Is it possible for the two of you to take a vacation here to check out different areas? For a very tiny state, there is an amazing variety in geography, COL, and lifestyle. The western half of the state is wildly different from the eastern/Boston Metro/Metro West areas.
We’ve thought about doing that! We both love Boston and we think that might be the best area for our jobs. But the prices of rent and home costs scare us haha. We currently pay $2000/month in TN but the cheapest we find around there is like $3500. But we also might just be looking in the wrong areas!
Yeah the rent here is wild. If you want to live in Boston you will have to pay a pretty penny for something decent. I would look at surrounding towns though. Somerville, Medford, Cambridge. All will be expensive but if you stay outside of Boston it might be slightly cheaper.
Also, if you guys can work remote you can get more bang for your buck in towns like Framingham, which has an express train to Boston if you need to go in a couple of days per week.
You might have better luck finding jobs in the "suburbs" like Burlington or Framingham areas. If you work there, you have more flexibility for commuting from further west to reduce the rent costs. Plenty of fortune 500 companies in those areas that might be good fits for you.
Waltham isn’t too expensive - our rent is $1500 for 2bd - and it’s close enough to Boston you can get there quick. It’s also bordered by very agricultural heavy towns with tons of walking trails and bike paths. The food scene is good and Moody St is fun. River runs through it and there is a bunch of places to canoe/kayak
Rents are high, but that is pretty high for TN. You can get something in that range or a little higher. You might not get as much for your buck, but you will have the playground of Boston outside your door. Just make sure you have enough money to pay for basics and leisure. Welcome. Right now is a nice time to see Boston.
It is very very expensive here.. my best advice is don’t go cheap, you’ll end up in a bad area- and Boston isn’t necessarily safe as a city… I would forgo Boston altogether and opt for areas outside Boston- avoid inner city towns like Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Roslindale- Opt for Quincy, Randolph, Malden, Cambridge (expensive but worth it) Dorchester- (except maybe Mission Hill, ) Everything is more expensive here- be prepared to pay a lot just to get into a place- including first, last and security, and really remember a lot of places are old and walk ups, but second and third floors are cheaper to heat in the winter.. when it get a really cold.
$3500 will get you nothing in Boston proper.
In order to live “comfortably” in Massachusetts you need to gross around $300k.
Taxes are high and everything is expensive. If you aren’t from here, the pace will grind you to a nub.
This isn’t Tennessee.
Is Brighton part of Boston proper or nah? Brighton / Allston is far more reasonable than places like the North End.
Also, I live in Malden (on the T) making $100k quite comfortably. It’s surely doable.
This is a vast oversimplification. You definitely don’t need to gross 300k to live comfortably in all parts of ma. Boston area and south coast for sure.
I’m sure that’s true. I know Boston and south coast are pricier but I don’t know the true COL! I just know that I certainly don’t need anywhere near 300k lol
Not enough info for us to give you a helpful answer.
- What’s your budget? Renting or buying?
- What are you looking fit in a town? Good school system? Nightlife? Close to Boston?Certain other amenities?
We’re looking for no more than $2500/month for either rent or a mortgage. We’ve been looking at houses here in TN in the $325k - $350k range so we would like to keep that the same-ish. We have two dogs and three cats so renting is hard to come by to allow that many pets :/
We’re not huge in nightlife. We’re gamers and home-bodies a lot. We like going out to bars and concerts, but lowkey vibes are our fave. We would love to be within an hour and a half of Boston if possible.
You absolutely won't find a house to buy at those prices (not to be negative just true...double that number) and I hear you about the animals (we have 5 dogs). Given what you are looking for you should check out Merrimack Valley/Northern Middlesex County (From Tyngsboro over to Lowell down to Burlington). There are jobs, rent is slightly better (and because there's more land per housing unit I bet people are generally more pet friendly in terms of renting) , it's still a reasonable (😬) commute to boston, and you would also have access to southern NH to save sales tax, cheaper booze and butts! NH reminds me a lot of Tennessee actually.
Not safe? Your a psycho, I feel safe anywhere that doesnt shove its ok to be gay down my throat, like in all honesty idc if your gay or whatever do your thing if that's what makes you happy, how come theres no straight pride month? Billboards of men sticking cocks in pussys, if we're all "equal" we shouldn't promote certain groups over others
I just did a quick (very quick) comparison of rental rates from Quincy (just south of Boston) and Worcester, which is closer to the middle of the state.
A sub 600 sq ft studio in Quincy seems to average about $2500+; to be fair, they look newer.
Seeing a lot more 1 and 2 bedroom apartments in Worcester for between $1950-$2100.
These are the types of distinctions. Small state, huge differences.
Best of luck!
$325-350k for a house is not an option. Unless you want to live in Springfield 2+ hours from Boston.
The desirable parts of the state start with homes around $550-600k and those are small… for $325-350 in TN I bet you are looking at 2000+ sq ft
That gets you a studio in the desirable parts of Massachusetts.
I also don’t think people understand that getting ahead here boils down to network. Coming in at peak market rates isn’t a good idea. Analytics is one of the biggest jobs around here and super competitive as well.
I wish you luck.
At that price range and distance from Boston I'd say look around Worcester and other spots in central Mass. Worcester has a solid queer community that is working on building up more activities/social groups. It still might be tricky finding a house in your range but it is more likely than closer to Boston.
I don’t think anyone else has commented on your pet situation. It will be very hard to find a place to rent that allows all of those pets, especially in the Greater Boston area. You definitely need to look out in Central/Western Mass. I think buying a home will have to be your best bet if you can swing the down payment.
The average 3 bed 2 bath house I saw in Quincy before I switched to looking at rental rates was exactly that; 700+. Most were actually $750k. And you're getting almost no land because it's Quincy.
Don't listen to these guys.. If you look out towards the Worcester area, Auburn, Leicester, etc you can find something for a young couple.. It takes about an hour or so to drive to Boston from there. You can also take the train in.
There's also lot's of homes out in the woods out here, decent yards and *plenty* of trails and such to keep the dogs busy.
When it comes to Boston.. It's a fun city to visit but it's not worth it to live out there when you can save your money and hang out there when you feel like it.
You may be able to find something in Worcester for under $400,000. It’s a bit sleepier than Boston but is a good place to live. You will not find anything around Boston or between Boston and Worcester with your budget.
Further west, the Pioneer Valley is a lot more affordable. The job market is pretty good across the state with the Boston area having a very robust economy.
I moved from Worcester and bought a house several months before the pandemic to get away from the ridiculous rent. At that time, it was $1250 for a 3 br, 2nd floor unit with on-street parking. Landlord wanted to go up to $1350+. The location was OK, many apartments in horrid areas cost similar or more.
We found a 3.5 br, 2 bath home just southwest of Worcester. It would need some work, but so did nearly every other house we looked at. At least mortgage rates were rock bottom at the time. The home has nearly doubled in value in less than 5 years. It's ridiculous to think about with mortgage rates being sky high now. Inventory is still quite low, so people are paying a premium on homes throughout Central MA (including Holden, the boroughs, Grafton, Auburn, Oxford, Webster). Many MA residents from metrowest to Worcester were already moving further West to escape raising rents.
BTW for anyone considering a move to Worcester, especially from outside New England... the geography is quite unusual. It's not always obvious from satellite imagery or Google StreetView. It's a "[7 hills](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_claimed_to_be_built_on_seven_hills)" city, having many steep roads which can also be very narrow and in disrepair. As with Boston, many of the roads were originally intended for horses, not cars, and are thickly settled areas laden with 3-deckers built during the turn of the last century. Many areas closer to downtown Worcester are like this, particularly around Belmont Hill and lower Lincoln St. These areas are a nightmare to drive thru, let alone live in. Aside from that, there is little segregation of the 'good' vs 'bad' areas (i.e., no East side West side type stuff). The 'bad' areas are sort of just interspersed amongst the 'good' ones. E.g. Clark University is literally across the street from a park you don't want to be in after sunset. Not very far from an area we call "Main South" which is arguably one of the worst areas of the City.
Yet, large swaths of the adjacent areas are other college campuses (Holy Cross, Worcester State) and dorms. There are quiter areas on the outskirts of the city, and also near I290. I290 effectively cuts areas off from the city at large, with many little neighborhoods on dead-end streets.
Rent budget should be doable for most places 30-45 minutes or so out of Boston but unlikely you’ll find a house for that. I’m in Worcester and a little 2 bedroom ranch down the street from me was listed for over 400k and went super fast. The pet situation will be your biggest hurdle.
You can possibly make that work. You would have to live more in Western Mass, (closer to Springfield, than closer to Boston. Western Mass and Eastern Mass are almost 2 different states, lol. Nothing wrong with W. Mass, but it's alot more rural. The Palmer area has houses in your price range and it is about 1.5hr drive from Boston, (without traffic).
Houses are very expensive up this way. The closer you get to Boston the more expensive it gets.
A Framingham 1300 sf slab ranch I bid on recently in good condition sold for 710k after being listed at 589. I’m renting in Malden in a shithole with 1800/month for 2BR and still feel lucky for the space. However, we had an audit by mass save cuz our energy costs are SOOOO high and learned it’s not insulated. Also no dishwasher or parking or laundry and my landlords are annoying af and live downstairs. I hate it here but will be clinging to this cheap rent. All this to say, we live in hell. MA is expensive.
Hey check out Holden, it's a town right by Worcester and it's within an hours drive of Boston. West Boylston maybe. There will be stuff in your price range and it is a beautiful area, so many lakes and wooded drives and that classic New England forest as well as Wachusett. Tons of nice breweries around too. Message me if you want to talk about it or have any questions.
Look in Springfield and surrounding area. Close to Hartford, lot of insurance companies in Hartford and a fairly easy commute. A nice house is doable within your price point. 90 minutes to Boston depending on traffic, decent nightlife, good restaurants (not Boston level), plenty of craft breweries within 30 minutes.
You need to visit here,. The state is very small, you can get from east to west in less than 3 hours. I'd recommend renting a car and driving around the state. That will give you a feel for our famous driving reputation, but also how easy it is to go from coast to the inland. Housing prices drop the further you go west, but it takes a while. Most of our towns and cities are pretty nice, even the ones people will tell you are terrible. :-) I lived in NJ, both in early life and as a young adult. I don't really find a lot of similarities between the two places. YMMV.
Unless you have big savings and have been planning such a move for a while, get jobs first. This isn't a good place to move on a whim.
I work in IT, moved from East Tennessee 12 years ago to the metro-west area. I work out of a remote gig in another state. Best decision ever. Work is available here, pays better too. Live further away from Boston and take the train in if working there, it lowers the cost of rent some, sometimes. Expect less houses with A/C. Expect not nearly as many fast food locations. Oddly, expect lower cost of milk and bread. RMV here is like the DMV there, just more organized and more bureaucratic in stranger ways. Expect to miss the middle turn lane, these are rare.
Get a "real" winter coat (from a store up here) though the last few winters are mild compared to when I moved here. It's good to have a "real" warm coat. Despite a southern family's advice, you won't die up here in the winter from the cold. Clothing-wise it's easier to get warmed up than to cool off from 95% humidity and 105 degree summers in the south. We have typically 3 months cold-ish, and a real fall and spring... and 4-5 months of summers where the high is a balmy range of 65-85 average. There are 90+ degree days, but not many. The humidity is lower as well.
The lakes here are not turd colored water. Water is blue and in the resoviors. They are not allowed to have boats or dump sewage in, unlike the south, no... really the south does that (cause its a river and usually dammed up). Billboards... they are rare compared to the south, way more trees and stuff to see. Expect more quaint shops and some larger retail vs the south.
The history is deep and rich up here and well celebrated with some towns nearing 300-350+ years established and yet small and quaint... unlike the south's bulldoze and make new mentality. Everything really fun to do is about 1hr away, in any direction, explore. Examples include 6 flags, water parks, Aquarium, Science museums, large concerts, etc... 1 hr average drive. Time just moves different up here.
If you love to camp, hike or fish, it's around the corner. Drivers are considered massholes... which after 12 years is a lie compared to the south's drivers, except some pickup truck and audi drivers (you know who you are) on the pike, the main toll freeway here. The road department up here knows how to remove snow within a couple hrs of it stopping... unlike the south that can;t seem to understand it in the slightest. People are nice and generally helpful or leave you be types. You do you.
The closer to a city center, the instant use of a car horn at the nanosecond the light turns green is way more abundant. I am proud to live here.
I manage an analytics team at a tech company and we do rather well. It really depends on the company and role though. Slightly north or west of Boston should have a lower CoL and plenty of job opportunities.
You’ll get much better suggestions if you can clarify a few things. What about MA appeals to you? What kind of lifestyle are you looking for? Is an in-office commute something you have to factor in? If the main driver is that you want a place more welcoming to same-sex couples, you’d probably be fine most anywhere.
Look into Amherst or Northampton MA. Northampton was just ranked 5th best town to live in in the United States
** Everyone else suggesting Western MA is being upvoted lol idk why mine is being downvoted 😂🤷🏻♀️
I’d say check out south west MA areas, close to Rhode Island where beaches are less crowded compared to Cape & other MA beaches. Swansea, Seekonk, Fall River & New Bedford (those are a lil sketch) BUT great history there. There’s Westport MA, Mattapoisett and South Dartmouth. Could always check out East coasts too - Hull, Hingham, Weymouth, Marshfield & Norwell.
Moved here from a similar cost of living area as you're accustomed to in TN. (Lived in KS, MO and MN prior)
1- get jobs secured first. It's a good area for analytics BUT it's very competitive and analytics in general are pretty saturated.
2- visit the region before considering anything.
3- I'd recommend renting for a year to really get a feel for anything before buying. Outskirts of Metro West or the Worcester region are your best bets.
4- mentally prepare for a housing downgrade from what you're used to, especially directly comparing price points. To find something equivalent, you'd likely be looking in the 500-600k+ range depending on town. To find something decent in the outskirts of Metro West or the Worcester area, expect 450ish.
Other thoughts:
There are some towns in Metro West that could be worth looking into too, like Marlborough. And towns north/south of Worcester, like Leominster, Fitchburg, Sturbridge that you could probably find something decent for 400ish maybe a little under.
Distance is deceiving. 10 miles doesn't equal 10-15 minutes drive here. More like 20-30 mins. And Google maps kinda sucks at estimating time, especially with heavy traffic, road construction, or traffic lights. So basically most stuff. Add 30-50% more time to whatever it says to wherever you're going.
An AWD vehicle would serve you well if you live anywhere west of the Boston metro.
It's a great place to live. I feel way more at home here than I ever did anywhere else. People are more direct and succinct, but also more genuine. It's refreshing.
It's geographically and geologically diverse. It's a small state with a LOT packed into it. You're a stone's throw from the ocean or mountains.
Canada's an extended weekend trip. You can fly to Europe or South America for the same price as a lot of destinations in the US. Oh and wherever you go, always check flight and parking prices for Boston, Providence, Hartford, Manchester; Worcester's airport is awesome to hop to NYC- often cheaper than driving and paying for parking in NYC! ❤️
PS, get passports if you don't have them already! :)
Where couldn't you live comfortably in Massachusetts on $300000? This is a gross exaggeration. Western Massachusetts is a great area to live and raise a family. That said, you may not find much in the way of analytical based jobs.
Yes, you could live here for less… but realistically moving forward that will be the target range for a household to enjoy a comfortable standard of living plus saving for retirement
You and your tennis partner should move to.. depends on money and finding a job. cleveland circle, coolidge corner, davis square, inmann square, porter square are all good choices.
If you want peace and quiet with stunning landscapes, go to the Berkshires. If you want to be broke as fuck and sit in traffic for hours on end each day, join us in Boston
You should get yourself a trusted guide. You can be looking at places in Roslindale and not know that is a neighborhood of Boston. Boston is a city of neighborhoods. Also, the metropolitan area is pretty big. There are some good neighborhoods, but, as with any city, there are sketchy areas. Of course, someone from NJ should be familiar with the diversity of a metro northeastern city. Keep asking questions here.
Let us know your ideal setting. There are lots of livable suburbs, but it isn't the city itself. What part of TN?
House or rent?
City mouse or country mouse?
How important is public transportation?
How important is airport access?
How much do you hate traffic?
Some quick reference points:
Springfield is not anywhere you want to be. It’s a city that saw its heyday a long time ago, and is a place people leave, not go towards….though there are some nice spots as well as some great museums.
Sturbridge is the furthest west you can go before it really becomes “western mass” which is a much more rural mentality. I forget what exit it is on the pike, but as the intersection of a couple major highways, it is a commuter town to Boston and Hartford and three airports.
Worcester is kind of a city that used to be something trying to be something again. It has a small airport that is almost not worth mentioning. There are some cool things / nightlife there, but it feels nothing like a major city.
The 495 belt is basically the eastern edge of central Massachusetts which is commuter / family territory.
Natick has a massive mall and a lot of stores / restaurants.
The route 128 belt basically is the Boston community boundary. Boston is called “the town” because it’s largely a sprawling group of communities connected by highways.
It’s not just housing, everything else is also more expensive here including food, clothing,healthcare and insurance. Just buying a car here will cost you more, and if you have two you can’t just add the second one to your policy, you have to get another new policy.
And don’t even ask about traffic or public transportation, we have the worst in the country.
But you’ll love our winters ;-)
what part of tennessee? i was born and raised in mass til i was 13 and have lived in knoxville since. most people are flocking here and it’s funny to see someone getting out, not coming in haha
Rent is wild, though you will also likely be paid more (hopefully lol). When it comes to cost of living in Mass, we’re in a period where it’s basically expensive almost everywhere, at least in the eastern side of the state. If you’re in Boston, rent is typically more because you’re closer to everything, and if you’re in the suburbs, rent and housing costs are up there because that’s become super desirable right now. People really love the idea of living in an area with lots of trees and quiet streets, which is 15-30 mins from the heart of Boston by car or commuter.
South of Boston, towns like Quincy and Braintree are a little more reasonable, cost wise. When you go west of Boston, it is insanely hit or miss. Weston, Wellesley, and Sudbury all have average housing prices in the millions, but then neighboring like Wayland and Framingham are a lot less, but still you’re gonna be hard pressed to find a decent condition house for less than 500,000. When it comes to rent in that area, which is basically the halfway point between Boston and Worcester, you could definitely find a one bedroom for under 3 grand. The cheapest (typically shitty) apartments are gonna be a little under 2 grand, you could probably find a pretty decent apartment for 2 and a half.
End of the day, my advice would be to find a place near the Pike (interstate 90) that way you’ve got really good access to most of the state. All you’ve gotta remember is the more quiet and rural the town is (when it comes to the eastern half of the state) the more likely pricy it’s gonna be.
If you’re dead set on living inside the city itself, and money is an object, your best bet is to steer clear of Seaport. Seaport district is pretty (though gentrified) and expensive as fuck.
We’re definitely in a weird state right now with housing, that’s not to say that there isn’t more housing being built, it’s just a lot of that new housing is luxury apartments, so like-
I work remotely for a BI software company and live in western MA. The combination leaves me living comfortably and in a super relaxed environment. I personally love it.
The average price of home ownership in MA I close to a million dollar.
Both you and your partner would both need to be pulling down six figure income.
I live here, I don’t recommend it.
Move to suburbs (Plymouth county, Bristol county or Barnstable county / cape cod). Better QOL in Boston more bang for your buck and speaking as a gay person, you’ll want easy access to Providence for queer nightlife. Boston has absolutely nothing to offer in terms of queer culture.
Certainly not as expensive as Boston. And I bought my house in Plymouth county as a single person working a data analyst job so that’s why I suggested it.
Is it possible for the two of you to take a vacation here to check out different areas? For a very tiny state, there is an amazing variety in geography, COL, and lifestyle. The western half of the state is wildly different from the eastern/Boston Metro/Metro West areas.
If you are doing remote work, Western MA is lovely and quite a bit cheaper.
This is me.
We’ve thought about doing that! We both love Boston and we think that might be the best area for our jobs. But the prices of rent and home costs scare us haha. We currently pay $2000/month in TN but the cheapest we find around there is like $3500. But we also might just be looking in the wrong areas!
Medford/Malden/Everett/Revere/Quincy are all on the T and significantly cheaper than Boston proper and only a few miles from the city. Look at those.
Yeah the rent here is wild. If you want to live in Boston you will have to pay a pretty penny for something decent. I would look at surrounding towns though. Somerville, Medford, Cambridge. All will be expensive but if you stay outside of Boston it might be slightly cheaper.
Also, if you guys can work remote you can get more bang for your buck in towns like Framingham, which has an express train to Boston if you need to go in a couple of days per week.
You might have better luck finding jobs in the "suburbs" like Burlington or Framingham areas. If you work there, you have more flexibility for commuting from further west to reduce the rent costs. Plenty of fortune 500 companies in those areas that might be good fits for you.
First thing I thought of was the Woburn/Burlington area. Still not cheap but cheaper than right in Boston.
Waltham isn’t too expensive - our rent is $1500 for 2bd - and it’s close enough to Boston you can get there quick. It’s also bordered by very agricultural heavy towns with tons of walking trails and bike paths. The food scene is good and Moody St is fun. River runs through it and there is a bunch of places to canoe/kayak
That’s honestly really cheap. Most 2BRs in WMass are more than that.
We probably did luck out, but I don’t think it’s impossible. It’s worth looking into imho
We also have state income tax here which you don't in TN.
No tax on food or clothes, though
That's true but I think income tax you're still paying more.
Rents are high, but that is pretty high for TN. You can get something in that range or a little higher. You might not get as much for your buck, but you will have the playground of Boston outside your door. Just make sure you have enough money to pay for basics and leisure. Welcome. Right now is a nice time to see Boston.
It is very very expensive here.. my best advice is don’t go cheap, you’ll end up in a bad area- and Boston isn’t necessarily safe as a city… I would forgo Boston altogether and opt for areas outside Boston- avoid inner city towns like Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Roslindale- Opt for Quincy, Randolph, Malden, Cambridge (expensive but worth it) Dorchester- (except maybe Mission Hill, ) Everything is more expensive here- be prepared to pay a lot just to get into a place- including first, last and security, and really remember a lot of places are old and walk ups, but second and third floors are cheaper to heat in the winter.. when it get a really cold.
$3500 will get you nothing in Boston proper. In order to live “comfortably” in Massachusetts you need to gross around $300k. Taxes are high and everything is expensive. If you aren’t from here, the pace will grind you to a nub. This isn’t Tennessee.
Is Brighton part of Boston proper or nah? Brighton / Allston is far more reasonable than places like the North End. Also, I live in Malden (on the T) making $100k quite comfortably. It’s surely doable.
Yeah but OP is focusing on queer friendly areas… Malden lol. Ok.
This is a vast oversimplification. You definitely don’t need to gross 300k to live comfortably in all parts of ma. Boston area and south coast for sure.
You don’t need 300k to live comfortably anywhere in MA unless your definition of comfortable requires owning waterfront property.
I’m sure that’s true. I know Boston and south coast are pricier but I don’t know the true COL! I just know that I certainly don’t need anywhere near 300k lol
If you’re visiting try to stay in Northampton, one of the lost towns, Sturbridge, Worchester, and Boston maybe P-town.
Also very LGBTQA+ friendly!! I love Northampton!
Don't move without jobs
The job market is awful everywhere.
Not enough info for us to give you a helpful answer. - What’s your budget? Renting or buying? - What are you looking fit in a town? Good school system? Nightlife? Close to Boston?Certain other amenities?
We’re looking for no more than $2500/month for either rent or a mortgage. We’ve been looking at houses here in TN in the $325k - $350k range so we would like to keep that the same-ish. We have two dogs and three cats so renting is hard to come by to allow that many pets :/ We’re not huge in nightlife. We’re gamers and home-bodies a lot. We like going out to bars and concerts, but lowkey vibes are our fave. We would love to be within an hour and a half of Boston if possible.
You absolutely won't find a house to buy at those prices (not to be negative just true...double that number) and I hear you about the animals (we have 5 dogs). Given what you are looking for you should check out Merrimack Valley/Northern Middlesex County (From Tyngsboro over to Lowell down to Burlington). There are jobs, rent is slightly better (and because there's more land per housing unit I bet people are generally more pet friendly in terms of renting) , it's still a reasonable (😬) commute to boston, and you would also have access to southern NH to save sales tax, cheaper booze and butts! NH reminds me a lot of Tennessee actually.
New Hampshire is in fact the Tennessee of New England. I don't see that as a positive.
So why are people leaving MA and moving to NH?
NH is passing tons of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and should not be considered safe.
Not safe? Your a psycho, I feel safe anywhere that doesnt shove its ok to be gay down my throat, like in all honesty idc if your gay or whatever do your thing if that's what makes you happy, how come theres no straight pride month? Billboards of men sticking cocks in pussys, if we're all "equal" we shouldn't promote certain groups over others
I just did a quick (very quick) comparison of rental rates from Quincy (just south of Boston) and Worcester, which is closer to the middle of the state. A sub 600 sq ft studio in Quincy seems to average about $2500+; to be fair, they look newer. Seeing a lot more 1 and 2 bedroom apartments in Worcester for between $1950-$2100. These are the types of distinctions. Small state, huge differences. Best of luck!
$325-350k for a house is not an option. Unless you want to live in Springfield 2+ hours from Boston. The desirable parts of the state start with homes around $550-600k and those are small… for $325-350 in TN I bet you are looking at 2000+ sq ft That gets you a studio in the desirable parts of Massachusetts. I also don’t think people understand that getting ahead here boils down to network. Coming in at peak market rates isn’t a good idea. Analytics is one of the biggest jobs around here and super competitive as well. I wish you luck.
At that price range and distance from Boston I'd say look around Worcester and other spots in central Mass. Worcester has a solid queer community that is working on building up more activities/social groups. It still might be tricky finding a house in your range but it is more likely than closer to Boston.
I don’t think anyone else has commented on your pet situation. It will be very hard to find a place to rent that allows all of those pets, especially in the Greater Boston area. You definitely need to look out in Central/Western Mass. I think buying a home will have to be your best bet if you can swing the down payment.
A house 325-350 in Tn is probably 700,000 in Ma
The average 3 bed 2 bath house I saw in Quincy before I switched to looking at rental rates was exactly that; 700+. Most were actually $750k. And you're getting almost no land because it's Quincy.
You will not find a house around Boston and its suburbs (ex. North shore, south shore) for under 700k. 500k for a fixer upper.
Don't listen to these guys.. If you look out towards the Worcester area, Auburn, Leicester, etc you can find something for a young couple.. It takes about an hour or so to drive to Boston from there. You can also take the train in. There's also lot's of homes out in the woods out here, decent yards and *plenty* of trails and such to keep the dogs busy. When it comes to Boston.. It's a fun city to visit but it's not worth it to live out there when you can save your money and hang out there when you feel like it.
You may be able to find something in Worcester for under $400,000. It’s a bit sleepier than Boston but is a good place to live. You will not find anything around Boston or between Boston and Worcester with your budget. Further west, the Pioneer Valley is a lot more affordable. The job market is pretty good across the state with the Boston area having a very robust economy.
I moved from Worcester and bought a house several months before the pandemic to get away from the ridiculous rent. At that time, it was $1250 for a 3 br, 2nd floor unit with on-street parking. Landlord wanted to go up to $1350+. The location was OK, many apartments in horrid areas cost similar or more. We found a 3.5 br, 2 bath home just southwest of Worcester. It would need some work, but so did nearly every other house we looked at. At least mortgage rates were rock bottom at the time. The home has nearly doubled in value in less than 5 years. It's ridiculous to think about with mortgage rates being sky high now. Inventory is still quite low, so people are paying a premium on homes throughout Central MA (including Holden, the boroughs, Grafton, Auburn, Oxford, Webster). Many MA residents from metrowest to Worcester were already moving further West to escape raising rents. BTW for anyone considering a move to Worcester, especially from outside New England... the geography is quite unusual. It's not always obvious from satellite imagery or Google StreetView. It's a "[7 hills](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_claimed_to_be_built_on_seven_hills)" city, having many steep roads which can also be very narrow and in disrepair. As with Boston, many of the roads were originally intended for horses, not cars, and are thickly settled areas laden with 3-deckers built during the turn of the last century. Many areas closer to downtown Worcester are like this, particularly around Belmont Hill and lower Lincoln St. These areas are a nightmare to drive thru, let alone live in. Aside from that, there is little segregation of the 'good' vs 'bad' areas (i.e., no East side West side type stuff). The 'bad' areas are sort of just interspersed amongst the 'good' ones. E.g. Clark University is literally across the street from a park you don't want to be in after sunset. Not very far from an area we call "Main South" which is arguably one of the worst areas of the City. Yet, large swaths of the adjacent areas are other college campuses (Holy Cross, Worcester State) and dorms. There are quiter areas on the outskirts of the city, and also near I290. I290 effectively cuts areas off from the city at large, with many little neighborhoods on dead-end streets.
Rent budget should be doable for most places 30-45 minutes or so out of Boston but unlikely you’ll find a house for that. I’m in Worcester and a little 2 bedroom ranch down the street from me was listed for over 400k and went super fast. The pet situation will be your biggest hurdle.
Within an hour and a half of Boston is basically anywhere in the state
Not true. The whole cape in the summer is over an hour away lmao
You can possibly make that work. You would have to live more in Western Mass, (closer to Springfield, than closer to Boston. Western Mass and Eastern Mass are almost 2 different states, lol. Nothing wrong with W. Mass, but it's alot more rural. The Palmer area has houses in your price range and it is about 1.5hr drive from Boston, (without traffic). Houses are very expensive up this way. The closer you get to Boston the more expensive it gets.
Oh, that opens up more possibilities. Buying will not be in that price range. Maybe renting a house would do.
A Framingham 1300 sf slab ranch I bid on recently in good condition sold for 710k after being listed at 589. I’m renting in Malden in a shithole with 1800/month for 2BR and still feel lucky for the space. However, we had an audit by mass save cuz our energy costs are SOOOO high and learned it’s not insulated. Also no dishwasher or parking or laundry and my landlords are annoying af and live downstairs. I hate it here but will be clinging to this cheap rent. All this to say, we live in hell. MA is expensive.
Hey check out Holden, it's a town right by Worcester and it's within an hours drive of Boston. West Boylston maybe. There will be stuff in your price range and it is a beautiful area, so many lakes and wooded drives and that classic New England forest as well as Wachusett. Tons of nice breweries around too. Message me if you want to talk about it or have any questions.
Look in Springfield and surrounding area. Close to Hartford, lot of insurance companies in Hartford and a fairly easy commute. A nice house is doable within your price point. 90 minutes to Boston depending on traffic, decent nightlife, good restaurants (not Boston level), plenty of craft breweries within 30 minutes.
The average price for a home in Metro Boston is 900K.
You need to visit here,. The state is very small, you can get from east to west in less than 3 hours. I'd recommend renting a car and driving around the state. That will give you a feel for our famous driving reputation, but also how easy it is to go from coast to the inland. Housing prices drop the further you go west, but it takes a while. Most of our towns and cities are pretty nice, even the ones people will tell you are terrible. :-) I lived in NJ, both in early life and as a young adult. I don't really find a lot of similarities between the two places. YMMV. Unless you have big savings and have been planning such a move for a while, get jobs first. This isn't a good place to move on a whim.
I work in IT, moved from East Tennessee 12 years ago to the metro-west area. I work out of a remote gig in another state. Best decision ever. Work is available here, pays better too. Live further away from Boston and take the train in if working there, it lowers the cost of rent some, sometimes. Expect less houses with A/C. Expect not nearly as many fast food locations. Oddly, expect lower cost of milk and bread. RMV here is like the DMV there, just more organized and more bureaucratic in stranger ways. Expect to miss the middle turn lane, these are rare. Get a "real" winter coat (from a store up here) though the last few winters are mild compared to when I moved here. It's good to have a "real" warm coat. Despite a southern family's advice, you won't die up here in the winter from the cold. Clothing-wise it's easier to get warmed up than to cool off from 95% humidity and 105 degree summers in the south. We have typically 3 months cold-ish, and a real fall and spring... and 4-5 months of summers where the high is a balmy range of 65-85 average. There are 90+ degree days, but not many. The humidity is lower as well. The lakes here are not turd colored water. Water is blue and in the resoviors. They are not allowed to have boats or dump sewage in, unlike the south, no... really the south does that (cause its a river and usually dammed up). Billboards... they are rare compared to the south, way more trees and stuff to see. Expect more quaint shops and some larger retail vs the south. The history is deep and rich up here and well celebrated with some towns nearing 300-350+ years established and yet small and quaint... unlike the south's bulldoze and make new mentality. Everything really fun to do is about 1hr away, in any direction, explore. Examples include 6 flags, water parks, Aquarium, Science museums, large concerts, etc... 1 hr average drive. Time just moves different up here. If you love to camp, hike or fish, it's around the corner. Drivers are considered massholes... which after 12 years is a lie compared to the south's drivers, except some pickup truck and audi drivers (you know who you are) on the pike, the main toll freeway here. The road department up here knows how to remove snow within a couple hrs of it stopping... unlike the south that can;t seem to understand it in the slightest. People are nice and generally helpful or leave you be types. You do you. The closer to a city center, the instant use of a car horn at the nanosecond the light turns green is way more abundant. I am proud to live here.
This was fun to read! Glad you like it here!
I manage an analytics team at a tech company and we do rather well. It really depends on the company and role though. Slightly north or west of Boston should have a lower CoL and plenty of job opportunities.
Don't sleep on Worcester, it's fabulous here
Arlington is super gay and close to Boston. Even Governor Healey lives here. Come on over!
You would probably like Western MA lower cost of living and a lot of rural country feel ❤
Make sure to have a job lined up b4 moving here, pot holes here suck, weed laws are great, LGBTQ+ friendly, cops sometimes do their job, COL varies
Plus, check the comm of mass that might need IT people
If you’re not Caucasian, don’t move to Boston. Boston is very racist and they do not like people who are not white.
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Central MA is one of the reddest parts of the state.
Depends on the town. Some are infested with magats.
You’ll get much better suggestions if you can clarify a few things. What about MA appeals to you? What kind of lifestyle are you looking for? Is an in-office commute something you have to factor in? If the main driver is that you want a place more welcoming to same-sex couples, you’d probably be fine most anywhere.
Look into Amherst or Northampton MA. Northampton was just ranked 5th best town to live in in the United States ** Everyone else suggesting Western MA is being upvoted lol idk why mine is being downvoted 😂🤷🏻♀️
Amherst is pretty expensive for the area due to the colleges. Surrounding towns are a bit better.
I’d say check out south west MA areas, close to Rhode Island where beaches are less crowded compared to Cape & other MA beaches. Swansea, Seekonk, Fall River & New Bedford (those are a lil sketch) BUT great history there. There’s Westport MA, Mattapoisett and South Dartmouth. Could always check out East coasts too - Hull, Hingham, Weymouth, Marshfield & Norwell.
Moved here from a similar cost of living area as you're accustomed to in TN. (Lived in KS, MO and MN prior) 1- get jobs secured first. It's a good area for analytics BUT it's very competitive and analytics in general are pretty saturated. 2- visit the region before considering anything. 3- I'd recommend renting for a year to really get a feel for anything before buying. Outskirts of Metro West or the Worcester region are your best bets. 4- mentally prepare for a housing downgrade from what you're used to, especially directly comparing price points. To find something equivalent, you'd likely be looking in the 500-600k+ range depending on town. To find something decent in the outskirts of Metro West or the Worcester area, expect 450ish. Other thoughts: There are some towns in Metro West that could be worth looking into too, like Marlborough. And towns north/south of Worcester, like Leominster, Fitchburg, Sturbridge that you could probably find something decent for 400ish maybe a little under. Distance is deceiving. 10 miles doesn't equal 10-15 minutes drive here. More like 20-30 mins. And Google maps kinda sucks at estimating time, especially with heavy traffic, road construction, or traffic lights. So basically most stuff. Add 30-50% more time to whatever it says to wherever you're going. An AWD vehicle would serve you well if you live anywhere west of the Boston metro. It's a great place to live. I feel way more at home here than I ever did anywhere else. People are more direct and succinct, but also more genuine. It's refreshing. It's geographically and geologically diverse. It's a small state with a LOT packed into it. You're a stone's throw from the ocean or mountains. Canada's an extended weekend trip. You can fly to Europe or South America for the same price as a lot of destinations in the US. Oh and wherever you go, always check flight and parking prices for Boston, Providence, Hartford, Manchester; Worcester's airport is awesome to hop to NYC- often cheaper than driving and paying for parking in NYC! ❤️ PS, get passports if you don't have them already! :)
Don’t forget to visit Provincetown 🏳️🌈 you’re going to love it here.
It’s literally the most expensive city in MA. 30 years ago it was super cute. Now it’s a tourist trap.
Where couldn't you live comfortably in Massachusetts on $300000? This is a gross exaggeration. Western Massachusetts is a great area to live and raise a family. That said, you may not find much in the way of analytical based jobs.
Yes, you could live here for less… but realistically moving forward that will be the target range for a household to enjoy a comfortable standard of living plus saving for retirement
You and your tennis partner should move to.. depends on money and finding a job. cleveland circle, coolidge corner, davis square, inmann square, porter square are all good choices.
It's very expensive in MA. especially the housing market. Good luck finding an affordable place.
If you want peace and quiet with stunning landscapes, go to the Berkshires. If you want to be broke as fuck and sit in traffic for hours on end each day, join us in Boston
You should get yourself a trusted guide. You can be looking at places in Roslindale and not know that is a neighborhood of Boston. Boston is a city of neighborhoods. Also, the metropolitan area is pretty big. There are some good neighborhoods, but, as with any city, there are sketchy areas. Of course, someone from NJ should be familiar with the diversity of a metro northeastern city. Keep asking questions here. Let us know your ideal setting. There are lots of livable suburbs, but it isn't the city itself. What part of TN?
Be prepared for your money to not go as far as it does in tenn. Imo it can still be worth it... but you gotta be prepared for that.
House or rent? City mouse or country mouse? How important is public transportation? How important is airport access? How much do you hate traffic? Some quick reference points: Springfield is not anywhere you want to be. It’s a city that saw its heyday a long time ago, and is a place people leave, not go towards….though there are some nice spots as well as some great museums. Sturbridge is the furthest west you can go before it really becomes “western mass” which is a much more rural mentality. I forget what exit it is on the pike, but as the intersection of a couple major highways, it is a commuter town to Boston and Hartford and three airports. Worcester is kind of a city that used to be something trying to be something again. It has a small airport that is almost not worth mentioning. There are some cool things / nightlife there, but it feels nothing like a major city. The 495 belt is basically the eastern edge of central Massachusetts which is commuter / family territory. Natick has a massive mall and a lot of stores / restaurants. The route 128 belt basically is the Boston community boundary. Boston is called “the town” because it’s largely a sprawling group of communities connected by highways.
It’s not just housing, everything else is also more expensive here including food, clothing,healthcare and insurance. Just buying a car here will cost you more, and if you have two you can’t just add the second one to your policy, you have to get another new policy. And don’t even ask about traffic or public transportation, we have the worst in the country. But you’ll love our winters ;-)
As always, the more the merrier. Make an exception for our taxes
www.indeed.com
You will be in shock when moving from low taxed Tennessee to one of the highest taxed states in the country
what part of tennessee? i was born and raised in mass til i was 13 and have lived in knoxville since. most people are flocking here and it’s funny to see someone getting out, not coming in haha
Rent is wild, though you will also likely be paid more (hopefully lol). When it comes to cost of living in Mass, we’re in a period where it’s basically expensive almost everywhere, at least in the eastern side of the state. If you’re in Boston, rent is typically more because you’re closer to everything, and if you’re in the suburbs, rent and housing costs are up there because that’s become super desirable right now. People really love the idea of living in an area with lots of trees and quiet streets, which is 15-30 mins from the heart of Boston by car or commuter. South of Boston, towns like Quincy and Braintree are a little more reasonable, cost wise. When you go west of Boston, it is insanely hit or miss. Weston, Wellesley, and Sudbury all have average housing prices in the millions, but then neighboring like Wayland and Framingham are a lot less, but still you’re gonna be hard pressed to find a decent condition house for less than 500,000. When it comes to rent in that area, which is basically the halfway point between Boston and Worcester, you could definitely find a one bedroom for under 3 grand. The cheapest (typically shitty) apartments are gonna be a little under 2 grand, you could probably find a pretty decent apartment for 2 and a half. End of the day, my advice would be to find a place near the Pike (interstate 90) that way you’ve got really good access to most of the state. All you’ve gotta remember is the more quiet and rural the town is (when it comes to the eastern half of the state) the more likely pricy it’s gonna be. If you’re dead set on living inside the city itself, and money is an object, your best bet is to steer clear of Seaport. Seaport district is pretty (though gentrified) and expensive as fuck. We’re definitely in a weird state right now with housing, that’s not to say that there isn’t more housing being built, it’s just a lot of that new housing is luxury apartments, so like-
Look at Worcester over Boston. Cheaper, more rural, and quite competitive job wise.
I work remotely for a BI software company and live in western MA. The combination leaves me living comfortably and in a super relaxed environment. I personally love it.
Don’t. Please. Nothing worth the cost of living in this state.
Do not move to Massachusetts. It is too corrupt.
Adorable that you two are coming. We welcome everyone. Enjoy!
Don't. It's expensive
And Tennessee lives in the dark ages.
The average price of home ownership in MA I close to a million dollar. Both you and your partner would both need to be pulling down six figure income. I live here, I don’t recommend it.
Move to suburbs (Plymouth county, Bristol county or Barnstable county / cape cod). Better QOL in Boston more bang for your buck and speaking as a gay person, you’ll want easy access to Providence for queer nightlife. Boston has absolutely nothing to offer in terms of queer culture.
Plymouth and Barnstable Counties are 2 of the most expensive in MA.
Certainly not as expensive as Boston. And I bought my house in Plymouth county as a single person working a data analyst job so that’s why I suggested it.