Thinking of calling Western Mass home?
Whether you grew up here or came to the area for our world-class educational institutions, many people want to put down roots in Western Mass. UMass Amherst is in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, which follows the Connecticut river from CT to VT, connecting cities including Springfield, Amherst, and Greenfield.
Why Live Here?
Western Mass offers a high quality of life with a welcoming community. People who live here tend to love all things local.
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FOOD & DRINK Local farms supply popular farmers markets and farm shares. Towns have a mix of local cuisine (often with vegetarian and vegan options), as well as numerous international options. Quality coffee, tea, maple syrup, ice cream, pizza, bread, pie and craft beer are easy to find.
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EDUCATION Numerous local bookstores signal the love of education. Dozens of universities and great K-12 schools keep the region young and vibrant.
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ACTIVITIES Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hobbies including hiking, cycling, running and skiing are well liked. Many areas are dog-friendly.
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ENTERTAINMENT There are a surprising number of cultural resources and events ranging from music, art, sports, history, museums and nightlife.
While driving is most common since there isn’t the “Boston traffic,” other transportation options include the PVTA bus system and ValleyBike Share. Amtrak connects regional cities including Hartford, Burlington, Boston, and New York. For those who prefer to drive, NYC is ~3 hours and Boston is ~2 hours. Bradley International Airport offers flights throughout the US and Boston’s Logan Airport makes international travel possible.
Employment Opportunities
Employers from a variety of industries and of many sizes offer high-quality jobs.
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EDUCATION provides stability for the local economy with many working at higher education institutions including the 5-Colleges (UMass Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire) as well as regional schools (Springfield College, Holyoke and Greenfield Community Colleges).
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HEALTHCARE also underpins the success of the region with Baystate Health, Cooley Dickinson Health Care (Mass General), Change Healthcare, Health New England, the VA, and the UMass Medical School in Worcester.
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FINANCIAL SERVICES employers for CICS and other majors include the large (MassMutual), mid-size (local banks including PeoplesBank), and small (Farm Credit Financial Partners).
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DEFENSE AND MANUFACTURING offers STEM careers at companies including United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney), General Dynamics, L-3 Harris, and Tech180.
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STARTUPS are gaining traction with notable tech-startups including Lexalytics, MachineMetrics, CheckWriters, Paragus Strategic IT, Tumult Labs, Rediker Software, and SYNQWARE joining startups in other industries including 3BL Media and Myers. Filter on Western Mass on our Startups Trello to see more. Entrepreneurship resources are plentiful including VVM, VentureWell, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
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OTHER LARGE EMPLOYERS include ISO New England, Dennis Group, Eastman, Hitachi-Comark, Northwestern Mutual, Yankee Candle, and ServiceNet.
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CONNECTICUT is a short commute away with popular employers including LEGO, ESPN, Voya Financial, Stanley Black & Decker, Infosys, and Jackson Labs. Hartford also is home to many insurance companies such as Travelers, The Hartford, Aetna (CVS), and Cigna.
Local Recruiting Events
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Towns and Housing Options
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Most popular: Amherst, Northampton, Easthampton, South Hadley
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Quieter but wonderful: Hadley, Belchertown, Deerfield, Montague
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Further away but worth it: Greenfield, Holyoke, Westfield, Springfield
