Submitted by Junkyarddawg19 t3_11o7atc in massachusetts
My wife and I are looking to move to Mass. We are looking to get some insight on the most affordable (250-300k max) and safest places to live to raise a family. We will be buying a house and not renting. Any suggestions?
Was just about to say that's not even going to buy a chicken coop in MA
Lol brutal
Nah, there are plenty of houses available just this side of Albany.
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I’m in western MA…condos are $300k, a decent house is $500k+…they weren’t three years ago, and then everyone fleeing Boston & NYC came here and drove up our prices.
You can totally still get houses in that range in western mass, just smaller and not in Amherst or northampton. We have a 4 bedroom in a “good” town, on a cute cul de sac, and I don’t think we could get more than Zillow’s $400k estimate for it. Smaller houses in the same desirable town definitely go between $250-300k. Even in Amherst you can get a tiny house with no yard for $300k.
here’s a nice house for under $300k. They do exist!
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/46-Deborah-Ave_Pittsfield_MA_01201_M32615-63970
You did see that’s in Pittsfield, right?
The last I checked, Pittsfield was technically part of Massachusetts?
It technically is, but OP asked for “safest places to live to raise a family”…that’s not Pittsfield. Especially the family part…I definitely wouldn’t send my kids to the Pittsfield schools.
But a lot of people do send their kids to school in Pittsfield. Not everybody can afford to live in the safest town, with the best schools. A lot of people live in Pittsfield and Springfield and Holyoke and Chicopee and lead happy lives and their children do well in school.
This is a troll post right?
Pittsfield, Springfield. I really don’t know where else you can be looking at that price.
I don't think you are going to get any where for that budget. You may want to look at condo's but even that is still too low.
You can go on Zillow and put in the price range, area you are looking for (though I would include the whole state as a search area) and see what comes up. That will give you an idea of what is available and where.
My neighbor paid $233,000 for his one bedroom/bathroom 619 SQ Ft "house" in 2020, really it is an old summer cottage from the 70's. According to most websites it's now worth $303,000. We live in the South Shore area. Just trying to give you an idea of what the market is like in Mass right now.
try western mass, maybe springfield
250K and safe. You must choose one of these things or you will be disappointed. Western mass has more options and I like the vibe better personally. More rural/cozy towns out there.
New Hampshire
"(250-300k max)"
For your down payment?
Yes
Lol
You'll have to be in western mass, way out in the sticks, to get anything in that price range. And even then you're looking at a cottage. Within 50 miles of Boston, a 250k-300k down payment will provide some options.
Realistically, you'll have to up your budget to about 500-550k for a small suburban home here.
Longmeadow is a great place to raise a family, right in the suburbs of Springfield. With one of the best education systems in the state its very desirable among young homeowners looking to start a family.
However, you have to keep in mind with this comes very VERY high tax rates, it is the second highest town in the state in regards to property tax. With plenty to do here in the valley ( and hopefully soon a commuter rail to Boston.) If you do decide to move your house very well may move up in value within the next few years
Im seeing a few places browsing Zillow now, like everyone else said western MA or northwestern Worcester county. Small 2 or 3 bedrooms and a lot of them are probably going to have iffy quality and are in the middle of nowhere. But I will say they’re in safe neighborhoods, save for the bears and coyote.
Aw cmon, black bears are just oversized raccoons. Raise your arms and yell and they’ll run terrified.
It MIGHT be possible in western Ma but it’ll either need to be a smaller house or a real fixer. I have no specific recommendations as that budget eliminates the towns with the better school systems. When you’re serious I’d recommend finding a realtor in Western Ma and having them find what might be in your budget and going from there.
A basement condo. Sadly.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/24-Westgate-Rd-2-Chestnut-Hill-MA-02467/59154870_zpid/
Did you have to choose Chestnut Hill?
Check out Greenfield
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You can get a modest 1600-2000sqft house in one of the middle class Boston suburbs - that is, assuming 250-300K is your annual household income and not total house budget.
I suggest you triple your budget.
Plenty of older houses in western mass that have plenty of character, at least. Might need a bit of work.
You "might" still be able to find something outside of 495. Maybe. Hell. there's not much for under 350k where I am in Fitchburg. And people will tell you it's not the place to be raising a family. (Even though we did and had no issues.) The surrounding towns/cities are even more expensive. And down around my home town on the South Shore, closer to Boston? HA! Forget about it unless you have 700k
Western Mass in the Pioneer Valley. It's the next up and coming part of MA. Get in while you still can.
The pioneer valley is past up and coming, it's about tapped out. 300k us doable but it won't be in a choice town or location unless they get lucky.
Western Mass but not Springfield, which is a dead, crime ridden city now. Try the suburbs of Springfield or go a bit northward to places like Easthampton. Western Mass cities like Northampton used to be cheap but NYers moved in and took over so Northampton is more expensive than it used to be. It's still nowhere as expensive as the Boston area though. The Northampton area is artsy and very cultured with great colleges but not a lot of jobs unless you are a college professor or you work in a service type job.
Maybe you could live somewhere around Northampton and commute to a job in the Springfield area, but definitely stay away from Springfield as a place to live. I don't know why some posters are recommended Springfield but it's probably because they have never been there, have never seen it. They probably wouldn't recommend their "prize" city of Lawrence to you!
Have you been to Springfield in the last ten years? Tons of good restaurants, supposedly the highest lgbtq population in the state, right off the highway, and decent housing prices. The biggest complaint you hear about is literally folks drag racing dirt bikes down main lol. I wouldn’t personally send my kids there, but even with schools they’ve improved massively.
Dirt bikes yes and also the shockingly high crime rate.
mcj270 t1_jbr6ev7 wrote
That amount of money will get you a shed in someone’s back yard