Calling all who wish to move to MA!!! (Boston, Worcester: car insurance, homes)

[n1ey]

Originally Posted by ktrojan

I was born and raised on the South Shore - Hingham.... a gorgeous, over priced sea side town. It was a great town to live in and they have wonderful schools, but I could not even think of buying a home there now. I have been gone for 15 years - currently live in Illinois and raised my family here. Illinois is a nice place to raise a family, but I miss New England a lot. We are getting a second home (small) so we can have great access to NH, VT, Cape, etc. I am thinking of outside the 495 belt - Any suggestions on towns? Since my kids are grown, we do not need to think about schools. We have heard of the towns Groton, Harvard, Littleton??? Any ideas or comments about these towns or others in that area? Thanks!

How often do you plan to visit NH or VT?

How often do you plan to visit the Cape? Are you going to see the Cape on day trips?

Have you thought about buying in NH? You can buy cheaper, there.

Have you thought about going closer to Providence? Not all of the Chicago-Boston flights are direct, anymore. There are direct flights from Chicago to Providence. Your cost would probably be 10% higher at Providence. Yet, you could have a faster travel time.

If you really are interested in the cape and southern Mass, then I would consider Westport. Westport is not near 495, but it is near 195. You can take 24 to 495. Westport is more as how one thinks the Cape should be. The property taxes are very reasonable and the crime rate is low. The school system has mixed reviews. Westport would be an easy drive from Providence(Warwick).

Bill

[April Rain]

Originally Posted by NewEnglandNewcomer

I would love to know more about the Shrewsbury area. We have 2 young children so schools and a safe area to raise them is the most important. Also, I will be driving to Worcester....is this a safe area....how tough will the commute be?

Thank You!!

Hello NewEnglandNewcomer,
I'm curious did you move? If so how do you like Shrewsbury?

[April Rain]

[quote=JulieSchmidt;26985055]I have just skimmed a few of the posts on here, but I believe I am in the same boat as a bunch of people. My husband just got a job in Springfield and we will be moving up there after the holidays. We have lived in Florida for 14 years and have no knowledge of the Massachusetts area. Can anyone refer us to an area that is kid friendly (we have a 3 year old boy and a 5 month old daughter)? We were looking into east Longmeadow but heard it is pretty expensive. any advice is greatly appreciated.[/quote

It depends on how far your husband wants to commute and how much money you have to pay rent or a mortgage. You will need good schools also if you plan to stay. I have not checked but I heard East Longmeadow is expensive but good schools.

I have narrowed my search in that area down to East Longmeadow (which I'm not sure if we can afford), Westfield, or Easthampton. (My husband does not agree with me. He wants to live near a large city. Maybe in the Boston area.)

I'm from Northampton which is North of Springfield. It's a liberal earthy-crunchy college town with a large population of lesbians. I love it! I'm a little more conservative, an independent and married to a man but in Northampton to each his own. Northampton is a desirable location so the houses cost more.

I've heard Connecticut schools are better. You could always live across the state line in Connecticut and your husband could commute to work. The cost of living is higher in Connecticut.

Do you have a realtor? Have you done more research on East Longmeadow? Good luck on your move!
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]

[NewEnglandNewcomer]

Originally Posted by April Rain

Hello NewEnglandNewcomer,
I'm curious did you move? If so how do you like Shrewsbury?

No, we haven't moved yet. We are still trying to learn as much as we can about certain areas. Are you considering a move to Shrewsbury, too?

[friar1610]

Hi,

Just ran across this thread but have been on this site on and off over the past year. My wife and I are both retired. I had a career that caused me (and my family) to relocate every 3 - 5 years. I grew up in CT/MA, my wife in MA/RI/CT; we both went to college in RI. Of course, my employer must have known that and in 28 years we only got to live in NE for 3 years (in ME). We moved to VT seven years ago from MD where we had been for 13 years (by far the longest stretch in any one place.) Long story on why VT and although it's very nice, the reasons for moving/living here are not as compelling now as they were then.

Soo...we just committed to an age-restricted condo community (town-house type, not high-rise) in a nice part of Marshfield, MA. Probably won't be ready for occupancy for about 6 months so hope we can sell this house - anyone want to move out of MA to VT?

[Nimashan]

This is a great thread, we are also trying to get back east from the west coast all our family is on the east coast. My husband may have a possible job opportunity in Chalmsford we are hoping to live maybe N. Chambridge!? We are in our 50's all the children are out of the house and we love to socialize and I really like to get involved in community eg; a good gym (club), hiking, volunteering etc!

Any extra advise, thoughts would be great!

Thanks!

[J_Holley]

Originally Posted by JetJockey

I just booked my one way flight to Logan for week after next and I can't WAIT to move to MA

The COL stuff cracks me up, because where I live, the COL is nearly identical except there aren't many jobs here and the ones that are offered RARELY pay over $15 an hour and you have to have a degree and many years experience to even be considered for those.

I'm in coastal California in a rural college town and my entire county has less than 250,000 people, no public transportation to speak of, no culture at all (unless you like hipsters or wine) has a COL that's virtually the same as Boston, and in some ways is even more expensive.

$700 for a room? WITH utilities included AND it's furnished?! Sign me up! 12 days and counting

$700 for all of that?! Where did you find this place? I've been looking all over and can't really find anything I like cheaper than $1,200.

[Rhenzanite]

Originally Posted by J_Holley

$700 for all of that?! Where did you find this place? I've been looking all over and can't really find anything I like cheaper than $1,200.

Craigslist. It was a temporary sublet in an apartment in Cambridge. I'm looking at a few other rooms right now (all furnished and all under 700 a month) and have a few appointments to meet people this week. I didn't want to live by myself yet, because I'm trying to socialize and meet new people so I figured living with roommates is my best bet

So far, so good!

[INstix]

I've wanted to move to Massachusetts since our first visit 3 years ago. Whether it will ever become a reality remains to be seen. My husband isn't too keen on moving so far away, and he doesn't like the increase in traffic and hectic lifestyle of the areas near Boston. He actually said if he had to drive to work in a place like Boston he'd probably kill himself (he was kidding, but I'm sure he'd be miserable).

I don't really want to work in Boston, either, but I am in love with the history of the area and the ocean. I am from southeastern Indiana, and I have lived here for 43 years. I love a lot of things about it, the nature, the quiet, the friendliness...but I am tired of the same surroundings for so long. I loved how no one bothered me in Massachusetts...how people didn't expect to hear my life story everywhere I went, and how people didn't pry into my affairs.

Also, there are so many things to do! So many things that are just a day trip...snowmobiling, cross country skiing (I want to learn to do this!), gorgeous scenery, tons of things to learn and experience, loads of festivals, boating, seeing so many places I've only read about in magazines or seen on TV.

A downside is the winter. I don't like snow and cold, but that happens here in southeastern IN, too. I know there is MORE snow up that way, though...that's part of what my husband hates about the idea of going there. He admits there are lots of things to do and see, but isn't sure the big changes are what he wants in his life. So we're taking things slowly, visiting, and seeing how it all goes over time.

My husband works in network engineering and has 22 years experience. I'm a registered nurse an plan to become a nurse practitioner within five years. I'm hoping that we might move to the North Shore area, or maybe the Berkshires, not sure...but certainly not before five years have gone by.


Great to talk to others who feel the same way about MA.


Cara

[INstix]

Originally Posted by indigorose

So let's add one more topic to the thread. What obstacles have your encountered in trying to move to MA. With the economy the way it is today, I foresee that money will be a big issue in the next few years. Would you be willing to stay where you are now (if not in MA) for job security in tough times? Or is the lure of MA to great for you to resist? For me MA is a better option than where I am at now because the job market there is better than here. Here there are basically only casinos that are constantly changing owners. There is no job security there. So for me, despite what is happening in the economy, I still feel that of all the places I have checked, MA is the better choice IMO.

My husband and I are in our 40's and haven't saved like we should for retirement. One of the topics heavy on my mind is whether we'll be able to live in MA and also save for retirement, since the COL is so much higher than Indiana. Once I get my nurse practitioner's license, I should be making somewhere in the 100's and my husband should be able to pull that off as well, with all his experience in network engineering. So yes, I think we'd be find moneywise out there, but we do need to save significantly because we're starting later in life than we should have to prepare. He makes the case that we should stay here, because I can make in the 100's here as an NP, too, and then we'd be able to sock away lots more money. As an RN, I have taken care of elderly people, even a year's worth of experience in a nursing home, and I can tell you that once you are old and something is seriously wrong with you, that's it, folks...you aren't going to go out and see the world, experience things, learn new things...that's it. If I live to be in my late 80's, I have spent half of my time already, here, in Indiana doing the same things I have always done. I want to see and do some things, dammit! So that plays a part in my wanting to move.

My husband's reasons for not moving are valid, but I feel mine are as well. I have told him that perhaps we could live in MA for 15-20 years, save some, and then move back here or maybe we could even find a cheaper area in New England to live...someplace in New Hampshire? I'm in love with all of New England, not just MA...so maybe we could retire in a lower-key, and lower cost area of New England. We're mulling it over. But certainly, with housing the way it is now, we won't be moving until I have my NP degree and have a bit of experience, and housing can be sold for a better price in our area. There are lots of things to consider.

All I know is I don't want to be one of those people sitting in my wheelchair, losing my memories and having nothing to look forward to but Disney movies on the TV until I have actually gone out and done some things OUTSIDE of Indiana and Ohio!!!


Cara