Broadmeadow Brook - Worcester, MA

Worcester played a major role in Massachusetts history. Once belonging to Native Americans, the area later became significant to the American Revolutionary War. After people started settling, farms emerged. The neighborhood and city remained as farmland and didn't undergo development of any sort until the middle of the 20th century. Nowadays, the area has become more urbanized, but still provides residential areas near to the major cities at lower costs.

Learn more about the town’s past with a visit to the Worcester Historical Museum and the Salisbury Mansion. The museum provides an in-depth look at the history of Worcester, while the mansion serves as one of best documented house museums in all of New England. The Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds also bring a lot of the city’s neighborhoods to light with many events and activities.

Along Grafton Street on the north side of the neighborhood and Ballard Street to the west, chain restaurants, diners and pubs make dining out or grabbing a drink a simple task.

To thoroughly enjoy an evening out, go to Paesano Pizzeria. The innovative recipes used to create these pizzas make them different from anything found at a typical pizzeria. Try the Nutella pizza with fresh strawberries or a pie smothered in sauce and fries. A large specialty pizza costs around $15 to $16, and you can bring in your own bottle of wine.

When you have a sweet tooth, walk into one of the best bakeries around, Wholly Cannoli. Choose from a wide array of cannolis, or snack on cupcakes, cakes, pies and many other sweet treats. Sit down at one of the outdoor patio sets, or keep warm inside the large bakery. This establishment also serve espresso, calzones and sandwiches for when you need a quick pick-me-up paired with a heartier meal.

When you crave hearty but flavorful and complex Italian fare, check out the Mare E Monti Trattoria. Known for its great service, this restaurant dishes up classics, such as Vitello Vincenzo and Merluzzo a Forno, as well as a range of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. It also boasts a bar and a club-like area.

Along the SW Cutoff, the entertainment consists of clubs, pubs and other facilities geared towards the night owls. KasBar, a bar and grill featuring live music on weekends and pool every night of the week, tends to be a local favorite. The sports bar feel and affordable beer make it a relaxing stop at the end of the day. For a louder livelier atmosphere, head 10 minutes northwest to downtown Worcester, where bars and clubs can be found around every block.

Hailing a cab in the neighborhood isn't as prevalent as it might be in more urbanized areas. Most of the transportation methods consist of bicycling, walking and taking personal vehicles. With main routes such as Ballard Street, the SW Cutoff, Grafton Street and Massasoit Road, getting anywhere from east and west to north and south remains easy.

Uber provides ride share services in this community. You can take an UberX ride to Boston for around $80. Union Station in downtown Worcester also provides rides to Boston down the Orange Line for around $13 a trip.

With Blithewood Park and the playground and ball park at Oakland Heights close by, you have plenty of places to enjoy with kids and pets throughout the neighborhood. Blithewood Park provides shade, gazebos, fenced areas, a playground, and open space for pets and kids to run.

Broad Meadow Conservation to the west of the neighborhood provides 430 acres of land and remains the largest urban wildlife sanctuary throughout New England. With sanctuaries throughout New England, the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation includes a nature play area, hiking trails and wildlife. View over 160 bird species, 80 butterfly species and 700 different plant species. Even annual events such as the Butterfly Festival or Boo Meadow Brook can be enjoyed with your children.

The cost of living in the Broadmeadow Brook neighborhood remains much lower than many other areas between Worcester and Boston. The median rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment sits around $1,071, while Boston’s rental rate stays around $2,000 and Worcester’s stays steady at around $1,500.

Grab a beer at the local pub for around $3 a pint or a meal for around $12 to$13. While fuel remains slightly higher than the national average, prices run lower than that of downtown Boston. Fuel throughout the neighborhood goes for 1.3 percent higher than the national average. Compared to the state average, Broadmeadow Brook’s average fuel price lies around 1 percent lower.

With shopping centers on Grafton Street and big name retailers surrounding the neighborhood, shopping for whatever you need doesn't require you to stray far from home. Traveling to the city for everyday essentials becomes a thing of the past with all the stores available throughout the neighborhood’s circumference.

A few specialty shops, boutiques and consignment shops exist nearby, but many remain towards the city center of Worcester. Check out the Posh Boutique on Grafton Street for evening gowns and wedding dresses at affordable prices. This newer establishment has quickly become a local favorite for women.

The Stop and Shop Supermarket and The Farm Stand on Grafton Street as well as the Walmart Supercenter on Tobias Boland Way provide the residents with essential grocery items. The Farm Stand provides seasonal, locally grown fresh produce.