Paper mills along the Nashua River powered Fitchburg, Massachusetts’s economy for generations. “I remember when I was a kid, the river would be a different color depending on what color paper they were making that day,” says Brenda Cormier, a Realtor with Re/Max Vision who grew up in the neighboring town of Leominster. “There’s still industry over there, but it’s nothing like it used to be.” Today, the city of about 41,000 residents is mostly a commuter community for those working in Worcester, about 30 miles south, and Boston, about 50 miles east. Fitchburg is surrounded by conservation land and is home to New England’s Great Wolf Lodge Water Park and Fitchburg State University. “There’s a lot to do in Fitchburg, and it’s a great community,” Cormier says. “For a little while, it didn’t have the greatest reputation, probably because of the industrial presence. But it takes a while for a place to outgrow its reputation.”
Fitchburg State University is a hub for artists and creative minds.
Monument Park near Southside Fitchburg is a great spot for walks with your dog.
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Fitchburg's parks and arts
“Fitchburg is a great place to live for people who like to go outdoors,” Cormier says. The city gets snow in the winter, colorful foliage in the fall, blooming flowers in the spring and warm summers. Hiking, camping and hunting are popular activities. High Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Pearl Hill State Park and Willard Brook State Forest are all less than 10 miles away. Within the city, the 150-acre Crocker Conservation Area leads into Audubon Flat Rock Wildlife Sanctuary and watershed land. Along the way, walking trails loop around Overlook Reservoir, a glassy body of water surrounded by mature oak trees. Nearby Coggshall Park spans 250 acres and offers an 18-hole disc golf course, a playground and a softball diamond. A stone house with meeting rooms and grills overlooks Coggshall Park’s Mirror Lake, where a red-topped gazebo seems to float on the water. Golfers tee off at the private Oak Hill Country Club, which has hosted seven Massachusetts Opens; Parkhill Park has a fully wheelchair-accessible playground and a summertime splash pad; and the West Fitchburg Streamline Trail follows the Nashua River for half a mile, passing a defunct factory’s rusted ironworks and aged pipeline. The Great Wolf Lodge Water Park is a top employer and Cormier says it’s popular for a family weekend getaway. “Everyone had been to the Great Wolf Lodge at least once,” she says.
There are also many cultural institutions in Fitchburg. The city’s industrial history is displayed and studied at the Fitchburg Historical Society, while the Fitchburg Public Library has programs for kids, teens and adults. The Fitchburg Art Museum – or FAM – has 12 galleries showcasing works from around the world and rotating exhibits. Vendors selling local produce and artisan goods line the museum’s parking lot every third Thursday from June to October during the Fitchburg Farmers Market. The event is also held on the second Saturday of those months at the historic upper common downtown. In December, the Santa Parade and Holiday Tree Lighting gets residents in the festive spirit as participants march down Main Street.
Folks let their dogs socialize and play at the dog park near Southside.
Coolidge Park offers wonderful features for young children to enjoy.
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Historic homes near Nashua River
Homes in Leominster sit up and down the city’s hills. On cracked, bumpy roads, colonial-style triple-deckers sit across from single-family homes with gable-front roofs and shaded porches. There are many historic houses, particularly near the Nashua River. In most of the city, mature oak and pine trees shade front yards, sidewalks line streets and cars are parked on the curb. Two-story Colonial Revivals and modest Cape Cods are common housing styles in Fitchburg, and the city’s median single-family home price is $400,000, slightly lower than the national median of $406,100. Townhouses and condos are also available.
A multifamily home in West Fitchburg is situated above the street with steps leading to it.
A multifamily style home in Cleghorn has three separate units with a large front porch.
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Fitchburg Public Schools and Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg Public Schools serve the community. The district receives a C-plus from Niche and consists of four elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Fitchburg State University, a public four-year college with about 3,400 undergraduates, is also in the city and offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree options. “A lot of local kids go to Fitchburg State. It attracts students who want to stay in town or be close to their families. They usually live at home and commute,” Cormier says. “You don’t really notice a difference when school is or isn’t in session since the student body is so small.” Fitchburg State also employs many residents.
Memorial School is located in Cleghorn, a neighborhood of Fitchburg, MA.
St. Bernard's High School has 235 students in grades 9-12 with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio.
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Converted mill buildings, shopping in nearby Leominster
Many mill buildings have been converted into restaurants, businesses, office space or entrainment facilities. There are also many shopping centers and strip malls throughout town with grocery stores, pharmacies, various small businesses and eateries. In the neighboring city of Leominster, residents will find a larger commercial presence, with the Mall at Whitney Field hosting a movie theatre and well-known retailers, and the Water Tower Plaza and Twin City Plaza both offering big-box shopping. HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital - Fitchburg Campus is on Nichols Road.
Stop by for delicious Dominican lunch at Mamajuana Restaurant, near Cleghorn.
Locals of Fitchburg enjoy coming in to buy some cookies from Dutch Kitchen & Bakery.
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30 miles to Worcester, 50 miles to Boston
While sidewalks make some areas of Fitchburg walkable, residents will need a car to get to surrounding cities. Massachusetts state Route 12 cuts through Fitchburg and connects with Interstate 190, leading about 30 miles south to Worcester. The road also travels about 5 miles south to Downtown Leominster. The 5-mile Twin Cities Rail Trail, popular with walkers and bikers, also connects the sister cities. Boston is about 50 miles east, and locals can get there using the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Fitchburg Line at Wachusett station. The Fitchburg Municipal Airport is on Crawford Street, and the Boston Logan International Airport, which has flights to more than 80 domestic and 50 international destinations, is about 56 miles east.
Crime
According to FBI data, Fitchburg’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average, while the property crime rate is lower.
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