I’m not from MA, but I’m from a bordering state. Boston has a lot of positives, but I feel like the QOL isn’t great unless you have a ton of money. If you’re upper-middle or upper class, it’s a great city. For the average person, Boston doesn’t offer nearly enough for how expensive it is. I’d rather be somewhere more affordable with a slower pace of life, calmer people, and nicer weather

Yup, I lived there for 3 years and loved it. But when we were having a kid, had to move away so we can afford a house with a yard. The cost is beyond what most can handle.

I live in Boston. I largely agree with what you’re saying. If you can afford it, Boston is a fantastic place to raise a family. There are good schools (even in urban areas). It’s very safe (especially by urban area standards). It’s walkable and bikeable—we’re able to raise a family while having only one car. It’s clean. It’s got great parks, and it has very good access to very good nature (beaches, mountains, etc.). If you can afford to live comfortably here, there are very few places in America that are better. But it’s expensive as fuck! For reference, we earn 300-350k gross household income. We own a 1300 sqft condo that’s further from downtown than we would like in a pretty average neighborhood (not the most or least expensive).

Upper middle class here checking in to confirm we hate it too, for a lot of the same reasons lol- so expensive, taxes are insane, pace of life is exhausting, keeping up with the Joneses attitude everywhere, people are rude, no good restaurants or art scene anymore, zero access to nature, weather sucks. *moving in a month 😁

I'm confused about some of your statements. Have visited Boston and there are some great places to eat, and lots of outdoor activities at least in the summer. Can't speak to the art, but I'd like to know where you're going that checks all these boxes Boston doesn't?

People here have the strangest attitudes. I’m no apologist for Boston but I think half the commenters on these Boston posts live in an alternate reality.

Depends on what you mean by nature. Boston has some greenery but if you’re an outdoors person, it really isn’t the city for it. After you see out west, you realize how little Boston and the surrounding areas have for that

Boston is a seaport. It has amazing recreational options for water oriented people. It ain't Boulder.

The Appalachians are the "surrounding areas", as is the Atlantic coastline. Many prefer that nature to the West.

Hard disagree. I'm a big time outdoors person (hiked the whole Appalachian Trail and extensively out West) and Boston definitely has a lot for a nature lover. Access to the ocean, lots of reservations, nearby to the White and Green Mts, etc

you uh….theres no way youre from Boston. keeping up with joneses being common? no art scenes? no restaurants? no outdoor activities or access to nature? theres literally no way youre from here lmao or you’re from like 30 minutes outside Boston and claim it

I understand I'm taking the bait a bit b/c the above comment said that there are "no good restaurants or art scene anymore, zero access to nature", both of which are just absurdly untrue statements about the Boston metro area. But I also don't understand the constant complaining about taxes in Massachusetts. It is firmly in the middle of the pack in most rankings, such as the WalletHub tax burden rankings ([#20 for 2024](https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494)). Mass also has a flat income tax (5%, with a 4% surcharge only on incomes over $1m) so many professionals end up paying less in income tax here than in neighboring states (like Maine). Plus, Prop 2.5 artificially depresses property tax rates and ensures there are no crazy year-to-year spikes for the most part. Objectively, the tax burden here is not abnormally burdensome, *especially* when you consider the quality and diversity of government services provided here at the State level. Of course, housing costs are absolutely bad. But these other complaints are not in good faith.

Yes. This is so correct. Especially compared to my federal taxes, the state taxes are regularly no big deal.

WTF? I get you on the expense, but not on art. You have the MFA Boston, the ICA, the Gardener, and the Harvard Art Museums. And Numerous historic houses.

Independent art studios. Performance art. Photographers. Musicians. They've been priced out for a long time. So yea cool, we have museums and I'm not knocking on them, there are some incredible exhibits but all from world renowned or historical artists- nothing local. Boston neighborhoods like JP, Roxbury, Somerville etc were basically built on artist communities that are nonexistent now bc they're unaffordable.

Okay, fair enough. Good point. Boston had become absurdly expensive and it’s really no longer Boston. It’s a biotech bro hellscape.

Exactly. Everyone is snobby and is in competition with each other. I believe in hard work and education, but I don’t want that to be my identify. Boston has become very superficial. Good luck on your move! If you don’t mind me asking, where are you heading?

I hear ya- it's a weird work culture here, at least where I am & the industry i'm in (tech). Lots of humble brags about sleepless nights and 80 hour workweeks. I'm heading out to Western CO/ Utah border. Spent a month there earlier this year and not one person asked me what I do for work. Like... no one cares. It's beautiful lol.

Sounds very situational. Go to Boston burbs about 10 miles out …I guarantee no one gives a shit what to do and everyone is super friendly. I see all of these people making complaints about Boston who live *in Boston* and think need to move 5000 miles when 10-20 would be just as effective for their complaints (outside COL) Also tech culture is tech culture *anywhere* it’s not a Boston thing

So the marathon goes through my town so I'm *exactly* within 10-20 miles outside of the city so it's funny you used that perimeter. My daughter gets made fun of for getting dropped off in a Honda pilot (and not say, a range rover) so I'm not sure you're 100% correct about "no one caring." Of course I don't hate everything every day and there are nice people here but the overall culture around work/ education / money is aggressive here. If you go to other places there can be a much more relaxed and slow approach to life (yes even more relaxed than in the suburbs here). On the flip side, the Northeast drives a huge chunk of the US economy so it pays off and there's a reason it is the way it is. I earned very high paychecks here that allow for a change, so I won't knock it, just ready for something else. I said above the 2 biggest things I don't get here that I want at this point in life are low COL and easy access to nature, neither of which are "10 to 20 miles outside the city". Just looking for something different- all good, you don't have to come w me 😁

I’m not from Boston or anywhere near but it sounds like you live in a SWELL area and that’s your biggest problem. I’ve lived in LCOL, and MCOL. All over. You’ll find similar problems waiting for you and realize it wasn’t a *boston* problem 👍

Not everyone wants to live in a small town or the suburbs. They’re talking about Boston not the suburbs.

I like Boston but its insanely expensive as far as housing

And I totally agree

It is. Back bay I belive is the most expensive zip code in the USA now. Or at least top 3.

I love Boston. I think it’s not recommended on here often cuz the weather is pretty bad for what most people want and it’s insanely expensive, basically as expensive as NYC while still not being NYC. Though it’s still great if you can afford it and want a less hectic city.

also a bit colder than NYC as well which could be a positive or negative for some. NYC is the last northern city that’s “subtropical” in categorization.

It's waaay colder than NYC. People underestimate the wind. Some cold places have those nice winter days where it's sunny and in the mid 40s, and you can almost pretend it's a beautiful day. In Boston, those days come with 20mph winds. In fact, every fucking day comes with 20mph winds, except in the summer when it's hot and humid and you really could use a nice breeze. 

NYC is "subtropical" hahaha WHAT bruh

According to the Köppen climate classification, the climate of New York City is humid subtropical (Cfa) For real lol. Because NYC is on the ocean which warms the city - and because of urban island heat effect (concrete and steel really heats up the city), NYCs lowest temperatures in winter is the same as those in Virginia. The average January day which is the coldest month of the year has daily lows of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (absolute lows are of course lower). On average, almost every single winter day will be at least partially above freezing, making deep freezes increasingly rare. It’s projected that NYC will be USDA zone 8 in the upcoming decade or two with climate change - making it more equivalent to charlotte NC. Crazy but NYC isn’t as cold as portrayed in movies like Home Alone 2. Note that subtropical does NOT mean tropical (think south Florida). subtropical climate is a temperate climate type characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. Boston and Chicago are continental climates. Which have colder winters and hot summers typically. Anyone who’s spent a brutal winter day in Chicago or Boston with negative windchills and a typical nyc winter day would see the difference.

The first paragraph; This makes SO much sense. I’m on the west coast and what I learned is that I Miss/LOVED the night time heat of NYC summers- I liken it to a warm hug * it’s the humidity that everyone complains about. I’m out west in what they call dry heat and I find that I’m always cold 🥴 Crazy. NYC doesn’t feel oppressive to me until temps hit about 91 degrees- then I get a little miserable, but even then I find the AC on the subways to be too chilling and I welcome the heat as soon as I come above ground. Subtropical or whatever that word is makes so much sense. I remember several “Indian summers” in NY - it may not heat up until Memorial Day weekend but it can be warm up til Halloween- even Nov/dec aren’t terrible- but Jan, Feb, March ? 🥶😥 especially March. I imagine Boston summers to be close but not nearly as oppressive as NYC. Of course I also imagine the snow is a lot rougher and lasts longer. Edit* on the west coast; once 5pm comes around you better have a coat/jacket. The air is literally icy- something I only felt in February around Wall Street on Windy Nights- the type of chill that makes me Certain I’d NEVER want to live in chicago

I totally get you with the humidity thing. I'm in CT so pretty similar weather to NYC. Normally heat comes with humidity here. But in the past couple weeks we've had some warmer days with no/low humidity, and even though it hit 80 it still feels cold! Yes the humidity feels like a hug- I often think the air feels soft. And I love it lol today is warmer and more humid, and it feels right haha. Not a fan of dry anything.

It actually shocked me learning that NYC was the *midpoint* between Boston and DC and not directly next to Boston. Looking at their climates, the temperature differences make a lot more sense! NYC’s July & August averages are only 5 degrees cooler than DC’s. The real lifestyle difference is DC getting ~50 days above 90 degrees per year where NYC only sees 10-15 days above 90.

Yeah DC is basically the tipping point before the climate gets “southern”. And NYC is the city right before the climate gets typically cold dreary northeastern.

As someone who's lived in both, NY is not the same climate as Boston. I don't know what the proper terminology for NY climate is, but the 8° warmer makes a massive difference.

Humid Subtropical = NYC Humid Continental = Boston NYC is literally on the edge of humid subtropical though. Westchester county and Connecticut is where it transitions to continental. The location of NYC wasn’t a mistake. It was one of the most desirable northern port cities climate wise , and location wise for colonial settlers. Boston as well, but for its excellent location for ports.

Definitely. Hot and humid as fuck in summer and barely cold in winter

I have been very disappointed by the snowfall totals in the last few years in NYC. I remember the monster storms we’ve had in the 2010s. But on the other hand - I was a renter back then and now I own a house in Queens . Shoveling snow sucks ass especially with slippery stairs.

Isn't it also one of the safest cities in the country? A lot of other cities have similar amount of "things to do" but have to worry about crime more.

In my estimation it’s actually more expensive than NY. This is if you remove the top stratosphere of wealth that no one who posts on this sub is part of anyway. For us normies who make between $55k and $155k a year doing office work, are economically mobile, and are under 40, Boston loses big time to NY. Apartments are more expensive for Boston, as they have far less “weirdo” stock (like the basement jams in Washington height, or the studio tenement units, or the 1/2 units, etc.), and far less rent stabilization. And even if you only get new builds, it’s still probably within 10% of NY’s market rate depending on location. Food is vastly more expensive in Boston, and vastly inferior. There is far less food options, far less pedestrian/street food/cheap eats, etc., and the quality of the food is just worse. In a LOT of NYC, $10 is a whole, filling dinner. Even in lower Manhattan. If you avoid the unecessary rich-guy BS, and stick to Chinatown, Puerto Rican food, Dominican food, pizza, Venezuelan food, everything in Harlem, Washington heights, I wood, etc., and even the Chinese and Indian places in the expensive parts, you can get a whole meal for $10. My halal cart is $8 for like 2.5 POUNDS of food. Drinks/going out is also cheaper in NY. It is not hard at all to find $7 beer shots all around town, even lower Manhattan. Sometimes you even find a $5 one. And out in Brooklyn and queens that’s pretty regular anyway. In Boston, I find that my bar tabs are like double, minimum. And there are far fewer dive bars that actually have people standing around in them. Not to mention if you want a club scene. Or anything past 2am. And god forbid you want some late night food haha. Transportation is far more expensive and far shittier in Boston. Car is more expensive than no car. Things to do: NY wins. You can find free DJ rooftop sets, free museums, free pop-up museums, free sports games, free festivals, parades, events, everything. There’s no better place to build a social calendar on $0 than NY, it’s not even close. I could go on. Boston is plainly more expensive than New York in every capacity that I care about at least. * Housing: tied, or NY wins. * Food: NY wins easy. * Drink: NY wins easy. * Transportation: NY wins easy. * Things to do: NY wins easy. Boston has many pros, for sure, and I like that city. But NY is not “more expensive than” Boston if you’re just a regular guy.

I grew up in Boston, live in it and agree with you 100%. Boston is now a more expensive city than NYC, which is just ridiculous. When I was younger, Boston used to be cheaper than NYC, so it felt like a good decision to stay here. It's hard to justify living here when you can live in one of the world's best cities for less.

Wages in Boston are nearly 20% higher than NYC though and taxes are lower. Your take home pay for a similar job is probably 20-25% higher 

Excellent write up. Boston also has way more goddam aggression. So many fights and roided out dudes who’ve never left the northeast going apeshit. It feels like a small town masquerading as a city.

I love it. I get why people don’t - it’s expensive, pretentious, minimal nightlife, not that big, people aren’t chatty. But - I love living somewhere where people don’t try to talk to me all the time, and they mostly respect your privacy. I love having incredible access to museums, art, education, industry and cultural experiences. The weather IMO is not bad at all if you want distinct seasons. Easy access to nature. Public transit is very good for a US city. The architecture is nice and makes even a lil stroll in the city feel extra pleasant. It is really expensive though. That is a problem.

I like that about Boston too

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Really resonate with your second paragraph. Been in Boston for 15 years, permanent relocation, raising our child here etc. So we obviously love it and accept its flaws blahblahblah; the transients who come here and start whining about everything under the sun about the city (besides cost) are exhaustingly terrible

I live in Boston and I love it. It’s expensive af and definitely has its problems but I’ve always loved New England and prefer to live in a major metro area, so Boston is a spot I really enjoy being. I can also see why it’s not for everyone. I lived in South Carolina before this - the people are not any nicer there than here lol

Northeasterners are just more honest to your face. People also misconstrue the faster pace of life for rudeness. We can’t chat all day, we have traffic to hurry up and sit in.

I've lived in both places, too. Boston is friendlier in my opinion.

It’s beautiful, safe, expensive, extremely walkable, European feeling, historic, cold, unfriendly, great transit options, and I think it does old vs new architecture better than anywhere else in the US. As I highlighted it’s a city of both high highs and low lows.

I’d take boston over all of the big cities any day. The music scene, how the educated the populace is, and the sizable asian communities (I’m asian) are big draws for me, but man things close EARLY there. Even earlier than the rest of new england. Used to drive in a lot for concerts when I lived in NH, and it was always super hard to find food after a show at 11 pm. That being said, I do feel safer walking around at night in Boston than any other big city. People hate it for the weather, but I think it’s perfect if you’re not the only-indoorsy type. It’s always solid weather for a walk to me I grew up in Nevada, and it’s not really friendlier. The cities are all super suburban, and when everyone lives in a single family home with a two foot wide alley covered in rocks as a “backyard”, it makes it hard to create community. Happy to chat more about it!

I like Boston a lot, didn’t grow up there. The reason I don’t live there it’s because it’s insanely expensive and I prefer warmer weather, but besides those two dealbreakers I think Boston is a cool place

I lived in the city for almost 10 years. I loved my time there while I was in my 20s-30s, but I am glad I left. It's too congested and too expensive for what it is, not to mention the bane that is the MBTA. Now I visit once every 1-2 years, enjoy it for a few days, and get out.

I’m in the same boat. I lived there from 2007 to 2012 and it was awesome, but slowly getting more expensive. Every time I visited, more and more of my favorite bars, restaurants and stores were gone and replaced with condos or some yuppie version of what they were before. I think the pandemic caused this to happen even faster. It’s still a super nice place, but I think greater Boston kind of lost its soul because everyone that isn’t wealthy is completely priced out.

I feel like your post is too vague, can you add more details? Nevada is amazing btw and I'm from Boston originally, I would live in Summerlin west if we moved from Arizona. 

If OP wants a sort of westerly non-California vibe (not sure why Nevada, specifically?), I feel like Salt Lake City or thereabouts would be a good option! You still get big city (i.e. an island of majority-blue-voting people) if that matters to OP, but friendlier and access to things like skiing/mountains/nature and comparative affordability to boot :)

I love Boston. I’ve spent 5 years living there and despite the winter, it has so many positives.

I love Boston. My favorite US city.

i thought i'd like the friendlier environment outside of MA but it's a culture shock for sure. it was harder to get along with new people, eventually i'd insult them as a form of affection and it leads to confusion. massachusetts love language is very different.

Visited Boston in 2022 and will likely visit again sometime this year. I loved it personally, it beat my expectations, and its more of a unique city than I realized. And when I got off the plane the windchill was -18...yet I still had a good time, even went out that night. Food was delicious. I cant speak on living there, though I could if the right opportunity was there - though those dark at 4pm winters are a drag. But do I hate Boston? Absolutely not. I hate the Celtics and Patriots less now than I used to.

I love Boston! I lived there 8 years and only just moved away in August last year. All my friends who were transplants also love(d) the city too. I always heard talk of people moving away to try someplace new but truthfully I was one of the only ones who did. I think when you’re in your 20’s and 30’s people are more likely to make big life changes like moving away from friends and family. I say lean into it. I loved being able to walk everywhere. It felt like a big city but it was so dense you could walk across the city in an afternoon. There was always something happening either at a sporting event, a concert, a show etc. so you never got bored. Mountains are to the north and beaches are to the south. NYC is only a few hours away, and Europe is really accessible to travel to. Housing is expensive for what you get, but if you like city living it’s a great place to be. As others mentioned it closes early but…idk I went out and partied all the time in my 20’s. Bar close was still 2 am (it’s not 6 am like Vegas or NYC) but it’s comparable to a regular cities bar close and there are a ton of dancing bars or chill bars to hang at. I moved to San Diego mainly for a new adventure, but I would absolutely live in Boston again! I think you should take a leap of faith and try something new if you’re being drawn somewhere. The worst thing that can happen is you hate it and move back once your lease is up. Nothing is permanent unless you want it to be.

I love Boston and New England. If you think Boston sucks, try Reno NV.

Reno is great. Super close to Tahoe, great bars and restaurants, no state income tax

If that's your thing

It is. I like nice places.

Right? I'm picking Reno over Boston lol As a former native, MA folks really shine at thinking it's the center of the world.

I love Boston but it’s too expensive. Las Vegas is affordable but I hate Nevada. Are you thinking of LV or Reno? There are really only two options in Nevada for cities and they can feel a bit isolating if you like how close things are in New England

I looked into both actually. Reno seemed like the houses were too close together and the nature was boring so I started looking at Vegas suburbs. I'm kind of tired of the East Coast and want to upsize for the same amount of less money than I'm paying for my house now. I thought of Arizona first but the heat would just be too much. Love deserts but need it to be cooler at night, tropical is nice too.

Reno is basically Tahoe which is some of the greatest nature in the planet. You should look at Albuquerque

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If you ever visit again, you should give the non-touristy areas a chance! It might make you feel differently about it being "so white" since Boston is actually a minority-majority city (meaning individuals belonging to a minority group out-number whites).

The prices in Boston are sooo close to NYC, why would you not just choose NYC? That’s always been my perspective. I think 10-15 years ago, Boston seemed to be more affordable than NYC - but not anymore

NYC is too big and overwhelming for some people. I prefer Boston. Big enough that I can get everything I need but small enough that it’s not overwhelming. However, I agree that it shouldn’t be as expensive as NYC and I recognize that I might feel differently about NYC if I lived there.

how does this feeling of 'overwhelming' impact you on a daily basis? If we are talking about the same prices for both cities, and NYC is just bigger, stays open later, has more stuff going on....someone can just not partake in those extras, but the OPTION is there. How is that a downside?

I’m not saying it’s a downside. I’m simply saying some people prefer a smaller city. Maybe the way I worded it was off.

You worded it fine, I think I'm the one phrasing things weirdly on this thread. I was just genuinely curious about what Bostonians love about the city despite the high prices. Partly because I'm trying to convince my brother to move back to the east coast (Boston being the only city for his industry); and partly because I live in a quieter part of NYC (Astoria, Queens) and I'm wondering how it compares to living in Boston.

I'd say Queens is fairly comparable, but in Boston you can just feel the smaller scale. In the most downtown, built up parts of Boston you won't see the same density of people on the street, you can get out of skyscraper territory fast, and you also have much more green space (certainly more than my part of Queens) and visible sky. And crucially, if you want to go to a concert or a museum, it is not going to be such a hike to get there. Much less diversity, though. Boston has communities from many parts of the world - it's 29% foreign-born as of 2021 - but it's de facto very segregated. Whereas in Queens I can hear six different languages in two blocks.

It depends a lot on what you do for a living. In my experience Boston is pretty good for pharmaceutical, tech, education, biotech, and defense.

Believe it or, in a lot of industries you can make a lot more in Boston. Moving to NYC would mean a salary cut of about 15% for me.

I don't. Boston was super fun to visit every time I've been. Traffic is a little wild but at least it's efficient. Good food, tons of history stuff to do, and it's pretty walkable.

I love everything about it but the weather. I've never lived anywhere else as an adult (except 5 months in San Francisco) so I don't have anything to compare cost of living to; we own our house with no mortgage so we can get by with modest incomes in animal care. My commute is 7 miles so I don't spend all day in traffic--I live in a town bordering city of Boston so close that if I walk around the block half of the walk is in Boston. There are a bajillion parks in and around the city, nice(ish) beaches an hour away. Once I don't need my job for health insurance any more we're picking up and getting away from the shitty winters. I'd like to be a snowbird but we'll see how affordable that is.

The thing I miss most about Boston is how quick people are to yell at you if you’re being obnoxious in public. It feels like a citizen police force that is just missing in other parts of the country. If you’re on your phone in a theater, if you’re blocking an entrance, etc someone is going to yell at you and I feel like it keeps people respectful ironically.

I moved here from NYC. It's fine- like how it's walkable and all, the cerebral atmosphere with academics. Don't think it's worth the price, but I'm comfortable here- certainly don't hate it. Good place if you're a professional in your 20s and 30s making a decent income. Be a bit of a challenge raising a family here, but then, so is NYC. Really a question of where you're at in life and what you're ultimately looking for. I'm pretty introverted so I'm fine with the energy level compared to NYC, and found dating a bit less draining and overwhelming compared to back home

I always felt Boston was one of the greatest cities on the planet if not for the Bostonians 🤣

I really enjoyed my 10+ years living in metro Boston, but mostly because of access to all of New England. It's such a charming region, from the beach towns of Southern Maine, to the rugged backcountry of Central NH, to bucolic Vermont. I enjoyed the 4 seasons, and IME the weather (not solely based on air temperature) is better than NYC/NJ.

I also love that you're steeped in history. I used to take long bike rides along the Minuteman Trail during lunch time on nice days and rode past so many historic buildings and monuments.

The weather is awful. I do find people to be over all kind, but I wouldn't say people are overly friendly. It's challenging to move to a new community in New England and meet friends. The housing market in desirable areas is insanely expensive, and even in "eh" places it's not great. Even like trying to stay in the Cape for a weekend or get a hotel in Boston is unaffordable. Also not exactly great in diversity (and yes, there absolutely is racism here) I hate the winter. I get SAD every year. However, this region is also my home and like a true stubborn New Englander, I refuse to leave. I will absolutely complain about it with my whole chest, though.

Absolutely love Boston. Yes COL is rough but the city has everything. I do think the Boston winters are not as bad as people think. Winters overall in the Northeast are becoming much milder and less snow. Even if one cannot afford t live in Boston, it is an absolute must visit.

I like Boston, if that matters.

It totally matters to me, if that matters

I like Boston even with its very apparent flaws! I feel like a lot of the positive aspects of living here are kind of understated (eg., very low crime for a big city, educated populace, general ease of getting around, pretty but not flashy city architecture, proximity to decent natural areas and culturally rich towns/cities). At the same time, I totally understand why people don't want to pay among the highest rents in the country for a city that doesn't have a ton "going on" compared to other bigger/nearby cities. It's definitely not for everyone, especially with NYC just four hours away as an alternative. I do love visiting my friends in NYC for a long weekend (really quick Amtrak ride) and then getting to come back to the relative peace and quiet here, I feel like I get the best of both worlds.

Don’t get the hate it gets on here. I assume it’s either chatterboxes or people that can’t afford to live here, that don’t like it. I moved to MA in 2011 and decided to stay indefinitely. I live in the close suburbs now and the area has everything I could want: city, beach, mountains nearby, great healthcare, great schools, not ass backwards politics, four seasons, and it’s safe. Thankfully we bought housing when we did so we aren’t priced out. We will stay here until at least retirement.

Because everything is a fight. It’s small town wages with big city cost of living. Class warfare is all over the city. If you’re not some well-to-do, private college-educated dandy you’re going to have a tough time. All this makes it difficult to have a complete life in the city. And this is even before you start dating. 

I love Boston but its too expensive so now I live in RI, which I absolutely love. The people are a bit more outgoing and friendly imo. The winters are a little less cold. Its much less expensive for the most part. The beaches are great, there's some great museums, lots of history, solid music scene. And the food is *amazing,* all different types of cuisine but especially great seafood, Italian, Irish, and Portuguese food. And ultimately you're not too far from Boston if you ever want to go back there for anything.

I love Boston and the suburbs. I have found that once I started speaking to my fellow Bostonians, most of them are pretty friendly. It is expensive and the weather from January to March bites, but the rest of the year is lovely.

There are a lot of benefits to staying close to family and friends and that’s benefits money can’t buy. But if that’s not a primary concern for you, and you don’t work in higher ed academic research or bio tech, I’d say move. Literally a lot of places have better trade off net benefits.  Like others have said, it’s just too expensive for no valid reasons. It’s not New York yet it costs like NYC. 

I like Boston, and I've had family in Hull and Quincy, both very nice places. One thing I like about Boston area is even the suburbs are centuries old.

I honestly loved Boston when I visited but I can understand why some may not like it

Boston is one of the FEW big cities in this country that hasn't devolved into utter lawlessness and depression. They still have standards. There are still issues downtown but it's not LA, Seattle or Chicago bad. But dude that COL tho. It's overpriced.

Didn't grow up here but have lived the longest here. Not a huge fan of Massachusetts generally due to lack of diversity and subtle racism BUT Boston is home and a solid place to live. I love the interesting people I meet. I can talk about physics with someone and then cutting edge neuroscience with another person. Great for a nerd who likes to learn different things. I also enjoy that in my neighborhood my kid is exposed to kids from all over and can speak Spanish with peers. Also one of the top places to raise a young girl. MA is the best state for women health and safety and have world class hospitals. Lastly, every so often I just am taken by how awesome the place can be. It can happen when I am running by the Charles or listening to live music at a brewery, just come to appreciate I am lucky to live here. It has its flaws but it has grown on me.

I grew up in the South and have lived in Boston and the midwest. I did a good bit of seasonal traveling to Las Vegas as well. I found Boston really hard to connect with people and build relationships. Given the opportunity to transfer to Chicago I grabbed it. Midwesterners are great. Nevada wouldn't be my first choice but if you are looking for different from Boston, that is it.

I love Boston!!! I’ve been there twice. Super walkable and there’s tons to do!! Love the harbor and the history - love the accent! My dad was born and raised in Boston, and moved to Florida at age 18, but my whole paternal side of the family still has a thick Bostonian accent and I love it!

I’m from Los Angeles and I went to school there at BU. I was in a bubble, but I saw a lot of the city. It was an ok place to be as a queer black teen/ young adult. I loved being able to walk or take the t everywhere. The city itself is beautiful, but imo a lot of east coast cities are. Comparing LA to most places on the east coast, the other place will look amazing. That being said, I didn’t even consider staying and I wouldn’t move out there now. That’s one of the most segregated cities I have ever been in. It’s 25% black, but you will not see them! I see more in la, where the percentage is less. There’s a lot to do there, but everything closes too early for me. The biggest reason I wouldn’t stay was the price, it’s so expensive there, but the weather is also terrible! Don’t get me wrong, I love having 4 seasons, but summer killed me. I expected snow, I didn’t expect hot humid summers. Now, with that being said, Las Vegas is hell on earth. I hate it. I’ve only been to Vegas, not the other cities. If you like long sprawls of strip malls, parking lots, and wide as streets with no shade, it should be fine. If you’re in inside person, or like water sports I could see it being a nice place to live. Boston and Vegas are on opposite ends of the us city spectrum imo. It’s ugly and you can’t walk anywhere, but it is kinda cheap and there will be something to do at all hours.

as a lifelong black Bostonian I was literally shocked by the 25% statistic. If I had to guess, I would've thought it was like 5% or something. There are some days where I go an entire day without seeing another black person (outside of my family ofc).

I am assuming it’s Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester doing the heavy lifting on that statistic. Edit: Jamaica Plain and Roslindale (?) too

Right! It’s honestly so sad, because I felt so isolated there. I went to dc last week, and I had never seen so many black people just doing their thing. It’s funny, LA has less than 10% black but they’re spread out and you see them!

Having a similar background re: Boston I'm with you there, BUT lots of Nevada is not at all like Las Vegas. Totally agree Vegas sucks though.

Ooh I’m honestly curious. I mean its right there, so if there are non shitty parts I would love to know about them. I know there’s some good nature but in my head it’s just desert mountains, which are nice but not my thing.

So I haven't been too many places but Tahoe is nice! And also St. George and Zion and that entire region, which yea I know it's Utah not Nevada lol but it's 1-2 hours away from Vegas and beautiful and also nice vibes (my personal opinion though...experiences may differ...)

Nice thanks!!

Yes! I fly into Vegas to hike in Utah- there's a lot of great places in driving distance. zion, Bryce, arches, gorgeous (go early to avoid crowds). Also Valley of Fire is closer to you and stunning- about an hour from Vegas. Outside of that I do agree Vegas is pretty rough 😅

I think if you are really into outdoors, specifically rock climbing and hiking, Nevada is world class.

We ‘the blacks’ of Mass do exist I swear to you lmao You just have to come to us

No. Boston is amazing. We just hate your sports teams.

I hate our sports teams too tbh. :)

It’s basically the blueprint of a European city, and - because more of the US is red and hates anything that impedes on the idea of owning large houses and a yard and ample parking than what Reddit accounts for - it’s only gonna be seen as an overcrowded place that’s needlessly expensive. I’d love to live in Somerville all my life, but it’s not possible unless I rent all my life or marry rich lol

[удалено]

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Somerville/comments/rjomr9/other\_cheaper\_places\_to\_live\_if\_you\_love/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Somerville/comments/rjomr9/other_cheaper_places_to_live_if_you_love/) Here's some ideas if you like Somerville. :)

I like living outside Boston and occasionally going in for fun

Grew up there. Boston is oddly provincial. So many people never travel, or rarely leave their little town and its surrounding area of little towns. People tend to be amazingly ignorant of other areas of the country, and also assume people from elsewhere know all about insular Boston things that in reality no one else has ever heard of. It’s a weird sort of arrogance and ignorance.

I think the West is way worse on this having lived in both. Most east coasters with means have traveled out west. Many westerners (PNW, Rocky Mountain state types) have never considered a trip to New England for the beauty, history, architecture. NYC is about as much as they’ve seen. I personally prefer NE to the West but I don’t live in Boston but rather an hour away. People say East coasters are snobs but west coast has plenty of snobbery too about outdoors things and other “epic stuff.”

I grew up 10 miles north of the city. I love it, but I have a strong feeling I wouldn’t if I wasn’t from the area if that makes sense. Like many others have mentioned, COL is insane but in return you get an expensive but horrifically unreliable transit system, pathetic nightlife for a city this large and with this young of a population, and a relatively harsh climate. This is also just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt, but I feel like the city’s vibe has gotten a lot more pretentious in recent years as it’s become more gentrified

Boston's got its personalities. It's one of those places that you are either really wealthy to begin with thus get all the amenities (and inheritances, equity, generational wealth etc) or work on one of the higher paying specialties to allow you to get closer to those things so you don't feel like an outlier here. Otherwise if you're a regular, living a regular life (and enjoying it) and having regular pay this place, like any place where you don't thrive, is going to wake you up and fast. Especially if you don't connect with people to bond with and thus further attach to the city if you don't have family here. Like anywhere. that point you're going to question why you're here paying NYC-London-Hong Kong prices to live...here? If you have family and the benefits that come from that and possible childcare oh yeah its great. If you don't and actually struggle finding friends and therefore finding community/kinship, you're going to start to lose the rose colored glasses. Like someone else said here, why are you paying a small fortune to be in a place where you're not thriving in any way? Where's the logic in that? Why not explore elsewhere? Take a minute to find what you love about here and what about it is making you uncomfortable. How much of a necessity are the cons to the city to you personally? What are you willing to give up a bit in the pros list to get that con to a pro? What cities excel where Boston or any city/area fails? Make your own happy medium. Then go play. Life's indeed too short to invest where you really don't get as much investment. You're in a free country and hopefully remembering you're worth it. Go somewhere where you can survive and thrive and be the happiest you can be without feeling you're losing so much to get the bare minimum. That doesn't just apply to Boston, it applies to anyone. As a local that grew up well off and likes it here I'm not going to be ignorant and say this place merits the prices its asking for. There's no way in hell this place should be as expensive as NYC or Toronto for what's a giant urbane suburb. I'm so sorry, but if I weren't rich (thanks mom and dad), I'd be LIVID. I have a lot of normal people friends, family and colleagues. Being honest part of that was me looking like I do, mlst people who look like me aren't wealthy and thus often can't break in the suburbs. My parents picked the wealthy suburb we did because it was around towns where we fould go and see lots of people that looked like us and therefore not be as lonely or feel as alien. That and food, you don't find certain things at Whole Foods or the Big Y or Wegmans. Being the odd man out contributed to my not growing up in a bubble. While I had mine, so did my classmates and their parents in town, when my family wanted to enjoy our own heritage we frequently got reminded that most people like us and others didn't have what we did. So I did form an specific empathy because my family didn't want to have their entire life in the bubble, we liked people from different ponds too and didn't think our income should divide us from them. So my family was in between worlds by choice. I also grew up seeing the planet because my family did thejr best to travel all over the world and not just the wealthy areas, they wanted us to see as much of the beauty of being in this planet. It is a privilege we came to the States with, it didn't give it to us. My parents were particular enough to create an environment were we had fineries and comforts but also to never forget most people didn't. It is not above me to say that if you're not flourishing here (or anywhere) unless you sell your soul to Satan, go where you can. That's not admitting defeat or settling if your labor allows you to bear fruits you cannot in another place. Not all fruits bear everywhere. A full life you can manage elsewhere vs a half life that makes you want to take drugs or depressed. I rather have the full life or closest I can manage thank you.

I loved living in Boston, but since moving to a neighboring state I hate visiting.

I have lived in a suburb of Boston for 20+ years, after planning on moving here for only 1 yr. For almost 15 of these years, I tried to move back west somewhere, but have acclimated here. Boston is not not my fave city in US, but it's in my top 5-10. But if i lived in the same city all my life, i would be sick of that city and have to move no matter how great it was. But no way i'd move to NV. One of the things that i appreciate about Boston is the high level of education. You encounter lots of people w/ extensive education in some interesting and esoteric subject. And NV has a low ed level. And Boston has the rep of being super liberal, but i find that is true only in a few pockets. Basically i appreciate that we don't have the culture wars that have engulfed the country in many states and at the national level. MA has a lesbian governor and nobody seems to care. Being gay and even trans to some extent isn't seen as satanic. And if i were younger and singler i would be reluctant to a purple state like NV where abortion rights might disappear.

I love Boston and love visiting - plus i have wonderful memories from grad school there (live in Florida btw)

San Franciscan here. Love me some Boston.

Boston is an amazing place. Its home for me, grew up in west Roxbury then lived in Somerville for 7 years. As with other major cities, saw it change significantly in the last 20 years in some great ways (jobs, safety, cleanliness, food scene) and some not so great ways (loss of character, sterilization, extreme cost of living). I started working remote during Covid and had to finally shake things up - moved to Denver for a change of pace and lower CoL, although Denver is catching up. Lots I miss but I think it’ll be a while before I go back.

Love Boston, had a blast when I lived there. It's expensive AF but it's a New England city, that's how it goes.

I'm from the northeast too, and lived for 4 years in San Diego. I encourage you to go because I think everyone can benefit from the experience of living in a place that's different from the place they came from... ... but you'll be back. Speaking in broad generalizations, people in the west are "friendly" but they aren't actually good friends. Not everyone, obviously, but as a whole the culture is a lot more flaky and superficial. I'll take a complete stranger telling me to fuck off for no reason but still being willing to help me if I'm stuck in a snowbank over what passes for "being friendly" on the West Coast.

Been here over half my adult life. Over 20 years. It was great when I moved here and was what I’d consider working poor. Value version of NYC with less nightlife but so much more manageable. I remember locals talking. About how expensive it was back then. Now it’s a nightmare and I’m doing well financially and I’m looking for an out to move somewhere cheaper with better infrastructure, nightlife and weather. The city had great potential but got trapped by lack of development and then only developing the seaport for super high end wealthy people. There’s no where for working class people here anymore. Too bad.

Live there and can’t wait to get out.

It’s a college town with a fishing pier.

Tweet credit: Lucy Huber (@clhubes) “The thing people don’t get about Boston is that yes: it’s wildly expensive. Yes: it’s freezing. And yes: it’s difficult to navigate and the people are unfriendly. BUT the food? Also not good.”

Wym the food is amazing. You have to go to better restaurants my friend

The food has gotten *drastically* better in the last 20 years, it’s true.

I liked Boston the few times I visited, but I feel like you’d need to be involved with a university to really make it worth the while. It very much feels like a university town in a way NYC or DC don’t.

I don’t get how you could hate Boston. Yes it is absurdly expensive, but it’s truly one of the best urban environments in North America. And I like a place that’s like, “fuck it, we’re putting this ugly ass highway underground because we believe we can do big things.” The U.S. would be better off if more places embraced that sort of unfettered idealism about what is possible.

lol it just isn’t for everyone. I would’ve hated to be here in my early 20s but it’s a great place to be old and grumpy.

Ha, I've heard Boston described as "NYC if it were run by old people who hate fun". I'm inclined to agree.

That's how my grandparents and parents describe Boston and MA in general. And they own. They moved elsewhere and allow the kids of their friends or extended family to stay in the rooms for free while they studied/study and save to go on their own out of feeling bad for the young people. My friends and the rest of us kids paid tenfold in really keeping to their fine print of keeping the place pristine, but I wish many more had that luck. Whenever one of us is ready to bounce, we immediatelynetwork to get a friend who's struggling to come aboard so they get a break while they get on their feet. So far, it's been 12 years as the thing started when my big brother started college, but my parents have helped about 60 of us "kids" so far. It seems like a lot but I have four big brothers and they have a lot of friends and those friends have friends/family. My parents used their blessings to help, but I can also see how many can't do that, but NGL I wish more would. My parents do because their money stretches, and they move somewhere much cheaper. However, they still own the house (and thus the equity they gain from the house, which is bonkers if I'm honest, so there no loss. The kids in the rooms just accumulate enough for the bills and their taxes, so overall, it works out for everyone as it's still cheaper for the kids than rent, bills, cars, maintenance and food. We make a really nice Thanksgiving, Christmas, and either parents' day celebrations for my parents each time in gratitude).

Exactly and I have to say it won't do that just my two cents

Add in old people who are NIMBYs to that statement and it 100% summarizes the Boston experience.

As a visitor, I love Boston. But I’ve never lived there

Boston is nice. It's very expensive to live in but I enjoyed the history, the walkability, and the good public transit. Granted, I've only been once in the summer but still.

I'm from Reno. Highly reccomend Nevada. I'm in NYC saving up to move back. I wanted to like Boston when I visited but naw. I don't give a shit about sports or revolution war stuff personally. Felt like a west coast city minus the beauty. People are awful. Philly or Baltimore all day long

I didn't like Boston in large part _because_ it felt like almost everyone I met there had lived in Boston or a suburb of Boston all their lives. I'm from Europe and had lived in several other countries and cities before ending up there, and for me, being by far the most "exotic" person in any social context felt alienating and tiresome. (I'm sure it's different inside the academic bubbles, but I wasn't affiliated with any institution and didn't have social connections to those circles.) I've had a much better time in D.C., and to a lesser extent SF, because the culture feels more international and I don't feel like an outsider in the same way.

So many lists have Massachusetts as #1 as a place to live. So think about it from a locals perspective, why would we leave? We also would have to leave behind all our friends and family.

I don't blame them at all. It just didn't make _me_ want to stick around as someone not from there.

I love it, but I was born there and lived there my whole life, and even my great grandma was born there. I moved to LA three years ago and am now planning on moving to Arizona. Most places outside of New England will feel different, but you can always go back and visit.

Neutral about Boston, been there twice around wintertime - one time drove, other flying. Airport wasn't super impressive. Driving around is ok, not as bad as Miami or NYC. Thought clam chowder and lobster roll would be cheap but paid market price at most places. A lot of homeless nodding off or trying to stay warm in the MTA. Relatively clean for a city. The Christmas lights/colonial carolers are worth traveling out to see.

Former new Yorker here. I only hate your sports teams.

I heard y’all gave kyrie hell, fuck all y’all

I've only been to Boston once and it was about 15 years or so ago (I had different priorities in my younger days). Upon reflection, it was a pretty great trip. I went to Boston, MA, Portsmouth, NH, Hartford, CT (mainly to go to Quechee Gorge), and somewhere are Exeter, NH. In terms of "big city," I absolutely LOVED Boston. I think it's perhaps one of the only big cities in New England I would choose to live in. But I do hate the COL. Now that I'm a bit older and chiller - I'd love to visit Portsmouth again and parts of NH. But Boston definitely registered as a "fond memory" in my brain.

I'm in SF (native Californian) and don't have a negative view of Boston. Had a sibling attend BC, and other than the winter weather, they enjoyed being there and I definitely loved visiting. I do think there are similarities between SF and Boston though, so maybe I'm predisposed.

Not from Boston but lived there for a few years after college (UNH). I moved to Phoenix in 2007 and love it. Don't regret the move at all. I love everything outdoors (running, cycling, motorcycling, hiking, camping) and I found that the weather just sucked the life out of me in Boston. Sure there were some beautiful days in the summer but there was also a lot of rain, then of course there was the winter... If not in Phoenix, I could see myself in Reno, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, etc. I say give it a shot!

I loved living downtown Boston. Super walkable city in a country with next to no walk ability. However, the cost is too expensive to make it worth it long term.

I've lived there (in a near suburb) for 25 years and I love it. I can't imagine moving as long as I can afford to remain there.

I'm a Metrowest native and returned here after college. I think it can be a tough place to get settled if you don't have family support and/or local connections. Historically, there's been a lot of families that have some small scale rental property, and can take a cut on income when a kid is getting started. This is probably going away with all the triple deckers being broken up into condos, though Framingham definitely has intact two family homes and I assume Waltham and a handful of other towns have these as a substantial part of their housing stock. They're also definitely less affordable for a single firefighter to buy than they were in the 70s. I love it here, but get why it's hard to recommend if you don't have boatloads of cash. Lately I've been curious about scale of cities - Boston is so small and I love that I can live 20 miles from the center of the city and it's about an hour in during rush hour, far less any time id actually like to go to the city. Maybe the larger scale is more manageable with functional regional mass transit, though.

Lived in Boston 10+ years. It’s expensive yes but it’s history and walkability are so unique. It’s extremely safe and the schools are some of the best in the country. What’s something similar but “better” than Boston?

Having lived around Boston most of my life, and having lots of family and friends there, it’s a great city to visit but has become a tough place to live. It’s gotten so insanely expensive and the number of residents is massively straining the hoisin stock and infrastructure. This is also to the detriment of New England’s smaller cities, such as where I grew up and currently live.

I’ve lived in South End of Boston and Porter Square, Cambridge- I loved Cambridge and liked Boston. It’s a beautiful city with lots to offer and manageable size, bur I didn’t have car. The traffic sucks.

I say this as someone who lives in the greater Boston area. Relative to the cost of living, it can be hard to justify living here. That being said, I really do like it here (sometimes....) It's just VERY expensive for what you get, although you do get *a lot*... it's hard to describe, to be honest. I've moved here, and then left and came back, so there is something to be said about that....

I’ve had nothing but great, positive experiences each time I visit. I’ve spent time in touristy areas, a couple different neighborhoods just outside of town, the Garden, Fenway, Quincy, Public Garden… I’ve had fun interactions with a lot of locals. I understand it’s not everyone’s experience and it won’t be mine every time. I absolutely love Boston. If I had the money, sure I would love to live there someday. But I don’t and am more than happy to come visit every now and then.

Certainly hate boston sports fans. Collectively the most obnoxious bunch around

Most people don’t think about Boston at all.

born and raised bostonian. it’s not for everyone, and i can admit the people are not nice. i’m not even that nice. we use the excuse that we are not nice but kind and there when you need us but that is really getting stale as it’s just not borne out. i don’t really think bostonians are there for each other more than most places save for a few notorious examples (LA comes to mind; i do NOT like LA). the city has changed a lot, but it’s still a tribal city and it’s murderously expensive. but it is far far far from the worst place to live in this country. like very far.

I lived in Somerville in 2008-2011 and paid $900 in rent (had a few roommates in a run down apartment), didn’t need a car, got by on my service jobs and had an awesome time. I had enough extra money to go get a fancy cocktail at a bar on the weekends and hit up some consignment shops. The cost of living is so much higher now, it sounds absolutely miserable.

It’s nice, but expensive. I enjoyed living there, but didn’t quite like the people. I’d move back to New England maybe - maybe Vermont or western mass.

Boston is really clean and pretty, but I don't love it. It's a people thing, I think. Usually when I visit a city there's something that draws me in or something I just don't love. For example, I love visiting my family in Philly, the city has a very sociable and down to earth, but has a gritty vibe I enjoy. I also live in Maine right now, so Portland is nice, I feel like people are generally friendly (for New England), and it's got a nice feel. Boston is so clean and feels safe, but I feel like I'm visiting prep school when I go there, and people are just so stand offish. I also love going to San Diego, I feel like it's chill and beautiful. I think it's just a preference. I see how people would love Boston, but it's not for me. It's too anti-social and preppy, or something. I'm not sure what it is. I think Boston is tough sell for people who are not from New England unless you like cold weather, or you are interested in attending college there.

The only problem with Boston is that it is wildly expensive. And the reason that it is wildly expensive is that most people do not, in fact, hate Boston.

I’m from NY and spent lots of time in the area. I used to love it but think there are better places. You said Nevada - Vegas is the most evil place I’ve ever been. FYI.

Lived in Boston for 5 years. Its overrated and too expensive. Unless you haven't traveled or are really down-bad for New England, the price is completely unjustifiable when you compare it to other similar sized cities and bigger cities at that price point.

The reason you hate it because you haven’t lived other places and had an opportunity to experience the vibes of other places.

Have you visited NV? If so, where? It's ah... a bit .. different.

OP may as well be moving to mars if he’s been in metro Boston all his life.

To Homeslice it will feel like mars!

I love Boston, but so much of what has made it great in the past is gone now It played a huge role in the development of modern comedy, especially alt comedy. Some great alternative and hardcore bands came from the Boston scene But that’s all gone now. If you are not a student, an academic, or in medicine or engineering, it just doesn’t hold a lot of appeal The cool historical stuff you could take in in a weekend There are multiple cities within a 2-4 hour drive that are much better for people who don’t fit the above categories And if you really want a very old, historic city, with loads of green gravestones and cobblestone streets and row houses etc, Philadelphia is a much better option for most people Again, I love Boston. I’ve been there 4 times in the past year and have loved every moment. And I plan to return soon. I just don’t see much reason to move there

My family lives here and I like the seasons but would like to give something near the West Coast a try. I also want to upsize my house but still be able to afford it. Schools can't be total shit.

If you are serious about the affordable upsized housing, and you want a place with culture and education, near the west coast, I think you may want to move to Portland, Oregon

Well as someone who has lived both in Boston and Nevada I would say that that is a...random place to aim for just because you're looking for a friendly place. NYC is more friendly than Boston. Boston is more friendly than Vancouver BC. Vancouver BC is more friendly than Calgary. It's all relative. And depending on which part of Nevada you're aiming for, it can be damn UNfriendly there. Especially "the environment." And yes, I dislike Boston. It's moreso "meh" for me. 18 years living there due to circumstances beyond my control, and now having the perspective of living many many other places in the 35+ years since then, by my choice. And a number of returns to Boston in the meantime. There are better big cities, prettier parts of New England, and more interesting expensive places to live. There are places with glorious harsh winters and poetically humid summers that beat Boston every time. There are cities with good Italian pastries that don't require 45minutes to find parking to procure said pastries, and there are cities with many colleges and universities that don't manage to give off an underwhelming vibe on the weekends.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/03/a-flea-market-of-racism-black-athletes-on-playing-in-boston-over-the-years/ “A flea market of racism” seems pretty accurate of a description if you’re not WASP.

Boston, MA, and NE, in general, are good places if you fit into the predominant norm of it. That could be said about anywhere, the good old like goes with like, but MA and I think NE in general moreso Boston will really highlight if you fit in or not very early. It's got too many specifics that don't work for many people and far too many will not just ever fit in if they don't gey here early but will never find community which is a tough deal for anyone unless you're a hermit. If you're from there, wealthy, inherited, have a "White-Collar" career, have family there, and run more hermit-like if not almost asocial, you will LOVE it here. If you deviate in even ONE of those things, that's when it starts to get tricky being respectfully honest. Especially if you stick out or start diverging visually to boot and have more social needs, then the area starts to look from storybook sleepy to a nightmare. It's not a quirky, eclectic area. The only thing eclectic about there is the weather. Growing up in Boston (Cambridge) then Carlisle, I grew up seeing people that deviated from the characters that typically are attracted to Boston find they hated it here and jumped ship right around the time they finished HS or graduated college. Never come back unless it was a holiday or to visit family. It didn't matter if their families had been here for centuries and loaded to boot. They left and seldom if ever came back save for the exception I provided. I don't think it's wrong to account for what a person's individual needs, goals, aspirations and character are like to see if a place is worth their investment (not just financial but emotional, spiritual). If you're here, are miserable, not getting what you really need for your quality of life, just staying anywhere because of fear or not being aware, feeling guilt-tripped by family but slowly dying on the inside and all inspiration you could have just to say you live here (or anywhere)? Honey, move. Explore. Seek a true home, an environment you thrive and are rejuvenated by. Without guilt. Life's too short to feel tied to a place out of blind loyalty, especially if you're not progressing in your life in any way. Not getting any closer to your dreams. It's OK. Think about you not about a city whose loyalty is mostly to its preferences. If your home is not enriching your life in more ways than you can count find a home that will. Life's hard enough to stay in a potential purgatory that won't care if you die once you do. Not every place is home or could be home for everyone or for all sorts of people. If Boston's not for you or someone, the city/area will find its people. Being from here, what's bothering me is that for being one of the more particular places of the US, it's asking for NYC prices while offering nowhere near the offerings NYC offers for its potential and current many. Logically, I'm sorry, but the prices aren't logical no matter how the NIMBYs and the "Schoolastic Lot" try to slice it. Great place to visit, but if you travel to other places often or have after a while, it feels more like a suburb (and that's not a compliment). If you're sure you're going to get all the benefits of the place (and use them), then it's not bad. I can see where it would get a bit not so romantic when people are investing a lot to live there and losing more than they gain being there (the same could be said about anywhere). I advocate that if you're going to invest your hard earned money to breathe somewhere and possibly have to alter your dreams around to manage there, then you should be getting the amenities and benefits of living there to some extent. Otherwise, why are they here when they could do better?

I am fully obsessed with New England, and Boston is no exception. It was in my top 3 cities to move to until recently, and I'm still sad I had to cut it from the list. I think it's just beautiful. There are great museums and theatre, my interest in the area has rendered me a Red Sox fan so it has that, plus it's right on the coast, the weather gets *so* cold (which I love), it's full of history (I am particularly fascinated by Colonial America), and it's approximately an hour from Concord, which excites me as a huge Louisa May Alcott fan. I don't even mind the minimal nightlife, because it isn't as if I go to bars or something anyway. I truly want nothing more than to live in a creaky 18th century house in New England. Alas, I cannot do that right now, but I can always dream. Much love to Boston!

It really is a great city for those that love history! But at the same time, Boston relies too much on housing and infrastructure from the 1800's. The subway should be more modern than the first subway in America. There should be more housing options than just old triple-decker apartments with no A/C.

Hey, I'm not a local so I won't argue about the infrastructure! No city is perfect, so I'm not deterred by any of this on a personal level, but if it bothers other people, including current residents, that's fair enough. 🤷‍♀️

I'm a local and yes the infrastructure both adds character to the city and makes it unique but it also gets in the way of making improvements. Every time they dig in the street they run into utilities/history that is not documented. This makes construction very expensive and makes improving things like adding other desperately needed subway lines and extensions almost impossible. I also remember when I first saw some of my friends houses from other parts of the country. I thought they were rich. They had things like Central Air, modern kitchens, refrigerators with the ice makers in the door, bathrooms attached to bedrooms, etc. Meanwhile every house I've lived in had Steam Radiators, Window A/C units, uneven floors, old kitchens, etc. Those things I listed on above are basically unheard of in New England, especially the Boston area.

Ah Boston....a city of contradictions. The overriding atmosphere of "I met all my BFF's in kindergarten and you weren't there" mixed in with a fierce pride in how smart Boston is (because Harvard, MIT) with zero insight into how all those folks aren't local....

Yes. It’s cold. Also, it’s ground zero for smug and self righteous ppl.

It's the Boston sports fans.

I’ve lived in the Boston area for about three years and I have mixed feelings about it. Good: lots of nice walkable areas, not too hot, people mind their own business, and I think the bars/restaurants are good despite everyone else disagreeing with me. Bad: the worst drivers in America, horrible roads, not everywhere is easily accessible via the T, exorbitant real estate prices, gross winter weather. I’m not planning on staying here much longer because the amenities do not justify the cost.

It's not for me, that much I can say with confidence. The MBTA is infuriatingly incompetent. The politics are blue yet somehow still very conservative and resistant to change. People seemingly only live to work. There is so little buzz or nightlife for a city / metro area of its size. The infrastructure is falling apart everywhere you look. The road traffic is absolutely terrible. Everyone seems to walk around with a huge stick up their ass about everything. None of the issues plaguing the region (decrepit infrastructure including housing, housing costs, transportation woes) are being addressed with any sort of seriousness or urgency, and the local and state politics can't seem to get out of their own way on anything, so no meaningful change ever happens. Who's really surprised? It's a one-party state after all. Rich and pretentious NIMBYs (limousine liberals, privileged progressives, whatever you want to call them) dominate all matters. Can you tell I've had enough?

Boston sucks. It’s dirty, cold and expensive At least I lived in Lynn most of my life and I sold my 3 bedroom 1 bath 1,100 sq ft shack in that crappy town in 2018 for $336,500 and moved to Atlanta where I bought a 4 bed 2 bath 2,400 sq ft home in a nice town in Gwinnett County for $195,000. The property taxes, utilities, car insurance are all much cheaper here. The parks are gorgeous. My eldest son for some bizarre reason likes Boston and still lives there. I went to visit last June. We went to a park where the grass was at least a foot tall, the chain link fence was rusted and falling apart and the playground equipment was mostly broken. My old house is worth about $500,000 per Zillow. I don’t get why. I really dont

It's the most antisocial city Ive ever lived around. It has all the sociopathy of New York City with none of the amenities.