Welcome to Westfield, where lively downtown neighborhoods turn to small-town 'burbs, then to open rural communities, then to wilderness not seen since the first settlers arrived in New England. Talk about a mixed bag. Well, stay with us now, because this guide will break it all down for you, from rental prices and amenities to the best local's tips on living in Westfield, Ma.
Located on the edge of the Northeast megalopolis and the hill-towns to the west, this little city gets the best of both worlds
Westfield, MA
Welcome to Westfield, where lively downtown neighborhoods turn to small-town 'burbs, then to open rural communities, then to wilderness not seen since the first settlers arrived in New England. Talk about a mixed bag. Well, stay with us now, because this guide will break it all down for you, from rental prices and amenities to the best local's tips on living in Westfield, Ma.
Located on the edge of the Northeast megalopolis and the hill-towns to the west, this little city gets the best of both worlds. There are conservation areas and state parks, amazing golf courses, and miles of hiking trails and greenbelts. In fact, the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail passes through here, and continues over 114 miles all the way down to southern New Hampshire. If you don't feel like hiking up the ridge, then take a stroll along riverside greenbelt trails, which meander past waterfalls, through parks, and around golf courses. For even less walking, take your kayak! When you're not up for a hard day's work on the trail, the river, or the golf course, there's also a great downtown scene, with a line of bars, shops, and restaurants to hop around on Elm Street.
Thanks to the fire of 1952, and the resulting building requirements, there are only four buildings that exceed four stories in the city of Westfield. That means no matter where you rent, you’re bound to have a great view un-obscured by obtrusive bank towers and office buildings. Go ahead and get that rental right on Elm Street, where you can enjoy the nightlife with peaceful, scenic daytime views.
This downtown area typically has rentals for $800-$950. Just a few blocks farther, there are a number of apartment complexes with rentals below $750. Or, you could spring for more desirable areas near the Phelon campus or the scenic Stanley Park in the $1000+ range. The most expensive rentals in town run upwards of $1600, but these places are absolutely stunning, with creative interior designs, riverside balconies, waterfall views, private yards, and very, very spacious floor plans.
Dog lovers beware: there are very few dog friendly complexes in town. The Tekoa Mountain Apartments are one option, but other than that, you’ll have the best luck finding puppy-tolerant landlords if you look for a single-family house for rent. Cat lovers are welcome at most apartments, though, so all you feline friends are welcome.
Change is a good thing, but before it gets good, it can be a bit of a hot mess. And right now, downtown Westfield is a big, hot mess. With the construction of the new bridge downriver, the city is now repairing the old bridge. As the construction continues, the traffic will follow suit, and the rundown looks of things will remain that way for a little while longer. On the plus side, when it's all said and done (hopefully by 2013), Westfield will have much less traffic over the river and the downtown area renovations will give it a nice, polished look.
That's the run of things in Westfield. Good luck on the hunt for your new home!
-By Katy Comal
