Massena Apartment Renter's Guide
Massena Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
Massena's most famous graduate was Hal Smith, who played the town drunk, Otis, on "The Andy Griffith Show."
Massena Village includes the southwestern portion of the Town of Massena, nestled between the banks of the Grasse and Raquette Rivers in St
Massena's most famous graduate was Hal Smith, who played the town drunk, Otis, on "The Andy Griffith Show."
Massena Village includes the southwestern portion of the Town of Massena, nestled between the banks of the Grasse and Raquette Rivers in St. Lawrence County in upstate New York. Once considered the manufacturing center of the region with the Aluminum Company of America at its center, Massena has seen a population decline in recent years but remains a vibrant and bustling town on the border of the United States and Canada. Parts of the village extend into the towns of Norfolk and Louisville to the west.
Moving to Massena
Roughly a third of the housing is renter-occupied, so finding places to rent in Massena will not be as challenging as it is in other areas where owners rule. That said, vacancy rates tend to be on the low side, so begin your search early and check listings often, as apartments for rent get snapped up pretty quickly.
About a third of the homes in this area are multi-unit structures, but this typically means duplexes and not apartment buildings. The most plentiful options within the village are two-bedroom apartments for rent within a duplex structure, but you will also be able to find a few studios and one-bedroom apartments for rent as well. Larger homes are also available.
When you look at an apartment to rent, you are likely to find that utilities are included. This makes sense, considering that most of them are in two-unit structures, and it is easier to have both units on one electric and water meter rather than splitting them off. And it's not going to cost you a ton of money; the cost of living in Massena is a sixth lower than the U.S. average as of 2013, and rental prices are very, very reasonable.
You won't have to jump through a lot of hoops to rent in Massena. Property owners pretty much need to see you have the rent and security deposit in hand and the ability to pay going forward. In addition to finding utilities paid and even furnished places to live in, many properties allow pets to hang at home with you as well. Bring everything else that you may need, including copies of your ID and a credit check, to secure your place upfront.
Massena Neighborhoods
As a relatively small village, Massena isn't divided into distinctive neighborhoods. Residences dominate all but the southeastern quadrant, the shopping quadrant home of the Harte Haven shopping district. Riverdale Apartments is also located in this area, but population density is very low otherwise. The St. Lawrence Centre Mall is to the east of the village, a few miles out Highway 36.
Most commercial businesses lie along the two corridors of Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 420, so if you'd like to be closest to them, look for places in the center of town, with easy access to these areas.
Living in Massena
This is North Country, so if you can't stand brutal winters, Massena is probably not for you. Summer high temperatures struggle to hit 70 degrees, and there are five full winter months where average lows dip below freezing. Average snowfall for the area hits a whopping 15 to 20 inches per month during the season, and there are fewer sunny days overall than much of the rest of the country.
On the plus side, Massena is a pretty self-contained town with a couple of popular shopping spots, the ability to work close to home (average commute time for residents is less than 15 minutes), several small parks for recreation, and an indoor skating rink. Although the village has seen an increase in crime during the 2010s, the crime rate is still below the national average. St. Lawrence Center Mall has three large anchor department stores and 40 or so additional retail and service shops, while nearby Harte Haven shopping center includes a movie theater, plenty of restaurants, a grocery store, and all the retail shops and services you'll need.
Massena might not be the most exciting sort of town and can at times seem a bit slow-paced for those used to the urban sophisticate lifestyle. There is an airport just a few miles down the road, however, if you feel the need for a quick getaway, and just across the St. Lawrence River is the Canadian province of Ontario and the city of Ottawa. For those who love the northeastern wilderness, Massena can be a very good place to live. You're in a town with all the amenities you could possibly need, but a quick drive to the outskirts of town and you're on your way to the expansive farmlands and forests of upstate New York, with lots of little glacial lakes to discover and explore.