Should I move to Boston?

[Taverner]

Dear Bostonian DU-ers....

Should this Californian shed his skin and move to the Northeast for a job he wants?

I like the job, and wifey and I want to move to a place where the morgtages don't cost an arm and a leg (trust me, no matter HOW bad you have it, it's nowhere near Bay Area prices. Put it into real numbers, we live 50 miles from the City, in a small lot, 2000 sqft home that retails for 870K these days.)

BUT...It gets cold in Boston doesn't it? And it snows and rains a lot!

Give me the insider's scoop on the "Cradle of Democracy."

[MissMillie]

1. Average home price in MA these days is 360K

But that's all of MA and not Boston area.

Boston has 4 seasons, and it gets all kinds of weather, but most of us here consider that to be a "pro" not a "con".

In Boston, you're an hour or so from anything.... ocean, mountains, lakes, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Cape Cod.

[Taverner]

3. 360K is nice.....

Thats what we paid for our first home, back when in 96...

Are the people cool there? ( besides the DUers.. )

[MissMillie]

6. I think we're great

but I may have a bit of bias in me.

[matcom]

2. 20 miles west of Boston

and that house you have at 870k will only cost you about 350k

snow? check
rain? check
wind? check

but its still an awsome place to live. we only put repuke doofases in the Govenor's mansion for our personal entertainment.

come east! i'll buy you a drink! :hi:

[LaraMN]

4. Not a Bostonian, but cold-weather afflicted.

My best gal-pal is a native (northern) Californian and she's been in Minnesota for 11 years now. She doesn't mind the weather that much. I think you get acclimated, to a certain degree. My Husband moved here from Florida 10 or 11 years ago, and he actually prefers the weather here.

[AngryAmish]

5. People have told me it is the most racist city in the US

I can't judge that myself.

[Taverner]

7. Well it was the only city that protested De-segregation

South Boston had huge protests in white Irish neighborhoods when they learned their kids were going to school with African Americans.

[MissMillie]

8. that was 30 years ago

and it was only one section of Boston.

[Taverner]

11. Agreed....I know a lot of things have changed...all over the US

Since then...

I mean, Misissipi ran "Prussian Blue", everybody's favorite neo-nazi Olsen twins out of town...so anything can happen...

[Loonman]

9. They're friggin' liars or they've never been there

Like that jockstrap dickwad Barry Bonds. Boston is no more or less racist than anywhere else. Pisses me off when people buy that crap on hearsay.

[Taverner]

12. Actually I could tell you Orange County is the most racist place on Earth

but that's just my experience...

[AngryAmish]

16. I trust the people who told me that

They are in a position to know.

[edbermac]

10. No earthquakes here...

A lot of rain this year which is unusual...

[Left Is Write]

13. I would. In a heartbeat.

[dben88]

14. Are you thinking of moving to Boston proper?

Or the suburbs? I suppose that does not really matter, just curious.

Yes, Boston is expensive (although not as expensive as the Bay Area).

Yes, it is cold during the winter - which lasts a long, long time. The past two years have seemed extraordinary in terms of weather - temps of 3 degrees for days on end, blizzards dumping 28 inches of snow, hot, humid days in the summer that makes it feel as though you are sitting in someone's mouth. We also complain every year about not having spring. But, if it weren't for the weather, a lot of New Englanders probably wouldn't have much to talk about.

Anyhow, I say if it is a job you want, go for it. It is a great city and the people are great (despite what you may have heard). Plus, Boston has a personality. I have been/lived in other parts of the country and there does not seem to be a personality - if that makes sense.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. I moved to your area from Boston.

Here's what I think. First off, real estate is expensive in the Boston area. 360K as MsMillie said is the statewide average. The closer you get to Boston the higher the price, and the housing stock tends to be smaller and older than what you find in most of the Bay Area. Inside Route 128 you'd be hard-pressed to find a 2000 SF single family house for under 550K. In Cambridge, a friend's 1100 SF single family with off street parking for one car and no garage was sold recently for 500K. So yes, the prices are lower, but not by as much as you might think.

Prices do decline outside of 128, but the commute becomes more challenging to the Boston/Cambridge area. The road system is not endless freeways like here. Many major routes are 4 lane roads. We have more impressive looking traffic jams but sitting in traffic is no fun anywhere. On the other hand, there aren't bridge bottlenecks everywhere --one can get off the highway and drive backroads for a lower stress, if not shorter, commute.

As for the cold and rain, my experience with CA transplants is the unpredictable nature of weather bothered them much more than the extremes. Boston proper doesn't have that many days of cold weather. The western suburbs outside of 128 are colder and snowier. There is no Spring, Summer is nice if you can stand the humidity, and Fall is a season that we just don't have in the Bay Area so that would be an adventure for you.

Upside, Boston has a good cultural base (better than the majority of U.S. cities --- music, art, theater, children's attractions,historical sites, restaurants, clubs, etc.) The city is compact and walkable. There is a decent public transportation system. Boston (and Cambridge) and San Francisco and Berkeley are compared frequently for good reason. SF is a larger and more diverse city but there is a general feeling of similarity to the two areas. I can't explain it other than to say they're both comfort zones.

For all the talk of racism in the city, it's quite rare that you would encounter it, and when you do there's no subtlety so confronting it is pretty easy. Being outspoken is considered a good character trait. Politics are a natural party of the conversation.