Advice on where to move. Excited to move my family from Oklahoma to Massachusetts but need help narrowing down towns :)

Submitted by RadiantAd3776 t3_xxpf8f in massachusetts

For years I have been considering a move out of Oklahoma with the crazy politics and horrible public schools and we are finally leaving after this school year and have settled on Massachusetts. We visited last summer and absolutely loved it.

It will be me, my husband and our 4 kids (middle school and elementary age). I will work from home full time and my husband owns his own tile business installing tile and vinyl floors and doing shower remodels, flooring, backsplashes, etc. We need good internet and access to some metro areas for him to rebuild his business.

On to our wish list. We’d like to be somewhere suburban or suburban/rural with a decent yard. We’re also looking for somewhere with good schools (although I’m sure anything will be better than 44th in the country like Oklahoma) and a good community. I’d prefer somewhere more blue - I’m beyond tired of the dark red maga politics of Oklahoma.

I have searched the MA Reddit boards and have found several suggestions but would love to hear any advice based on the fact we really don’t have preference on a region. I have done a ton of research over the last couple years about moving to Massachusetts but am sure the best advice and information is from those who actually live there. One area that seems to check a lot of boxes is Worcester County but it seems to be the purple or red belt of MA and I do not want to get in the same situation we’re in now with the politics and attack on public ed.

Our budget right now is in the $600k ish range with the increase in interest rates

Thanks!

2

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

ajmacbeth t1_ire071h wrote

It will be extremely hard to find any place in MA that is hard Red. Even the communities that lean right are still going to be plenty left of Oklahoma, so don't be concerned about that. Also, your price range will naturally put you into areas with exceptional schools. There are very few school districts in MA that aren't very good. I offer as a suggestion looking at towns in the vicinity of Littleton, MA. Look in a radius of maybe 1 and 2 towns away. For the most part, that region has great schools, suburban living, easy highway access.

Zillow and similar real estate websites are a great resource to find price ranges.

Perhaps, also consider the areas around Nashua, NH and Providence, RI. New England states are very small. The distance between Nashua, NH and Providence, RI is like Oklahoma City to Tulsa.

6

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_ireado5 wrote

That is very reassuring!! Thank you for the suggestions!

3

Dxxx2 t1_irfyhra wrote

I can attest to Littleton's public school, just can't guarantee your kids will be bored to hell with the area. Easy access to Boston with a commuter rail stop, though.

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irge1gg wrote

Thanks! They stay busy with youth sports and we love to hike and camp so if we have that somewhat nearby they’ll be fine.

1

Tacoman404 t1_ire4zu4 wrote

Ludlow, Wilbraham, Granby. All suburb/exurbs and Granby and Wilbraham are known for their public schools. It’s also where you might be able to find a larger house for $600k opposed to towns further east.

Massachusetts is a smaller state and New England is a denser area but not metropolis dense. Most people in your Husband’s line of work work in multiple states here. Usually MA, CT, RI, VT, and NH.

5

Chippopotanuse t1_irdfmjy wrote

4 kids and $600k will be a big ask unless you only need a 3br house.

Maybe Milford?

3

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irea68w wrote

Thank you! We will need a 4 bedroom so it does narrow down the options when I’ve been looking. We’re also not afraid of a fixer upper though. My husband is very handy and we’ve done some remodels.

3

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_ireegh1 wrote

Remodeling in MA is different than other states. We require permits for pretty much everything. Also, if you have a house built before 1979 (I believe?) you have to test for lead and asbestos. Remediating that is big $$$. A lot of the older home have things out of code that will cost a tremendous amount to fix. You touch one thing and now the electrical system from your 1940’s home must be brought up to code. Add an extra $5-10k. A “simple” remodel can be a huge headache in MA. I have friends from the Midwest and the South that dabbled in remodeling/investing in properties in MA. They both said it was 3x the cost compared to what they’re used to and many more hoops to jump through (permits). Neither said they’d do it again. Not saying you’ll have the same experience, just that you might be in for a surprise when you realize how different the process is here. Even people who live in NH (just over the border) can’t believe how strict MA is when it comes to remodeling.

3

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irenim3 wrote

That is good to know! Thanks for the info on that. My husband did have concerns about the age of some of the homes we had looked at online that needed work and bringing them up to code.

0

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_iris1yn wrote

Yes, a lot of older homes can be “historical” houses too… definitely research before you buy! The historical homes have regulations on what you can/can’t do when renovating

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irix4ex wrote

Ohhh good to know!! I love the older homes but have seen a lot that need some significant work so good to know there are additional regulations on what we could do.

1

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_irn3wpt wrote

Another thing to consider, aside from older homes, are homes that are affected by wetlands/conservation land. Not sure how things are in OK, but in MA you can get in serious trouble for interfering with wetlands. Had a neighbor whose house backed up to conservation land. When he bought the house, he thought it was so great, because the realtor sold him on how no houses could be built behind his, he’d see lots of nature, etc. The reality? He was not allowed to put up a fence. Because it was conservation land he had to go before the town and ask for approval. Town said no. He wanted to add a small addition to the back of his house. Had to get lawyers involve, present to conservation committee for approval. When it was all said and done he moved. Wasn’t worth the headache.

Just putting that out there because a lot of times realtors will sell you on things like “the charm of an older home” or “the nice conservation land behind the house” when in reality these issues make big headaches..

Massachusetts is a “caveat emptor” state, so do your due diligence. Ask for disclosures. Call the town. Ask for permits. See the plot plan at town hall before you buy.

Not trying to scare you, but I’ve had colleagues move here from NH (just one state above us) who are shocked at how different real estate is in this state. Good to have realistic expectations.

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iroy8bw wrote

Thank you!! That is soooo good to know!!! I have seen some houses backing up to conservation areas and literally thought how great it would be with nature etc but did not realize what a headache and issues it could bring (especially since we’d want a fence I’m sure).

1

Chippopotanuse t1_irehrs5 wrote

I love the little patch of towns near Milford/Mendon/Millis. Mendon has a drive-in and a zoo where you can feed deer by hand. Really quaint and fun for the kids.

Plenty of fixer uppers that were built in the. 1950-1979 timeframe in those towns, and it’s a it more spread out than some of the tightly clustered suburban towns. But those fixer-upper places that have the BR/square footage you’d probably need are going to be along these lines.

Schools are more than fine in those towns (especially compared to Oklahoma).

A lot of contractors who work in the “rich” Boston suburbs of Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Wayland live out there (and in the neighboring towns like Uxbridge, Upton, Hopedale, Northbridge, and Grafton) as well.

Anyways good luck and welcome to MA!!!!

2

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_ireln2w wrote

Thank you so so much for all the info!!! We are so so excited to move. I will let the hubby know which towns to market his business in as well 😆

1

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_iris8mg wrote

I second the above recommendation! That area is very nice and geographically your husband’s business would be in a great spot to thrive.

I forgot to add: when looking for good school in that area, avoid Millville, northbridge, blackstone, and Douglas

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iriwz50 wrote

Thank you!! We definitely want to know areas to avoid as we’re looking.

1

jingjishiyongnan t1_irdz2qm wrote

New Jersey

3

seanwalter123 t1_ire1x62 wrote

Move to Holyoke! Great area, great schools since they’re in MA! Great scenery too with mount Tom, low crime etc!

3

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iremrky wrote

Thank you!! We love to hike and be outdoors (Colorado was on our short list of places to move to a couple years ago).

1

billsatori t1_ire223i wrote

Towns outside of Worcester. Leicester, Paxton, Holden, West Boylston, Rutland.

3

Unique-Public-8594 t1_irednb6 wrote

All of Massachusetts is bluer than OK and has good schools.

My sense is you do not need to be anywhere even a little city-like for this tile/reno business to succeed. We have a shortage of contractors and customers go on wait lists. If he’s simply willing to return calls he will have more work than he can handle is my hunch. Please, do come, we need him.

Worcester would not be my first choice. It’s a slightly higher crime and slightly depressed area and not as pretty compared to the rest of MA.

When you vacationed here, what is your favorite thing/place/memory. Suggest you go there.

3

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irenrmi wrote

Thanks!! He’s gotten a ton of work here as well just by answering calls and showing up and having integrity. He stays busy on word of mouth alone and one GC who subs him out for all of his tile work. I’m glad to know there’s a need!

2

individual_328 t1_irf0erh wrote

Seconding what the above poster said. A good tiler will find plenty of work anywhere in the state. And while some may travel to other parts of New England like another poster suggested, it almost certainly won't be necessary to stay busy.

If you want (slightly) more affordable areas than greater Boston, the 5 colleges region around Amherst/North Hampton and southern Berkshire County both have plenty of upper income residents who will pay well for quality work.

2

fredemily t1_irfsxny wrote

I second the motion on towns outside of Worcester but you have to be careful about the town you choose-they vary considerably. Worcester is often underrated by those who don’t know it. It’s an old industrial city that is undergoing a renaissance. It’s great to have access to this city because of all the new restaurants, live events theater, great art museum, a science museum for kids, and colleges-an excellent community college and a state university, as well as several private colleges. There are many state parks with swimming outside of Worcester and skiing at a local mountain in the town of Princeton. Also, Worcester is an hour from Boston on the Mass Pike and 2 to 2.5 hours from many ocean beaches including Cape Cod. These suburbs are worth checking out but be choosy.

3

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irfughd wrote

Thanks! Any advice on one’s you’d stay away from or specific ones you’d include?

1

fredemily t1_is169to wrote

I would include these towns: Shrewsbury, West Boylston, Boylston, Holden, Rutland, Paxton, Sterling, Berlin, Grafton, Westborough, Southborough. There are others, but keep in mind that as you go east, toward Boston, prices go up. You should do well with 600k in these towns.

1

yiddishemama t1_irdbsy4 wrote

Just wanted to comment that my family (2 adults+2 kids) are moving from Oklahoma City to Massachusetts in two weeks! We picked Longmeadow for the schooling. I would be happy to offer any support to my fellow Okies moving to Mass. 😊

2

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irdczul wrote

Also just realized where Longmeadow is and I’ve been looking more into the Springfield area lately since housing prices aren’t as bad as other parts of Mass. Did you visit much before deciding on a town?

1

yiddishemama t1_irei9kp wrote

We knew beforehand it would be somewhere in western Mass. because of the proximity to my new job (professor at a university in a small town). We settled on the Forest Park/Longmeadow area because of the school my kids will be attending (we're Jewish). I did visit once and I loved it! Technically our house is in Springfield but it's right by the line that separates Springfield/Longmeadow and our kids' school is in Longmeadow.

I went up over Labor Day weekend and looked at about 7 houses and put an offer down that weekend. Our budget is very limited but we were still able to get a nice 4-bed house for 250. I think with a budget like 600 you should be able to get a great place in that area, just based on what I saw!

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irelfqm wrote

That is soooo good to know! We’re in Broken Arrow right now and the move cannot come soon enough. I think we will probably have one visit before we move as well so we’ll have to narrow down and make a decision quickly. Would love to hear how you like it and any advice once you’re settled!!

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irdcpti wrote

That would be fabulous!! 😊 So excited for you! I’m super excited and ready now but my middle schoolers want to finish this school year and their sports seasons out (soccer and baseball).

0

yiddishemama t1_ireidqj wrote

Totally understand! I would have done the same except my job wanted me to have in-person hours starting in November.

1

UncleCustard t1_irdf179 wrote

I tend to find you don't your bang for your buck like certain areas of western ma. Longmeadow, east Longmeadow, southwick, and Agawam are all good places to look.

2

Cobrawine66 t1_iregaq3 wrote

What about Amherst or Northampton? Have you looked there?

2

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irem7vh wrote

I have looked some on Zillow and that area does seem nice and I love that it’s a college town. I will put it on the list!

1

Traditional_Lab_5468 t1_irfbelp wrote

>I’d prefer somewhere more blue - I’m beyond tired of the dark red maga politics of Oklahoma.

Disclosure first, I lived in MA for several years, but have called Vermont home for the past decade though.

"Dark red" communities don't really exit throughout coastal New England. You can find them in some of the more rural communities in New Hampshire and Maine (usually farther north in the state), but even those don't tend to have the same bible belt vibe that you'll find in the South. They're very pro-gun, anti-tax, and they froth at the mouth when Tucker Carlson tells them to, but even those communities tend to not really give a fuck about most of the conservative social issues. Regarding stuff like abortion or gay marriage, at least in my experience, New Englanders either tilt liberal on those issues or are entirely apathetic.

All of that is to say you'll be fine politically nearly anywhere you go in New England.

I'll also add on that you should verify this with your own research, but I've always understood MA public education to be the best in the country. In fact, education at all tiers in that state is really world-class. You'll be fine there.

2

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irffht8 wrote

This is wonderful to hear. I am glad we won’t have to worry too much about the same issues we have here. I will definitely do my research as we narrow down as well.

We looked at Vermont when we started talking about moving to New England. Absolutely beautiful!

1

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_iref81k wrote

Sutton Rehoboth Millis (though it would be likely a smaller home) Millville (schools are garbage but you could try for charter school or private) Mendon Uxbridge Upton

Honestly if you don’t mind being in a sleepier part of a city, both Milford and Attleboro have quieter areas. Some parts of Attleboro that border Norton or Rehoboth are quiet, homes have bigger lots. Milford is the same way. Just look for homes away from the center/hospital.

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irememj wrote

Thank you so much!!

1

Anonymousreddit8854 t1_irissv5 wrote

Additional towns: wrentham, Hopedale, and Franklin.

Have you considered RI? You could be on the MA border and get a great property for cheaper than MA. Schools would not be as great as MA but still have a solid education. Lincoln RI North Smithfield RI and Cumberland RI have decent schools from what I hear.

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iriwv1k wrote

Thank you! We will look into those areas as well. We have considered RI but haven’t looked a lot into it. Still much higher ranked than Oklahoma schools so as long as we can find a good school system we would be good with it!

1

enjoyable-cheesecake t1_irefrsj wrote

Please choose another state, you won’t like it here and I curse you!

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iremz45 wrote

Our minds are definitely made up! I’ve always said I’m more of a northerner who was stuck in the south. I hate hot summers and love the snow.

2

enjoyable-cheesecake t1_irf4o1h wrote

I suggest otherwise for you, New York State is beautiful and much more affordable

2

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irfb0fb wrote

Curious as to why you wouldn’t recommend moving to Massachusetts? Do you live there now and not like it?

2

enjoyable-cheesecake t1_irfs3rr wrote

Born and raised, given you have the whole country to choose, I’d personally go where the dollar goes further, more sense of community…

Why are you looking at this state?

1

KDsburner_account t1_irgxyb8 wrote

I would say western mass with that budget. Check out Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, granby or south Hadley. All have very good schools and are suburbs of Springfield.

1

misogyny_fetish t1_irh3ei1 wrote

Amesbury is cute with lots to do. Any town that’s more affordable in MA will have lower preforming school systems. Avoid Lynn, it’s nice to visit but not worth the low home prices to live there. Good luck 👍🏻

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irh7rfu wrote

Thanks! We definitely need advice too on where not to buy.

1

josephkambourakis t1_irp2gsc wrote

With that budget, you're priced out of Eastern MA, but Central and Western are both really nice. You don't want to live in Worcester or Springfield, but in the towns around them. I'd find a ranking of public school systems in the state and move to whatever the highest one you can afford is. That's basically what I did.

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_irp5iyy wrote

Thanks!! We’re totally fine with central and western MA. I’ll try to cross reference schools with real estate sales. Any particular recommendations on towns since you’ve moved there you like or to avoid?

1

josephkambourakis t1_irs5b90 wrote

No real recommendations other than best schools. Schools here are funded with town/city property tax so there is a direct relationship between school quality and wealth. Wealth is also inversely correlated with crime and directly related to safety. It's not how it should be, but it is how it is. This list should help:
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/education/best-public-high-schools-boston-2022-chart/

1

Sirus1218 t1_irq7qcr wrote

I am originally from Worcester but I have spent the last 6 years right outside of it in the Blackstone Valley area (southern Worcester county). If you google Blackstone Valley, you will find a bunch of towns that were formerly mill towns, but many of them are being built up with new schools, fire, police, etc. Many people are coming this way from Boston North and South. Where I live, we have access to major roads such as 495, Mass Pike, Rt.20, 146. The beauty about Mass and depending where you are located here, you are typically under two hours to both beaches and mountains. Personally, I hate the cold here but this past summer in July and into August it hit the 90’s. It was humid and felt like Florida, so don’t let our cold fool you. As far as politics in this area, my neighborhood is predominantly red, but the towns themselves are predominantly blue. You won’t find much red in this state. Welcome to Massachusetts ☺️

1

RadiantAd3776 OP t1_iryp2l8 wrote

Thank you so much!! I love the idea of mountains and beaches so close. We love to hike and travel and drive several times a year to Colorado for mountains and hiking. We joke that to get anywhere fun for vacation it’s an 8 hour drive minimum from us. It will be nice to have so many options so close!

Thanks for the info on your area as well!! 😊

1