Portraying Central Mass as the place where prices have fallen by 50% ignores many cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts inside the 495 & 128 belts. Many declines approach 50% in towns and cities inside 495 when you look at housing segments other than single family (multi-family and condominiums).

Raising our family in the Athol-Orange area back in the 50's, we lived in a nice neighborhood, close to the schools, playgrounds, etc. Everyone took pride in the homes, and kept them neat and pretty. When I go back to the area now, it's so difficult to imagine what happended to all these homes. Run down homes line the streets, junk cars parked on once beautiful lawns, it's truly beyound words to described our beautiful home towns and what they look like now. Yes, there are some nice homes, but these homes are being built on the outskirts of town, while the inner areas of the towns are decaying.