This lovely city in western Massachusetts serves as the seat of Hampden County. Today with a population well over 150,000, it offers many excellent places to live and work in the far southern portion of The Bay State. Springfield lies within the Connecticut River Valley, a broad hollow extending in a north-south direction. Interstate 91 passes through this area, furnishing ready highway transportation to Connecticut on the south and Vermont and New Hampshire towards the distant north.
The growing city stands some 76 miles west of Boston, the largest urban center in Massachusetts. (Worcester sits about 40 miles east, along the main roadway linking Springfield and Boston.) Today, historic Springfield ranks as the third most populous metropolitan area in the state. If you plan to relocate here, you'll appreciate knowing about this city's extensive programs to stimulate new business development. Among these efforts, the community has benefited from a state tax credit designed to encourage film and television productions to utilize Massachusetts locations; Springfield promotes itself as a less expensive alternative to the Greater Boston Area for filming. This municipality has launched an ambitious redevelopment effort, which involves upgrading existing infrastructure and transportation resources. Planners hope to retain important historic aspects of the town, while augmenting bus and rail transportation and creating a more accessible downtown area for pedestrians. The city made great strides in lowering crime rates during recent years.
You'll discover a number of distinctive neighborhoods here when you search for the best places to live in Springfield: McKnight, Old Hill, East Springfield, Sixteen Acres, and many others. Local attractions encompass historic sites, including Springfield Armory, the first official armory in the United States. Other points of interest include the Dr. Seuss National Memorial, the Basketball Hall of Fame, and the nearby Edward Bellamy Homestead (in Chicopee Falls). Springfield enjoys summer temperatures in the 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit range, and comparatively cold winter weather (daytime temperatures often remain below freezing during January). Median gross rents stood in the low $800 per month range during 2016.
Many people consider Springfield an attractive relocation destination because of its cost of living index. While slightly more expensive than the average town in the United States, this city remains one of the most affordable urban sites in Massachusetts. Home seekers discover a wide variety of architectural styles, and a broad spectrum of prices. Whether you seek a standalone dwelling, a condominium, an apartment or a townhome, you'll discover many available selections in this location. The effort to stimulate business relocation and urban revitalization in this community has resulted in the opening of new enterprises, making the area a more attractive destination for both tourism and job creation. As you hunt for the best places in Springfield, use AreaVibes as a useful resource!
