Posted on 11/12/2023 6:08:40 PM PST by matt04
Ask anyone in Massachusetts: the best place to live out your last few years on Earth is Worcester. Or Springfield.
This week, U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of Best Places to Retire, and the only two to crack the top 100 in Massachusetts were Worcester and Springfield. Keep in mind this is a list that ranked Harrisburg, PA, No. 1, and put Flint, Mich., ahead of cities surrounded by natural beauty, culture and attractions like Boise and Las Vegas.
This year’s list is based on the evaluation of the nation’s 150 most populated metropolitan areas based on how well they meet Americans’ expectations for retirement. Measures used in the evaluation were affordability, health care, desirability, retiree taxes, the job market and overall happiness.
Worcester ranked No. 35 overall for its proximity to good healthcare — the sprawling UMass medical school campus is located in the city — and relatively cheap housing, although that stock is on the decline. U.S. News also wrote very generously about Worcester's cultural scene. Keep in mind, Worcester doesn't have a single movie theater.
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Springfield ranked No. 39 overall, and got higher marks than Worcester for housing affordability. It's also got the basketball museum, a casino and a nice river.
If those two cities don't pique your interest, Pennsylvania is apparently a retirement paradise. Cities in the state oddly dominated the top five in this year’s list, and PA had seven metro areas in the top 10:
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Reading, Pennsylvania Allentown, Pennsylvania Scranton, Pennsylvania New York City York, Pennsylvania Daytona Beach, Florida Youngstown, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Ann Arbor, Michigan
(Excerpt) Read more at patch.com ...
The Northeast has some beautiful rural areas—fortunately they will never make the “best of” list so we can live in peace and quiet.
That was when I stayed there
I recall we ate at some steak house there.
It was pretty good.
They always go to a restaurant named Cals when in town.
Retirement anywhere in the Northeast, and MA in particular, is a not funny joke. Many of those we knew when we lived just South of Worcester got the heck out of there to retire.
I spent a week in Worcester one day!
The Big E/ESE is technically in West Springfield, however it suffers form the proximity to Spfld in some areas, but is is not nearly as bad.
The MGM/MassMutual center is fine. I’ve been to plenty of AHL Thunderbirds games and never had any issues parking in the MGM garage and walking to the game and back. If you want stay in Spfld you have a Hilton and Mariott near MGM which are is decent areas. Also a few north of the ESE along Rt5 near the I291 interchange that are in a good area.
I’m semi-frequently in the MGM garage for Thunderbirds hockey games. Never had any issues. Maybe it’s different during slower times?
Perhaps they really meant Longmeadow?
Any Portuguese you might know, ask them how they got to Massachusetts.
In the 1970’s through early eighties, Massachusetts had an air and sea embargo of transports from Portugal. Your state had/has uncontrolled entry of illegal aliens from Portugal. Kennedy (The Swimmer) put a end to the embargo.
Know your state’s history.
*Just a FYI, my Ex’s MIL walked off a cargo ship in the ‘60’s and did not get naturalized until 1998.
You can spot where some of them live by the Bathtub Shrines in the front yard.
what month is this? April 1?
Any place that’s easy to get laid.
Bridgeport has one decent restaurant but is otherwise horrible.
49th most expensive state to live in….left New York State in 1980…
Taxes on my house 1982..600$. When I left 2020…..Democrats have really increased taxes
Or places like Wilburham, Ludlow, Hampdem, etc.
Yep. Hartford goes from state capitol to where did a make a wrong turn real quick. Bridgeport, well, I’ve been twice and never found a good area.
All the Portuguese I know now have been here for many years….came to SE MA to work on fishing boats. Many in R I too .
..l,,,,
Good one! A big smile.
And their immigration status, how they got to the USA and when/if they got naturalized?
I am referring to people that came from Portugal……I think you are referring to Brazilians in Worcester .I know little about them.
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Unfortunately Prescott is being overrun with Californicators, it’s very hard to find a house there nowadays.
A few years back there was.a gang shootout in downtown Worcester, right in front of City Hall. While the City Council was in session. The Mayor and Councilors could look out the large second floor windows and watch as the shootout progressed.
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