I consider it a legal, safe medical procedure, which no one should be ashamed to go through or talk about.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Lettyfinhaden

Well, that's sort of my point. I don't want to be invited to Bible groups while I'm at work, and then have to politely demur and be expected to give reasons why. I DON'T think it is appropriate to talk about religion at work, at all.

When it comes to abortion, I consider it a legal, safe medical procedure, which no one should be ashamed to go through or talk about.

And in Mass., co-workers (usually) won't invite you to Bible groups. I spent part of a year working in TN as well, and don't recall it coming up much there either. If they do (and this goes for anywhere), you politely decline and say "it's not my thing". Most reasonable people will then move on, and if not then they are the ones who you might want to keep your distance from. Abortion is a very private matter, and not something one should casually discuss with people they do not know well. Failing to follow these norms will push others away, and make them look down on you professionally. The Northeast is going to be a very bad fit if you are a needy type, or expect your coworkers to double as a social worker for you.

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by Lettyfinhaden

I've been a longtime lurker on these forums, but I had to register to reply to this thread.

I am from Arkansas and am considering a move to Western Massachusetts in a few years, with my husband and youngest son. Unlike OP, I have lived in MA before - I spent a year in Cape Cod after Katrina. I also spent a few years in New York before that. Also unlike OP, we would be moving with jobs - we both work remotely.

What I don't think some people on this forum understand is how... Exhausting it can get, politically. Even living in a blue dot in a red state! Which is about to be all red, as our one blue county has been gerrymandered away! When I first moved back here to be closer to family, I quickly learned not to tell people - coworkers - I had had an abortion, or they would literally call me a murderer to my face. Don't mention religion at all, God forbid you say you don't go to church or believe in Jesus. I made the stupid mistake of letting slip to some former co-workers that I was interested in Tarot cards, and now I'm pretty sure they think I'm halfway to devil worship.

I'm not looking for a San Francisco (I suspect I would find that a different kind of exhausting!). Just a place where I don't have to second guess what I say about who I am and what I do.

So OP, I feel you on this, for sure. Dream those dreams. And if it doesn't work out? You can always move back.

P. S. For all these people talking about how expensive MA is, you should Google one of the many cost of living calculators which factors in taxes, etc. I just used one which figured that Western Massachusetts is about 6% higher than where I am in Little Rock.

If you think that Northampton may be a good fit for you, post your questions to this forum! There are a few of us who live in town here and can help you get the lay of the land. You might want to post it under a new topic though, so it doesn't get lost in this one.