Is Lowell Really So Bad? (Boston, Waltham: sales, apartment, lease)

[cjam]

Hey everyone! First thread here. I wanted to get some advice from everyone. My main question right now is: Is Lowell such a bad place to live? I can't seem to decide based on everything I've read here. It seems like half of posters think it's a crime ridden slum and the other half loves it. What gives?

Why I'm asking: My husband and I are looking to move in the next year. We have a budget of around $230K. (Before someone tells me I need to bump up my budget, it's not possible so please don't suggest that!) We're considering Maynard, Stow, Ayer and Littleton. I know Littleton might be a long shot, but we have the time to be patient if the right thing pops up (it does happen!).

We need to be within an hour on public transit from Davis Square, which is our biggest constraint. And yes, I know, Ayer is an hour and a half

Some more info: We're looking for a 2-3 bedroom between 900 sqft - 1300 sqft. Aside from the distance, that's the biggest thing. We're not being super picky...yet. School districts aren't a huge concern.

Anyway, so what do you all think of Lowell? In general? For a couple like us?

Are there any other locations I left out that would fall in our price range? Unfortunately, driving is not an option.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by cjam

Hey everyone! First thread here. I wanted to get some advice from everyone. My main question right now is: Is Lowell such a bad place to live? I can't seem to decide based on everything I've read here. It seems like half of posters think it's a crime ridden slum and the other half loves it. What gives?

Why I'm asking: My husband and I are looking to move in the next year. We have a budget of around $230K. (Before someone tells me I need to bump up my budget, it's not possible so please don't suggest that!) We're considering Maynard, Stow, Ayer and Littleton. I know Littleton might be a long shot, but we have the time to be patient if the right thing pops up (it does happen!).

We need to be within an hour on public transit from Davis Square, which is our biggest constraint. And yes, I know, Ayer is an hour and a half

Some more info: We're looking for a 2-3 bedroom between 900 sqft - 1300 sqft. Aside from the distance, that's the biggest thing. We're not being super picky...yet. School districts aren't a huge concern.

Anyway, so what do you all think of Lowell? In general? For a couple like us?

Are there any other locations I left out that would fall in our price range? Unfortunately, driving is not an option.

Belvidere followed by Pawtuckettville are the best parts of Lowell for a single family home. Parts of Highlands are fine as well. If you are more of a city person and want the walkable downtown scene you should check out some of the converted condominium lofts.

The train line from Lowell will not get you directly to the red line and Davis. Only the Fitchburg line goes directly to the Red Line (Porter), with one additional stop or walk to Davis. Ayer and Littleton have their own stops on that line. Stow is served by the South Acton stop. Maynard by the West Concord stop.

I am not sure what you can get in Littleton and Stow with your budget.

You should be fine in Maynard and Ayer.

Based on your criteria, Ayer might be your best option.

[magicshark]

I think what boils down on how you look at Lowell is do you like urban/working class living? Most of the posters here seem to be suburban or upper class Boston dwellers. Now there is nothing wrong with that but they seem to be rather myopic. I love Lowell. I only left because of the schools and if my son wasn't a special case i would have stayed and sent him private.
For commuting by train The Highlands are your best bet. Yes there is crime but it is a city, so it should be expected. Just do your homework on the neighborhood and you will be fine.
All that being said, Ayer is a really good choice. I love the mix of a little bit gritty with nicer neighborhoods. The downtown is super cute.
Whatever you decide good luck!

[cjam]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Belvidere followed by Pawtuckettville are the best parts of Lowell for a single family home. Parts of Highlands are fine as well. If you are more of a city person and want the walkable downtown scene you should check out some of the converted condominium lofts.

The train line from Lowell will not get you directly to the red line and Davis. Only the Fitchburg line goes directly to the Red Line (Porter), with one additional stop or walk to Davis. Ayer and Littleton have their own stops on that line. Stow is served by the South Acton stop. Maynard by the West Concord stop.

I am not sure what you can get in Littleton and Stow with your budget.

You should be fine in Maynard and Ayer.

Based on your criteria, Ayer might be your best option.

Thanks for the advice! We're on a month-to-month lease so we're able to wait for the right thing to come up, which is why we think we MIGHT be able to find something in Stow or Littleton based on sales last year. Right now we're in Waltham on the Fitchburg line. Luckily, my husband is willing to do the transfer from the Lowell line to either a bus in Medford or the Red Line in S. Station.

Thanks for the advice on neighborhoods in Lowell. We haven't been out there yet so I don't know very much!

[cjam]

Originally Posted by magicshark

I think what boils down on how you look at Lowell is do you like urban/working class living? Most of the posters here seem to be suburban or upper class Boston dwellers. Now there is nothing wrong with that but they seem to be rather myopic. I love Lowell. I only left because of the schools and if my son wasn't a special case i would have stayed and sent him private.
For commuting by train The Highlands are your best bet. Yes there is crime but it is a city, so it should be expected. Just do your homework on the neighborhood and you will be fine.
All that being said, Ayer is a really good choice. I love the mix of a little bit gritty with nicer neighborhoods. The downtown is super cute.
Whatever you decide good luck!

We're very much middle class and have a small budget, which is why it seems silly to overlook Lowell. Right now we live in Waltham, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Lowell seems to be more like Waltham than not? Just bigger and more urban?

We know the schools aren't great in Lowell, and we don't have kids now. We're planning to in the next 2-3 years, but would probably move before the future kid goes to school. But we're going in knowing that and knowing that our first house is probably a 5 year place and not a 10 year place.

Ayer would be pretty perfect for us, but it's about 20 minutes too far. We want to look there if we can't find anything closer, but we're not quite at that point yet.

Thanks for the advice!

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by cjam

We're very much middle class and have a small budget, which is why it seems silly to overlook Lowell. Right now we live in Waltham, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Lowell seems to be more like Waltham than not? Just bigger and more urban?
Thanks for the advice!

True

Originally Posted by cjam

We know the schools aren't great in Lowell, and we don't have kids now. We're planning to in the next 2-3 years, but would probably move before the future kid goes to school. But we're going in knowing that and knowing that our first house is probably a 5 year place and not a 10 year place.

Housing values in Lowell are unlikely to increase, so you will likely just break even when it comes time to sell.

[magicshark]

Originally Posted by cjam

We're very much middle class and have a small budget, which is why it seems silly to overlook Lowell. Right now we live in Waltham, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Lowell seems to be more like Waltham than not? Just bigger and more urban?

We know the schools aren't great in Lowell, and we don't have kids now. We're planning to in the next 2-3 years, but would probably move before the future kid goes to school. But we're going in knowing that and knowing that our first house is probably a 5 year place and not a 10 year place.

Ayer would be pretty perfect for us, but it's about 20 minutes too far. We want to look there if we can't find anything closer, but we're not quite at that point yet.

Thanks for the advice!

I do not know enough about Waltham to compare the two. But spend some time in Lowell. Go out to dinner, see a show, just go shopping. If you like ethnic foods and stores you will be in heaven.
I forgot about South Lowell. It is really nice and really family friendly. You can also catch the train in North Billerica quite easily from South Lowell.
I would not overly worry about schools. There are alot of options in Lowell. Affordable private, Catholic and otherwise and i hear good things about the charter schools. The vast majority of friends in the area, not just Lowell but Billerica and Dracut too send their children to Catholic schools in the area.

[masshawk]

If you're planning to move in a few years when you have kids anyway, why buy now instead of continuing to rent in Waltham? (not criticizing, just curious)

[cjam]

Originally Posted by masshawk

If you're planning to move in a few years when you have kids anyway, why buy now instead of continuing to rent in Waltham? (not criticizing, just curious)

We've been renting for almost 3 years. I'm sick of having neighbors, dealing with other people's noises. We're in our late 20s and just ready to not deal with landlords, other people's noises on our heads, etc. Our rent right now is ridiculously cheap. We want more space and it doesn't make financial sense to go from a cheap 1 BR to a more expensive 2BR if we're just going to buy in the area eventually anyway. So basically we're cutting out that middle step of moving to a bigger apartment.

Also, my husband works in the non-profit sector and I run my own business so it's not like we're likely to get a huge influx of cash in the next 3 years. Our price range would go up to maybe $250k, but not much more in all likelihood.

Just to clarify: I meant we would be wherever we move for at least 5-7 years. If the schools aren't great and we have kids, we would maybe move.

[cjam]

Originally Posted by magicshark

I do not know enough about Waltham to compare the two. But spend some time in Lowell. Go out to dinner, see a show, just go shopping. If you like ethnic foods and stores you will be in heaven.
I forgot about South Lowell. It is really nice and really family friendly. You can also catch the train in North Billerica quite easily from South Lowell.
I would not overly worry about schools. There are alot of options in Lowell. Affordable private, Catholic and otherwise and i hear good things about the charter schools. The vast majority of friends in the area, not just Lowell but Billerica and Dracut too send their children to Catholic schools in the area.

Thanks for this advice! We'll definitely check out S. Lowell!