Okay, here we go. I grew up in Leominster and I now live in Fitchburg. I’ve lived in other places, but I’m very, very intimate with this area.

The most important and pressing factor for you is housing. It’s virtually impossible to find a 2-bedroom for $1,200. If you did happen to stumble across something on Craigslist or whatever, it’s extremely likely that it’s a shit hole the landlord gave up on maintaining. Do not cut corners on housing. A lot of buildings in Fitchburg aren’t taken care of; they’re left to ruin and infestations. You could feasibly find a rare 1-bedroom or studio, however. Some of the complexes in Fitchburg and Leominster are all right. But just know that the rent is high everywhere now. Fitchburg used to be Leominster’s more affordable cousin; not so much anymore. Rents are nearly identical. I’m talking $1,800-$2,000 for a 3-bedroom. 2-beds would be $1,400+

I’m sure everyone will be telling you how expensive Unitil is for utilities. That’s true, but our city just created a new aggregate program which will save us money.

Anyway, you’ll have to either settle for a smaller apartment or look around in Gardner/Athol. They’re still a bit cheaper out there, but then you’re basically in the sticks.

For nightlife, like you said, you have Worcester. Leominster has a lot of new restaurants downtown and around the city. Fitchburg still has virtually nothing aside from a couple joints downtown (Boulder, Tryst, that Jamaican food place…). I guess Singapore has a new owner as well. But yeah, don’t kid yourself, there really aren’t many fun times in the Burg. It’s a bedroom town, just a place to sleep and watch TV. You got Dunkin and a few fast food places, Carol’s, Dutch Kitchen, and a movie theater that sucks. Leominster has a better one and WAY more food and shopping options. Basically everything you need is in Leominster and down toward Worcester. No true nightlife outside of Worcester/Boston.

If you’re into Cannabis, we have 6 or 7 dispensaries. That’s the best thing going for us right now. Cheap groceries as well with 2 Market Baskets.

In terms of crime, eh. The crime rate in Fitchburg is nearly identical to that of Leominster. You’ll hear of shootings often, but they’re never random or directed at random civilians. It’s always gang/drug/prostitution related. The thing about the Burg is that it’s still very trashy. Almost every neighborhood that’s downtown adjacent is trashy. Smelly, dirty, abandoned homes and buildings, prostitutes, people asking you for money… just your normal city stuff. But it seems more prominent because that’s all you get there. It’s not like a big city where you get a good mix of trashy and gentrified, or homeless people mixed in with people in suits and golfing shorts. It’s a fairly deserted downtown. The people hanging out on the streets are into drugs, homeless, etc. but understand that you’re not moving to Gary, Indiana or south side L.A. Fitchburg is a small city and the bad areas are very small. All you have to do is drive up the street a mile or two and you’re back into regular middle class suburbia. It’s not that bad. I’ve never had an issue here. It’s very quiet with lots of single family homes, triple deckers… it’s one of the original working class towns of MA. And you know how they all end up, high and dry, once all the factories close down. But some of the old mills are now luxury apartments. Fitchburg is certainly better than it was, and it will either stagnate or get better. It definitely won’t get worse. The new luxury apartments will only attract people with money.

There’s also a lot of history, if you’re into that. This is MA after all. There’s history everywhere.

There’s a lot of hiking. Fitchburg is surrounded by rural farmlands and hills. Actually, most of Fitchburg is completely rural. The “city” part is not huge. You’re in, then you’re out.

In conclusion, if being very close to an exciting area isn’t important to you, then Fitchburg is just fine. 41,000 people call it home, and we get up and go to work and come home to make dinner. It’s a humdrum life.

Oh, and you should also know that the Burg is extremely hilly and the roads are absolutely horrendous.

In conclusion, the biggest problem for you is rent. You could find something by word of mouth. But just looking online you’ll never find what you’re looking for. Unless you lower your standards or go further out west. Anything Worcester-central and east is too expensive. But you could find something south of Worcester or west down the route 2 corridor. Then you’d have a lot of driving in your future. There’s a complex in Westminster that has 2-beds for $1,200 unless they raised the rents. But yeah, your best bet would be checking out all the complexes in the area. Most landlords who own a triple decker or two-family house just follow the trend of asking for the highest price possible, because they can.

Your nightlife will be non-existent in either, really, but both are relatively safe. Leominster is much safer than Fitchburg, but Fitchburg’s crime is largely concentrated to a few streets. One of the last affordable places within (roughly) an hour of Boston. Of the two, I’d say Fitchburg “feels” much sadder than Leominster, but probably doesn’t wholly deserve its horrible reputation.

What I’d be more worried about is the culture shock moving from the Midwest. People in central Mass will seem distant, and people in eastern Mass will seem like they’re from another planet.

I lived in Leominster for nearly 20 years. I have very few complaints. It's a lovely little city.

>$1200 or less for 2br

This is most likely not happening.

You're unlikely to find acceptable housing for $1200 or less. I live in the area and pay $1600 for a 2BR this year, up over a hundred dollars a month from last year.

$1200 for a 2 bedroom is unlikely statewide. I just moved from greenfield, and it’s not even possible around there anymore.

Leominster is a bit better than Fitchburg. I think of Leominster as a firmly blue-collar town (with that one random neighborhood up in the hills with giant homes), and Fitchburg as being run down.

That being said, I lived in downtown Fitchburg for a year and it wasn't that bad. Definitely a seedy town, but seedy by Massachusetts standards. Not uncommon to get asked for money at night, but I never really felt in physical danger. Northen Fitchburg gets much more suburban if not downright rural and has some nice quiet neighborhoods (especially around the high school).

Tons of towns are Fitchburg would be a fine choice, think Lunenburg or Townsend maybe. Rent should be cheap, but as some advice from me to you? As a 20 something, unless you're deeply introverted, you will be in agony living in those sticks out there.

Not sure about Fitchburg, but Leominster is the burbs. If that's ok with you, it's fine.

I live in a beautiful neighborhood in Fitchburg. There are some sad places within the city but every old mill city has that issue. I have never been the victim of a crime and I have lived here most of my life. My car has never been broken into, my house has never been broken into, I’ve never been robbed, etc. Worst thing that has happened is I’ve been hounded at Market Basket for change but that has also happened in Westford so it happens anywhere.

Schools suck but if you don’t have kids who cares?

Wachusett Brewery is a fun place, River Styx is great too. Leominster has some awesome food and the proximity to Worcester is great. People saying you can’t find something for $1200 aren’t looking. My friend just found a nice one bedroom in an ok area for $950, all hardwood floors, insulated, and brand new windows and doors. It may seem weird noting insulation but that is something to consider! Old apartments are often not insulated so keep that in mind.

You're out in the woods already so I'd look to the west.

Come to Gardner, or around here. Worst ive had was kids stealing change from my car, till I locked the doors.

The burg isn't bad, its like anywhere else. Don't go looking for trouble & youll be fine. Parts of Boston are way worse, that's where I'm from.

The housing problem is beyond severe. It’s almost a lost cause. Blame the politicians here, and the idiots that keep them in office and the wealthy nimby folks that care about poverty until it shows up on their lawn.

It’s funny. I am out in Groton and grew up 13 miles west of Boston so was not all that familiar with this area. People really love Leominster

The surrounding towns in the area are really nice. If you want, you can find some nice areas nearby without suffering too much in the commute side of things.

Neither are amazing, but certainly not that bad either. Some nice neighborhoods in each

I just moved to Leominster from Watertown about 3 years ago now. I have no complaints. I love my house, neighborhood, and access to halfway decent restaurants. Also getting back to Boston is not that difficult, just depends on what time of day.

You could consider Milford, Nh. About 35 mins to Fitchburg and Manchester. Milford has its own downtown with some great restaurants and bars, a drive in movie theater, athletic club and lots of community activities.

Been in Fitchburg for about 20 years now. Neighborhood is nice, clean and quiet. You're young, but schools here do not suck. There are more non chain restaurants and bakeries opening up in the city. And plenty of cannabis shops. But finding anything like you're looking for is not going to happen. At least nothing where I would point someone. And yeah, the roads are horrible. But I was visiting my mom on the South Shore of MA recently, and the roads down there are getting just as bad as they are here.

Gardner isn't bad, and has a growing downtown. If you wanted roommates I would suggest Lowell.

It just seems like an economically depressed area that has seen better days. Buildings and fussiness need updates lol

What’s up with Leominster?

Searched zillow for a $1,200 2br.

Closest one is in Dorchester, over an hour away.

Sounds like you might want to turn down this job offer for lack of affordable housing or go with one bedroom or get a roommate.

Seriously. Check out Barre. It's closer to Worcester and very quiet. Friendly people too.

You really want to move to Taxachusetts?

There are some decent parts of Leominster and Fitchburg, but you won't find an apartment there. Everywhere else in those cities is pretty bad. Tough neighborhoods with the run off from the other big cities moving in.

In saying that, those neighborhoods are not like the pictures you see of Boston, Detroit, Chicago, LA that are filled with tent cities of the homeless, trash everywhere and burning vehicles. They are just changing from the nice, hardworking neighborhoods of the past. The rents are still high in those areas.

Rents are high everywhere in Mass , causing homelessness and squeezing out of the middle class.

I would seriously educate yourself on the areas at least 40 minutes out around those areas. Take your time and learn about the areas and go from there. $1200.00 a month for rent is going to be difficult to find.