Massachusetts people.....please help..?

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ShadyBeeBoppinsMcGee

I live in Stoneham and pay $765/month for a smallish 1 bedroom - What are you looking to spend? Are you looking for a two bedroom? Roommates? Will you have a car? Where will you be working? There are areas to stay away from because they are either too expensive or not really safe. There are afforable places though - I am as broke as they come and I can do it! I've been to Alaska too - And things weren't too cheap up there either! It will get soooo cold and snowy up there - maybe you'd want to deal with New Englands winters before Alaskas? Either way good luck and you will be just fine!

you can take it or leave it....

I live in Lawrence, which is primarly ghetto, but we live on the Andover line in a neighborhood and it is nice. Right on the Merrimack River. We pay $1100 a month for a two story house, that was completely renovated. As long as you can put up with some of the morons when you are driving, its not that bad. North Andover is nice, but it can be pricey too. Basically anywhere in Mass is going to be expensive. Im not from here either so I didnt know much but I knew that Lawrence was not a good area. I work at the Hospital in Lawrence so I just asked an officer if the area we were looking at was safe, and he told me it was...also which areas to avoid. That may be a good idea. I know that there are parts of Methuen and Haverhill that are bad too so you pretty much have to ask around for the bad spots to avoid.

candy

I am from the northshore - you can find places affordable in salem, peabody, good sections of Lynn near the water is nice- I like the South coast, Fairhaven area, people are real friendly and more slower pace than the n.shore...Good Luck..

Steve

You can find safe places, but not affordable. Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states to live in, even the bad areas are expensive.

bluepotato2

People in eastern Mass would be surprised at how affordable some places in western Mass are...that being said, most don't have public transportation (something to consider with oil prices rising). Worcester is much more affordable than communities in eastern Mass, has public transportation, good schools, colleges, job availability, commuter rail to Boston, nearby rural areas and UMass Medical Center. Check out the Worcester Telegram and Gazette online.

Bill K

Where NOT to live on the North shore...

I've moved around in MA many times. Generally, the lower the rent, the lower your standards (with respect to crime and proximity to boston).
AVOID: Salem, MA. It's nice and historic, but most areas are shady (lived on Lynde St., for 1 year).
AVOID: Most areas in Lynn are shady and high in crime, although there are nicer neighborhoods there, you'll pay for them.
AVOID: Chelsea, MA some don't consider it North shore, but rather a Boston 'hood. DUMP!

TRY: Peabody, Danvers, Beverly. You may find a nice place there, not nearly as expensive as Lynnfield, Boxford, Glouchester.
CONSIDER: South Shore/south west. Depending on if you're commuting into Boston or not. Bridgewater, N. Attleboro, Carver, Pembroke, and some areas of Marshfield are still affordable enough. The south shore is more rural than most N.shore areas.

Hope this Helps!
ALASKA?! No way!

Titus Pullo

The Metrowest area about 20 miles west of Boston is very nice and affordable...Framingham, Natick, Sudbury, Ashland and Holliston are all nice communities (the suburbs)...they are all close to great shopping, hospitals, you name it...
I'd stay away from the communities that border Boston such as Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester...there's a lot of crime activity in these areas...I would say that in general, go about 10-15 miles outside of Boston in any direction and you should be fine...I prefer West (above) and South of Boston...Weymouth, Braintree and Quincy are all good places to live that are only 10 miles or so South of Boston...

Alaska would be a huge change...I've always wanted to check that place out! Good luck..

financegal27

There are some very nice affordable places on the north shore, Lynn isn't bad, Swampscott can be affordable also look at Burlington and Billerica. I'm originally from Worcester, and while it get a bad wrap it is a great community and has very affordable areas. Specifically the Lake Ave. Area, Grafton Hill, Greendale. Just outside of Worcester are communities like Paxton and Shrewsbury which offer even more affordable living and good school systems. Also look into Franklin, Canton, Norwood, Foxboro which is just south of Boston and are nice communities. Worcester is the furthest from Boston, but its only about 40 miles out, and its the second largest city in New England (it flip flops with Providence, their populations are basically identical). In general rents on the in the areas I mentioned can be all over the place, but you can definately find really nice 2 bedrooms under $1000 a month, and many under $800 in the Worcester area.

Hope that helps.

Edit: To answer your additional question, areas to stay away from: Dorchester, Roxbury, Quincy, Lawrence, Fitchburg, large parts of Framingham, Chelsea, Revere, Everett, Winthrop, New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton. Going really far west, stay away from Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield. If you choose Worcester, the neighborhoods I would stay away from are Main South, Vernon Hill, Downtown, Elm Park, some areas near Holy Cross (the parts that sit on the outskirts of Vernon Hill or Main South), stay away from anything that says Near Clark University (that's Main South). The nicest places in Worcester are Greendale, Burncoat, Grafton Hill, Lake Ave./Lake Quinsigamond Area, Tatnuck, Salisbury Street area. Webster Square is sketchy in some areas, but not all. Around Assumption College, Worcester State above May Street heading towards Newton Square. Kelley Square is ok on the Water Street side, which is a great up and coming neighborhood, Belmont Hill can be sketchy, but Shrewbury Street is nice. I know Worcester the best, hence my detailed description of the city area. LOL.

Good Luck!

islandgirl0521

Hi: I live in Whitman and I am renting a 3 bedroom house. My rent is $950.00 a month plus utilities. I have a huge fenced in yard all to myself and the house is awesome. It came with a washer and dryer and a dishwasher. Whitman is a very nice safe place to live. I have lived here for 8 yrs and have no reason to leave. Stay clear of Brockton, Dorchester, mattapan, Chelsea, Randolph, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Fallriver, just to name a few lol.Good Luck and Welcome!!

Lauren M

I live in Worcester, it's pretty affordable. My husband and I are able to live here on one income. The towns around Worcester are good, they're pretty safe and have good school systems. You have to search around but you could find something affordable. Try looking on craigslist or go to www.telegram.com (the Worcester newspaper).
I'm originally from the north shore, I like it there. It can be expensive to live there, that's actually why my sister moved out here.
Definitely choose Mass over Alaska!

MA1234

Anywhere in MA is gonna be a lil pricey, but my bf and i are also lookng for a place to move in together and we have been looking in milford, bellingham, franklyn, marlboro, they are all pretty safe towns right now. Stay away from the towns around Boston.

XOXJESSiCA

hey, i live in BOSTON boston. I don't think it's THAT dangerous. I could never bear to leave the city.

Places dangerous in boston: dorchester, mattapan.

i like brookline. nice education system. and it's near boston.

check craigslist.com for places to live in.

good luck! and don't move to alaska...

totalERfanatic

AVOID: Quincy, Brockton, Randolph. These places have become increasingly ghetto and have grown with crime.

As for trying places thats a toss up. Most places in MA are overpriced and if your right about finding something affordable. It is usually a bad area of the State.

ckatz

I love MA dont go to Alaska too cold. Anyway there are not too many places to stay away from most towns have nice areas. But West Roxbury is pretty bad, parts of lowell is bad, New Bedford is mostly all bad, parts of framingham are bad. As for affordable places that are good neighborhoods, check the college town areas sounds odd but usually pretty safe and you can find a place to rent that is not to bad since they expect college students to live there. Bridgewater is nice i went to school there and its pretty safe and the school system is ok. Some parts of Framingham are nice. I love Wayland and Concord grew up in Wayland and live in Concord but is really expensive but great areas and schools. A lot of areas of Newton and Waltham are nice and good neighborhoods and schools. Well hope i helped.

AZI A

One of safest place in MA is Newton, Watertown and Wellesley. which is very close to Boston, Clean and safe.
Have some one to help you serially if you are familiar with this area.
good luck

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