SperlingViews - Massachusetts, Massachusetts

Love Mas and the Berkshires. Culture, scenery, proximity to so many great things but a two person income here of $80,000 is almost poverty. Housing, utilities and lack of good paying jobs are crushing this state. Lived here my whole life but getting too expensive to stay. Sad![read more...]

MA has horrible weather, horrible cost of living, horrible Politics lean (wayyyy Left, horrible services...the only saving grace of this state is that it is very sports oriented and has some great teams... [read more...]

I looked up 4 towns in Massachusetts and all had the same religion demongraphics. This isn't correct, obviously. Any suggestions on how to get this information? [read more...]

Wish to know locations of grocery stores in North Naples.[read more...]

Mass has the best doctors and best facilities in the nation in terms of health care.[read more...]

thanks[read more...]

Clinton MA is a terrific New England town bordered by Lancaster to the north, Bolton to the northeast, Berlin to the east, Boylston to the south, and Sterling to the west. It was named after the DeWitt Clinton Hotel in New York, a favorite place of the town's founders, Erastus Brigham Bigelow and his brother Horatio.The population in 2010 was 13,606. If you enjoy the historical appeal of a former mill town you may like Clinton. Clinton became a small industrialized mill town, using the Nashua River as a source for water power. Railroads came to the town to serve this industry, including the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad (Fitchburg Branch of the Old Colony Railroad), the Central Massachusetts Railroad, and the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad (the last two later merged into the Boston and Maine Railroad). By 1890, Clinton was noted for its manufacturing of carpets and woven wire. The average income here is between 40 and 50,000. Clinton MA offers a simple way of life and is the first town west of 495 to offer a more affordable standard of living. It has a country feel in some places, good access to major highways 495 and 190, grocery stores, CVS, Walgreens, Dunkin Donuts, Gas stations and even a Russian Icon museum. The Wachusette Dam is an interesting feat of mankind and worth exploring. The town common has got to be award-winning because it is beautiful and on par with the Public Gardens of Boston. There is great hiking at the Nashua River Walk or any of the fire roads around the reservoir Overall, the down town area has everything you need and the people here really pull together to help each other out. Kimball Farm on Route 70 offers delicious ice-cream, antique car shows and a gift shop full of goodies. The car shows in summer are a huge draw. [read more...]

For anyone who rents, the average rent is over $1,000 for just a one bedroom apartment. Utilities are not bad but its best if you can find a rental that includes heat and hot water. That will help. Boston is a great walking town.[read more...]

Winter can be difficult, but during the rest of the year it is very nice.[read more...]

I find Ma has the best of 4 seasons. There seems to be something for everyone to enjoy. [read more...]

Massachusetts is pricing right out of our home. Values decline & taxes go up. Going South real soon![read more...]

Over taxed. Living cost too high[read more...]

Boston is awesome in non-winter months. The other seasons are quite beautiful here. There's lots to do, parks are beautiful, lots of museums to see and history to check out. When winter hits, it's a different story for me. I don't feel like getting out in freezing temps and I end up spending a lot of time inside. If you are looking to move up here and you were born and raised in warm weather like me, I rec you come up for a visit for a few days during winter before making your decision to move. [read more...]

Careful u newcomers to Mass especially on the major roads (both interstate and state routes). In the wisdom of our transportation specialists their solution to the vehicle overcrowding is to allow driving in the breakdown lanes during peak hours. And that lane is subsequently converted to a high speed lane. Be watchfull and be on the lookout. [read more...]

thank you![read more...]

I moved to the area for work and spouse, neither of which remain in my life. I enjoy the beautiful area but have only been here over the past two winters, which are harsh. I have been told the summers are gorgeous and I can believe that...however the traffic is going to be horible. My saving grace is Boston which is up the road about an hour (just as bustling, I know! but offers more for my needs). Cape Cod is a beautiful place to have a summer house.[read more...]

Sales tax was increased from 5% to 6.25% in Massachusetts.[read more...]

Boston, and Massachusetts in general seems to generate a lot of controversy. One common complaint--the high cost of housing--is ample evidence of life quality high enough to be worth paying for. When paired with the infamous weather, clearly there must be something else going right. The best place to live is the place where you feel at home. So, it's natural and even beneficial that we all don't agree. That's what so great about Sperling's Best Places--over the years it has enabled my husband and I to make the choices that are right for us. Having lived in the Boston suburbs for twelve years (making me a relative newcomer), after half a lifetime in California, a stint in Canada, and familiarity with each of the Lower 48 states, we fit in here because of the overlap between what Massachusetts has to offer and who we are. One is in touch with Nature here--forests, rivers, hills and sea. The people are smart, the people are real. They have a dry, self-deprecating sense of humor. The place is imbued with history, but we live near a high-tech corridor. As a teacher, I can vouch for the quality of the school systems (oh-and snowstorms mean snow days!). We've got our teams and their passionate fans. But, for us, what counts are the libraries! This is library paradise! While the town libraries are linked into systems that allow for shared borrowing privileges, usually each library is a unique jewel, reflecting the richness of its past and subsequent modernization. That goes for all of Massachusetts as well. There are a lot of great cities and cultures in America--this happens to be ours.[read more...]

I feel the housing market is out of proportion compared to the rest of the country.[read more...]

Winters are just too long[read more...]