Apartments for Rent in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a business powerhouse in several arenas, including electronics, communications and finance. In the last three decades it has also become a major player in the biotech industry, with Worcester now considered one of the leading cities for biotech start-ups as well as established multi-national biopharmaceutical research facilities. There are more new apartments in Massachusetts springing up now in Worcester and Cambridge than in Boston because of the rapid growth of these cities.

The more traditional sectors of the Massachusetts economy include seafood (due to the cold Atlantic waters off of Boston Harbor), nursery stock and cranberries. Major companies in Massachusetts include the Ocean Spray co-operative, Genzyme Corporation, Sun MicroSystems, Bose and Novartis AG.

Outdoor Attractions

Tourism is a big part of Massachusetts due to the spectacular Boston Harbor, with sailing and yachting a major recreational activity. Locations like Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard combine warm summer months with spectacular boating and fishing, seafood, centuries-old lighthouses and picturesque Victorian downtowns. With numerous rivers and a major harbor, sportsmen can go fly fishing, spin casting and even ice fishing in the winter months. Cross-country skiing is also popular.

Along the extensive shoreline of Massachusetts, whale watching excursions are one of the most popular activities for visitors. If you're lucky you can spot Right Whales, Fins, Humpbacks and Minkes all passing through the rich feeding grounds in the cold waters off the coast.

Colleges and Universities

Massachusetts is well known for its excellent school systems even at the primary school level. Public, private and parochial schools are all above average and more students attend parochial and private schools here than in the majority of states.

Higher education is extremely important, with two of the nation's most exclusive universities here – Harvard University and MIT. The University of Massachusetts has five campuses, with its Amherst campus a part of the unique "Five Colleges" network. The Five Colleges are UMass Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Amherst and Hampshire College. Students attending any of these schools can take courses at any or all of the others for full credit due to their reciprocity agreement and some shared cultural facilities and an exceptional Observatory.

Real Estate and Housing

The down side to Massachusetts apartment hunting is the sticker shock. Be prepared to pay top dollar (well above the national average) for a good apartment. Boston apartments can rival New York City in price. The up side is that if you want a Massachusetts apartment, you shouldn't have trouble finding work. Unemployment is one of the lowest in the country and salaries tend to be higher than average.

Boston, Cambridge and Springfield all have distinctive neighborhoods and a bohemian flavor that is perfect for couples and families. Apartments in Massachusetts can be less expensive in the college towns such as Amherst, so if you’re flexible on location, check out some apartments there to find a bargain.