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HunterGraccus t1_j8yr4vi wrote

Western MA is a good bet if you like a less crowded area. Springfield, Ludlow, Westfield, Chicopee, anywhere in the Pioneer valley. It is cheaper to live out here, but not much. A teacher's salary will be a bit tight. but doable. You start around 48K and 20 years in you are in the high 80's or 90K with excellent Union protections. It has fewer social outlets for a young person, so you will have to seek out cool things to do. Also we are close to Hartford, Boston, New York, the Cape, and the CT shore. If you are a Math, Science, or SPED teacher you should do OK. Other subject areas will be more difficult to land a job.

People will disparage Western MA because it is not as fabulously wealthy as the other parts of MA, but it has great natural beauty and areas where you will be able to live comfortably on a teacher salary provided you don't need to buy a house.

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rolandofgilead41089 t1_j8yzxp1 wrote

I will also strongly advocate for Western MA and the Pioneer Valley. It's a wonderful area with a lot of really great communities and school districts, especially if OP is looking for a small town connection with their students.

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nkdeck07 t1_j8zuz71 wrote

Seconding, my brother actually teaches in Springfield and loves it. He and his wife have a way higher standard of living then they did in Revere just cause it's so much cheaper out there. There's honestly also a pretty decent amount to do, the 5 colleges area is fantastic.

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XoeDanger t1_j92as62 wrote

Pioneer Valley is great, and it contains a very strong pro-education vibe (see also: 5 College area around Northampton/Amherst)

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