In Leominster, MA, your daily dose of fruit doubles as a tribute to the city's past: John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, hails from here.
Founded in 1740, the city of Leominster has a long and varied history
In Leominster, MA, your daily dose of fruit doubles as a tribute to the city's past: John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, hails from here.
Founded in 1740, the city of Leominster has a long and varied history. Starting off as a farming community, it quickly industrialized in the 19th century, and became an early producer of plastic, one of the first in America. It's now moved away from manufacturing, and is one of the largest retail destinations in Central Massachusetts. This, combined with low land prices, and a lower cost of living, makes it a popular community for commuters to Boston and Worcester. The large number of performance groups, art programs, theaters, and the ever popular Thayer Symphony Orchestra are also pleasant diversions for city residents and frequently draw crowds from the nearby communities.
Finding Your Place in Leominster
Moving into an apartment complex in Leominster is much less expensive than moving almost anywhere else in Massachusetts, due to the low property prices. This will make getting an affordable apartment rental a relative breeze, especially if you've been house hunting in Boston or Worcester.
Even though you'll likely be able to find an apartment or home without too much difficulty, you should be ready to do some research and give yourself ample time. Waiting until the last minute to find a 3 bedroom house to rent in Leominster isn't exactly a genius move. Even trying to find a simple 1 bedroom apartment with a week or less to prepare isn't the best idea. Instead, give yourself some time and do your research.
First, narrow down the neighborhoods. Look online at prices, amenities, and transportation throughout the city, then slowly tick off the neighborhoods that don't fit your needs. Once you have 2 or 3 areas picked out, travel around them by car and on foot, during the day and at nighttime, to get a real feel for the community.
Once you know the community, look at the houses; don't get your heart set on one apartment. Instead, set up tours of several different places and look them over carefully. Take your time, look in all the nooks and crannies to find any potential flaws, especially leaks, bugs, and mold.
After you're done with your recon work, and you find your perfect Leominster apartment, don't wait on it! If you're sure it's the right one, sign the papers as quickly as possible. Houses are snapped up fast here, so if you want to sleep on it or look around a little more, your perfect place could all too easily be rented out from under your nose. On that note: make sure you have all your papers in order. Having references, credit report, deposits, pay stubs, tax returns, and a letter of recommendation from your previous landlord will make the bargaining easier and will make sure there aren't any last minute problems.
Neighborhoods in Leominster
With a population of 41,000, you would think that there wouldn't be much difference between the neighborhoods in Leominster--and you'd be very wrong. Each neighborhood has a different feel, as well as different cost of living. Read on for a quick guide.
City Center: Where else in America can you find a place where over 64% of the houses a hundred years old (or older) rent for less than the national average? This is the greatest concentration of historical buildings in the entire country.
Pleasant St. & Wachusett St.: Filled with single-family homes and small 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, this neighborhood is very popular with residents who regularly commute to Boston.
Gate Crossing: This community is very diverse, with 21% coming directly from other countries. The cultural makeup means the restaurants are varied and the people friendly.
Prospect St.: Renting an apartment in this neighborhood won't be easy with a 5% vacancy rate, and prices that reflect the imbalance of supply and demand.
Lock Dr. & Mohawk Dr.: Mostly made up of renters, this neighborhood offers apartments of all sizes. The vacancy rate is low, so good luck finding a house in this French-influenced community.
Central St.: Another diverse community that is family-centric with affordable rents!
North Leominster: More French Canadians and Haitians live here than anywhere else in America, giving it a unique cultural feeling. _
West Leominster: While not as old as City Center, the buildings here have some history behind them. It also has a fairly large Hispanic community living here.
N. Main St. & Grove Ave.: With streets full of storefront shops and boutiques, the cost of living is on the high side, but the average rent is still significantly lower than those you’ll find in Boston.
The Leominster Lifestyle
If you like a diverse community, Leominster is the place for you. It has a great mix of European communities, particularly French, Italian and Portuguese, as well as African American and Hispanic groups. You'll find all types of cuisine throughout the city, which help diversify the burgeoning community and guarantee that whatever food you're craving, you can find.
When you're in the mood to visit a large city, hop in the car and drive the whole hour to Boston. Many Leominster residents work in Bean Town - the prices are lower here, and while the commute is longer, it's not a huge deterrent. This setup gives people the best of both worlds: a comfortable small city life, with a big city practically at its doorstep.
