Any Western MA DUers?

[MountainLaurel]

My fiancee and I are hoping to move to the Amherst/Holyoke area within the next year or so, and I was wondering if any DUers could provide some on-the-ground info on issues like cost of living and quality of life, traffic, weather, pollen, neighborhoods to avoid, etc. Also, we'll probably be visiting the area in early July, if anyone would be interested in lunch.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I'd avoid Belchertown.

I lived out in Amherst for a year, which is really nice, but you must be able to deal with college kids. Nearby Belchertown has all the charm of an armpit. Other than that, I can't give much more for details. Originally from Worcester.

[MountainLaurel]

4. With a name like that

I'm not particularly surprised it's a pit. Reminds me of smokestacks.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Great quality of life, much cheaper than the Boston area

but it is pollen hell in Massachusetts!

Northampton (NoHo) is a great little city. Holyoke is kind of a pit...

[skippysmom]

3. I went to college out there

at Mount Holyoke, and still have had some friends in the area. Cost of living is much better than it is in eastern Mass or even down in CT. The weather is typical New England -- changeable. Fall is gorgeous, summer sees lots of pollen.

Places to avoid: Holyoke is pretty scary, as are parts of Springfield. Amherst and NoHo are both funky college towns, with all of the advantages and disadvantages. Route 9, which runs between the two, is a pain in the ass traffic wise.

Some towns like Sunderland and Hadley are really rural, others like South Hadley and Chicopee are pretty working class, and then you have places like Wilbraham and Longmeadow that are fairly tony.

If you are looking for a good place to eat you'll have lots of choices in NoHo and Amherst but I recommend Judie's in Amherst for their awesome popovers.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Thanks for the tips everyone.

We'd be coming from the DC area, which is currently #3 in the nation trafficwise and has a horrible cost of living (like $250K for a 1BR condo), so at this point anything is an improvement. Hence, why we want to move.

I'm actually applying for a position at MHC today (I'm a librarian). It looks like an incredible place.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. 250K for a 1-bed? that's cheap for Boston

Noho and Amherst are a lot cheaper. Good luck!

[MountainLaurel]

11. That's the burbs

And a not very high-end part at that. Compare that to a new building going up about 1/4 miles away from where we are now in DC proper -- units start at $600K

[paineinthearse]

7. Kerry in N. Adams tomorrow

John Kerry to Visit Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to Meet with Students and Staff of the TRIO Program
Thursday, June 2nd, 2005 At 9:45am

Senator John Kerry to Visit Upper Housatonic River Valley to Highlight the Importance of Designating it a National Historic Preservation Area
Thursday, June 2nd, 2005 At 11:45am

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

8. I think Easthampton deserves a look

not a very exciting town, not scarey either. 5 miles from Northampton
and cheaper than Northampton or Amherst. Whereever you end up, I
recommend it be within reasonable driving distance of Trader Joe's
on route 9 in Hadley.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. PM me any questions

I live in Greenfield, 15 min. north of Amherst/Noho

[MountainLaurel]

10. Will do

Our circumstances are still a bit unstable: We're trying to decide how soon we want to put this plan in action (we're coming over the long July 4 weekend to scope the place), and wondering how long it will take for one of us to find work (I've already applied for a position, but the opening is being held for now, so it looks like it's not being filled for the timebeing).

I'll probably send some specific questions after our visit.

Thanks so much!

:hi:

[skids]

12. Western MA native and resident all my life.

...wouldn't have it any other way. Which is why I'm currently jobless -- the market out here is dreadful. I could walk into a job of my choosing in Eastern MA, but then I'd have to live there :-(.

Pollen will be a big issue in the "Happy Valley" a.k.a. the "Valley of Tears" to Native Americans. Rumor is they used to send their young braves out here on vision quests because the pollen would induce severe reactions. To avoid it, you have to be south of the valley, though we still get a good amount of it here in South Hadley.

PM me when you head on up here, if you want to do lunch/dinner. I'm currently living right near MHC.

[paineinthearse]

13. Was there over the weekend

Did a soccer tournament and turns out a very famous tin hat is a fellow referee. What a small world!

Anyway, investigate the small towns just north and east of Amherst, Leverett & Sunderland. I went to a once-a-month coffee house, the residents seemed to be our kind of people.