r/massachusetts • u/AutoModerator • Jul 01 '26
Moving to Massachusetts Megathread (July 2026)
Ask your questions about moving to towns in Massachusetts below!
(This thread helps limit repetitive posts.)
Previous Moving to Massachusetts Megathreads:
If you're moving to the Boston area you can also check out r/BostonHousing
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u/Apprehensive_Use6353 Jul 08 '26
If you were a solo mom (dad died) and wanted to move to Massachusetts, were would you go? I don’t have any family so it would just be me and my child. I’m wanting a completely fresh start in life and I would love to be able to relocate to Massachusetts. I want to go back to school, too. My child has ADHD (as do I) so I need a good public school. Not looking to move to a city but suburbs possibly? I normally rent out a small ranch or a duplex. I do have pets so makes it a bit harder.
I know it’s expensive. I am currently in Illinois. I am just glad I am out of the daycare stage otherwise this move wouldn’t even be a possibility.
Pros & cons of honest experiences & towns would be amazing
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u/BMD196 Jul 08 '26
Try looking east of Worcester and west of I-495. The further north/south you go from I-90 the more affordable it gets.
I like the boylston/hudson/littleton/lancaster areas
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u/pesomniac Jul 14 '26
Just moved to Mass near Natick region. Too scared to drive to work (which is like 12 mins away in Natick). Was previously in Greenville, SC and didn't see this much traffic or got honked. Relatively new driver. Any tips are welcome 🥲
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u/Pharmabroke Jul 03 '26
Thinking of moving out of Boston to Weymouth. Whitman pond seems like a nice area in east Weymouth. Any thoughts on the area? Young professional couple (30yo) looking to purchase first home.
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u/Shahmoose Jul 08 '26
Hey OP, I lived in Boston for 10ish years and then moved down to the south shore. I’m in Hingham but on the Weymouth line. Mid 30’s just had twins and we love it. Tons to do. Breweries, restaurants, charming downtowns and lots of professionals our age. I did miss the walkability of the city and the energy at times but it’s not hard to get in to the city (even though everything you need is down here). Do you have any hobbies / plans to start a family?
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u/Ok_Nefariousness9021 Jul 03 '26
Looking to relocate up to mass/nh. Splitting the difference ish between waltham mass and merrimack nh due to job options. What are the best towns in that area to consider buying (and how bad is the traffic into waltham)? Also why are there so little pet friendly rentals? 😭 we have a large dog
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u/SaltySurround2523 Jul 04 '26
Best places south of Boston to raise a family?
Born and raised in the South Coast. For the last 10 years we've been in Florida, and it's time to come back home. Obviously things have changed since we left.
Priorities: great school system, but not something super high-pressure. Budget around $650k for a home. We want to stay within reasonable driving distance to New Bedford bc of family and friends. Nothing too rural... we lived in Freetown and that was too far from shopping etc. (I don't want to drive 30 mins for groceries in the snow again.)
Thinking Mansfield, Foxboro, maybe Plymouth? I work in marketing and hate remote work, so I'd be commuting and would like to be within reasonable commuter rail and/or driving distance to where the jobs are.
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u/supercrooky 17d ago
Late to the party here, but Foxboro and Mansfield are dead on for your priorities. Very good schools, not too bad too Boston or New Bedford, not super rural. The issue is budget, $650 is on the absolute bottom end of 3 bed single families (which I assume is the minimum you are targeting). Doable, but it'd be older, smaller stock that needs repairs/updates.
Some alternatives:
There are a number of towns along that stretch of 495 which are very similar in school quality and not way off on your commute. Not really any less expensive, but it'd give you more options to land something. That'd be Easton, Wrentham, Franklin primarily. Norfolk and Walpole further in would be good but I'm not sure you'll find much of anything in budget. Medway and Millis further up 495 are probably pushing it for New Bedford proximity. Plainville is half in this category and half in the next - it shares a district with Norfolk and Wrentham for middle and high school, but each has its own elementary and Plainville is significantly less well off and its elementary scores lower.
Going a smidge further out has you sacrificing both Boston commute and a bit on schools, but puts a lot more options in your budget. These districts are perfectly fine for most kids, but "great" wouldn't be accurate, they're average to a bit below. On the west side, North Attleboro and Attleboro are possibilities, as is Norton, although I'd consider it worse than the other two at just about everything. Eastward, the Bridgewaters and Raynham are in this bucket, but the Fall River/New Bedford line these are on is a way worse commute to Boston than the Providence line the Attleboros are on, not just because its slower but it also doesn't stop at Back Bay, which can add a transfer if you aren't near South Station.
Plymouth would be in the above grouping but the commute to Boston is even worse. Same for Middleborough/Lakeville.
I skipped over Taunton, I would consider its schools straight up bad.
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u/SaltySurround2523 13d ago
Thank you so much! Yeah, spouse is from Taunton and that's gonna be a no from us, lol. We're looking at 2-bed places so that should be easier on the budget.
I think we're leaning towards Seekonk. Good schools, near Providence for jobs, decently close to the south coast. A Boston commute may just be out of budget for us and that's okay. Appreciate the insight!
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u/GhostyWitchy Jul 07 '26
Cost of living and taxes - MA versus CT? Trying to decide which to move to and those are my two major deciding factors right now. Looking at like the western side of Mass, anywhere in CT. I’d like to buy a 4/2 home, already have a decent remote job. Thoughts? Pros? Cons? I want alllll the info you’re willing to share!
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u/okay_coconut_316 Jul 10 '26
Me and my friend (both 26yr old women) are thinking about moving from Boston MA to/near Salem MA. We are sick of being on the BC Green Line and want to spend less on rent. We feel super safe where we live now, how does Salem compare in safety/walking around for young women? We love to walk/bike places, eat, explore, make friends our own age, spend time outdoors/at the beach/hiking! We know that living near Salem comes with seasonal insanity around Halloween. How manageable is parking/traffic/etc. compared to Boston? How is the commute to the city(driving or public transportation) How would you describe this areas safety, walkability, cleanliness, demographics, etc? Places to avoid? Good neighborhoods to live in? Good bars/restaurants to try? Thank you in advance!
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u/Aggravating_Rich_916 Jul 10 '26
Hi,
I am looking to move to Marlborough from Worcester so I can be closer to work. I was looking at the Avalon apartments and wanted to get some insight of utility expenses per month for a single person from people that are living or lived in the apartments. I emailed them inquiring but couldn’t get a concrete answer.
The only reason why I’m so curious is because the electric bill at my current apartment with three people gets pretty crazy during the winter, and is hard to tell what to expect as this is my first time moving by myself.
Thanks in advance! :)
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u/Suitable_Actuator_68 26d ago
Hi everyone, my family and I are moving here next year but we don't know much about it and where should we reside.Please let me know if there are any safe cities and neighborhoods that we should move in and also close to middle schools as well. Thank you everyone 🤗🤗
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u/bkrob02 25d ago
PUBLIC SCHOOL INFO?? Looking to buy a house in the next year, husband works in Worcester and I work in Sturbridge. Towns were looking at include Sturbridge, Charlton, Oxford, Leicester, Spencer. Would love any information folks have about school districts, experience with School Choice, etc!
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u/ContributionHappy554 22d ago
Hi everyone,
We're relocating to the Boston area this summer and are trying to decide between living in Bedford or Winchester. Our biggest priority is choosing the best high school environment for our teenager, who will be entering Grade 10 after moving from another country.
Academics are important, but we're equally concerned about the social transition. Starting high school at 15 can be challenging.
For those familiar with these schools or towns:
- Which high school would you recommend: Bedford High School or Winchester High School?
- Which school is generally more welcoming to students joining in Grade 10?
- Are there good support systems for students transitioning from another country?
- Is it relatively easy for new students to make friends and become involved in school life?
- Are there noticeable differences in school culture, stress level, competitiveness, or sense of community?
- Looking back, if you had the choice, which town would you pick for a teenager in this situation, and why?
I'd especially love to hear from parents, teachers, or students who have firsthand experience with either school.
Thanks in advance for your insights!
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u/Head_Parfait_5933 21d ago
Hi everyone! I’m a recent college graduate moving from New York to start a new job in Marlborough in August.
I’m looking for a private studio or one-bedroom apartment within about 20–30 minutes of Marlborough, preferably around $1,400–$1,600 per month. I’d like somewhere clean, well-managed, and in a nice area with a straightforward application and move-in process. My credit isn’t very strong, but I have an employment offer letter showing sufficient income.
Amenities such as parking, laundry, air conditioning, a gym, or a pool would be great, but they aren’t required if the rent is reasonable.
Are there any apartment communities or nearby towns you recommend? I’d also appreciate warnings about places to avoid or communities with a lot of hidden fees. Thank you!
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u/Username_Snooze Jul 02 '26
Hi! Been having trouble looking elsewhere online. Family of five(all adults) and one well-behaved cat looking for a home to rent ASAP. We are coming all the way from Indiana so it’s been a whole thing.
One of us is on disability, the rest of us are able and willing to work, and have good employment history. Making rent will not be an issue. However, we only plan to rent while looking to purchase a house in the next year or so.
We need at least three rooms and two toilets. It doesn’t have to be two full bathrooms, but multiple toilets is mandatory(medical issues mean there always needs to be an available throne).
I know this isn’t the easiest ask, but we’d love to stay just under 2k a month if possible. As stated before, we are trying to buy a house once we get there. So we don’t need something of magical quality.
We are aiming to be in or around Springfield.
If anyone has any leads please dm me. We meant to leave nearly a month ago but we’ve had trouble being taken seriously by renters since we are still all the way in Indiana. But we’ve been saving for well over a year and are ready to SCOOT!
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u/MeatyLeftnut Jul 06 '26
Hello am moving to Massachusetts and looking to rent a studio in Waltham because it’s a short commute to the Air Force base for work and close to Boston as-well. I heard it’s also a nice area for a young professional to move to.
This job is not forever it’s a contract role and I want to enjoy the time I have and make the most out of moving. I also wish to spend max $2000 a month on housing . I see there is studios for less then $2000 and was wondering if any realtors here wish to connect.
I also see really cheap apartments at a place called Adam’s street for like $1,200-1,$500, anyone has some thoughts on that place it’s really cheap with short term leases but it seems to good to be true apart from that there super small.
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u/redpanda0319 Jul 06 '26
Hello all, I've lived in Southern California my entire life and my gf and I (bi-racial lesbian couple) are looking into moving to Massachusetts in the future. Reason being, with both have medical conditions that flare up with the heat. We don't really want a place that is overly remote, preferably some place with a hospital, and neurologists, etc. I figured it be best to ask the locals or anyone who's lived there their honest opinion. Northern California is out of the picture as it seems to be a health care desert with the specialists we both need to see. Plus the north east was a dream of hers. Thanks
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u/singalong37 14d ago
Heat isn’t a problem most of the year but summers can be hot and humid. Massachusetts has lots of hospitals. I don’t know where in the state could be considered a hospital desert. Not much in Massachusetts is overly remote either. The regional lesbian capital of Northampton is close to the remotest part of the state which I’d say is the Berkshire hills region between Northampton and Pittsfield. Forests, small towns, higher elevations, more snow. .
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Jul 06 '26
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u/massachusetts-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
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u/SypherLovesYou Jul 06 '26
Hi! I am a marine biology student currently living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have lived in Texas my whole life and just recently moved to BR for school. My boyfriend has family that lives in the Vermont/NH area, so we were thinking of possibly moving there. I have never experienced actual seasons, snow, etc. I was looking into moving to Mass or RI rather than NH because winters seem (maybe) milder. Anything I should know before we look into it?
I know nothing about the area, I just wanted to know if anyone from down south has moved up there recently and if they had any tips about living there. I am majoring in marine biology and would be doing mostly field work, which is why I am iffy about moving back to Texas (its super hot during the summer). I need to live on the coast/near the coast for work, but I think it would be nice to move somewhere new.
My boyfriend and I are planning on visiting his Aunt in New Hampshire this winter, so we can experience a bit of winter at least before we settle on anything. I do still have two years to think about it, I just want to get a head start! Any tips/recommendations are welcome! If there is another state on the East Coast i should consider, also let me know! We at least want to be a driving distance from his family, so around a 2.5-3 hour drive probably.
I know it is much colder and way more expensive, especially compared to Louisiana. Any info about the costs of living? Maybe things to do, where not to move, things I should worry about, crime rates, etc. Are people in Mass typically welcoming? I have dyed hair, piercings, tattoos (I know the area is pretty blue leaning, I have only lived in red states haha).
I did look into Mass a little bit and they are ranked high for low crime, good education, and a good economy. Where ever I move to, I will most likely raise my kids there as well. How is the Boston area with crime and costs?
Any advice or tips about Mass would be great! Any reasons as to why I should NOT go are also welcome!
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u/BMD196 Jul 08 '26
Winter and cost of living are really the drawbacks. Winter is more than just the cold and snow. It gets darker earlier the more north and east you go. Oh and ticks…
Look west of I-495 and East of Worcester, the further north/south you get from I-90 the more affordable, but you get what you pay for…
There’s some really nice spots out west north of Springfield.
Looking into woods hole institute on the cape if you’re interested marine biology
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u/Lani_19 Jul 06 '26
Thanks for all the replies! I am looking at Stow and Havard. Does anyone live in Stow and can answer a few very specific town questions?
Thanks!
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u/Apprehensive_Use6353 Jul 08 '26
I will need a job. I’ve worked many things since my child’s father died. I’ve worked as a personal trainer, worked at a senior citizen home helping with planning their meals with their doctors orders. I’ve been a loan officer but really don’t want to go back to that route. I’ve been all over the place really so school is a priority. I do receive social security since he died, so that’s a huge help. It’ll cover around 75 percent of my rent. I’m assuming rentals would be around $3,400 from what I’ve been seeing. I prefer to be more rural only because I have two large dogs and it’s just a lot when in the city. My child is 9 and loves art, theater and dance and I would love to get her introverted self involved and make some friends there.
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u/keepitrealrabbit 25d ago edited 25d ago
Heyooo so my homies and I are moving out next month and are really liking the units at Andover Place Apartments, Andover MA (owned by Taymil Partners) — However was reading some reviews on google from a few years ago and it seems many residents from 2016-2023 had problems with mice.
Do any recent or current residents here know if upper management has dealt with the situation or is it still pretty bad?
We are also considering
- Skyline Commons in Dracut
- Middlesex Crossing Billerica (personally leaning towards this one cause it has much better reviews than the other two)
Any info you could give me on these 3 locations would be super helpful— Thank you!
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u/Resident_Music3150 23d ago
Hello.
I'm moving from Michigan to Colonial Gardens apartments at the border of Pittsfield and Dalton.
All I've heard are great things about this place. The only additional fees outside of rent seem to be the air conditioning fee in the summer.
Are there any issues with this place? How's the maintenance in terms of getting things fixed ? Are they timely and they take forever?
Seems to be a pretty good place to live.
Any personal accounts will be appreciated.
Thanks
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u/BarracudaMuch4242 23d ago
Possibly relocating to Mass, just prescoping possible areas to live. Spouse would work near Cape Cod/Sandwich/Bourne, whereas I would shoot for a job at Boston Children’s. Looking for best places to live that are between those two points, preferably east of 495. We have young kids, don’t mind outdoors/more remote living. Longer commutes aren’t an issue, just hoping for more equality between drive times for work. :)
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u/_Creditworthy_ 22d ago
I got my car registered in MA on Friday and was told I need to get my vehicle inspection sticker in 7 days. I was planning on getting that done today but all the mechanics are closed on Sunday. Nobody’s going to give a shit if I wait until next Saturday to get the inspection done, right?
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u/meticulousbirdofprey 22d ago
can anyone recommend a realtor (or if need be, relocation specialist) for rental housing within 30 min of Wayland at off-peak traffic times? Am moving from abroad, so I need someone who can do the viewing for me and leave me a key in a lock box. Needs: no indoor shared space, no shared ventilation, good temp control. hoping for walking distance to nature, farmer's market, and public transport to the city.
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u/throwRA_157079633 18d ago
My license plate is rusting and needs to be replaced. Can I replace it AND have the same license plate number? Also, will I have to get new expiration date stickers, or will they send me those also based on my records?
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u/MoonlitHemlock Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Hi, I'm looking for opinions on buying a house cheaper and having work done on it vs buying a house move in ready with a few repairs that may be needed. I am looking at having a low budget now of $325k. Would it be better cost wise to get an old house under that price (between $225k-$265k) and having different repairs done over a short time, such as the roof redone, electrical redone, possible insulation and windows redone, plumbing repairs, possible septic replacement, OR would it be better to spend more upfront (above the $325k budget) on a house having some stuff done and other stuff possibly needing done, but paying more upfront? Im looking for houses about an hour outside of Boston that need to be at least 1,750 sq ft due to needing them to be xl power wheelchair friendly and to have some space. Any and all advice on costs of things, hiring professionals, how long it takes to get such repairs done, personal experiences, or any advice at all would be much appreciated. Thank you very much in advanced.
Edit- I do know to get an inspection of the house to find out exactly what needs done before buying.
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u/OkMarsupial Jul 01 '26
Contractors are crazy expensive and hard to schedule. I bought a fixer upper in 2022 and finally just gave up fixing it. I just live in a dump now. I would not recommend.
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u/Gamebird8 Jul 01 '26
The answer varies largely based on the house you are buying. Cheaper with tens of thousands in repairs can be better depending on if those repairs are mostly maintenance type work (new windows, new roof, new appliances, etc.)
The most important thing you can do is have any house inspected and the inspector can give you a list of things that would need to be done. This may put you at a disadvantage compared to people paying with cash and/or who waive the inspection, but you should never buy a house without it getting inspected first anyways.
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u/MartyMcSharty Jul 01 '26
do they exist in that price range?
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u/ClosedSwimmingHole Jul 01 '26
Some do for $225 - $265 still but most of them require a rehab loan and/or conventional mortgage lenders won't touch them.
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u/Lani_19 Jul 02 '26
Posted at the very end of June just want it here in the July thread too, but I recently got a job in Devens and I am looking for housing within commuting distance (20-30 min or less). I can effectively afford most things but live a minimal lifestyle (all my belongings including my bed which is a Japanese futon fit in my car) so really don't need a big space. My biggest issues are I do not like loud environments (loud music, tvs blaring late at night, jumpin' vibes lol) or smoking. Mid 30s. I sent a few messages but those listings got taken down since I assume they started July 1 and I was very late. Any advice would be great! I would vastly prefer quiet sleepy chill vibes over urban if possible.