Thinking of moving
Apr 17th, 2002 | 01:20 PM
#22
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Beth-
Boston is expensive with horribly cold winters but (usually) avoids super hot summers. DC is neat to visit, but suffused with "just here on my way to my next job". Both have areas that are pretty crime rideen, others that are safer (and even more costly.) Boston probably has a larger number of cool lesbians, while in DC many choose to play the closet game in hopes of "passing" to get a better job. Baltimore has a horrid crime problem, mostly drug related, though the "gay areas" do tend to be safer. Philly is, IMHO, a pretty dismal place, it's best features being proximity to other east coast cities and ethnic food. (Yes, I have lived there.)
SF is outrageously expensive and quality of life has plummeted. The "dot bust" hasn't helped. It's overcrowded, well beyond the capacity of its infrastructure and pretentious in a different sort of way. There's a lot of pressure to be PC, with little tolerance for anyone who doesn't buy into the current iteration of "how life should be" (Yes, I've lived there, too)
So here's one more vote for Portland - I've only visited, but have friends living there and thought it was a great place. Yes, there is something of the P.C. thing as in SF, but in a geniune and practical fashion (as opposed to theoretical and hypocritical SF approach.) Not cheap, because word is out about what a great place it is to live, but probably a better overall value than the other places.
Boston is expensive with horribly cold winters but (usually) avoids super hot summers. DC is neat to visit, but suffused with "just here on my way to my next job". Both have areas that are pretty crime rideen, others that are safer (and even more costly.) Boston probably has a larger number of cool lesbians, while in DC many choose to play the closet game in hopes of "passing" to get a better job. Baltimore has a horrid crime problem, mostly drug related, though the "gay areas" do tend to be safer. Philly is, IMHO, a pretty dismal place, it's best features being proximity to other east coast cities and ethnic food. (Yes, I have lived there.)
SF is outrageously expensive and quality of life has plummeted. The "dot bust" hasn't helped. It's overcrowded, well beyond the capacity of its infrastructure and pretentious in a different sort of way. There's a lot of pressure to be PC, with little tolerance for anyone who doesn't buy into the current iteration of "how life should be" (Yes, I've lived there, too)
So here's one more vote for Portland - I've only visited, but have friends living there and thought it was a great place. Yes, there is something of the P.C. thing as in SF, but in a geniune and practical fashion (as opposed to theoretical and hypocritical SF approach.) Not cheap, because word is out about what a great place it is to live, but probably a better overall value than the other places.
Apr 17th, 2002 | 01:35 PM
#23
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I was leaning towards DC because of the
IT job growth in that area. I've never considered Portland until now. It seems that there is a lot to be said about Portland that I never knew about. How is the job market there like? I've thought about Boston for a long time. I like that it's only a couple of hours or so from Maine. A friend of mine said that her sister bought a small 3 bedroom house there for 600,000. I don't know if it's in an exclusive part of the city, but that's way out of my price bracket. I've also been told that Boston is more expensive than NYC. Is this true?
IT job growth in that area. I've never considered Portland until now. It seems that there is a lot to be said about Portland that I never knew about. How is the job market there like? I've thought about Boston for a long time. I like that it's only a couple of hours or so from Maine. A friend of mine said that her sister bought a small 3 bedroom house there for 600,000. I don't know if it's in an exclusive part of the city, but that's way out of my price bracket. I've also been told that Boston is more expensive than NYC. Is this true?
Apr 17th, 2002 | 05:09 PM
#24
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Real Estate in Boston is comparable with NYC. Most other things are less expensive in Boston.
Boston has a HUGE technology industry. You'd most likely have trouble finding work in New York as a software developer. You'd probably be paid much better than where you are coming from (just a guess) if you were to get a job in Boston. The tech industry in NYC is mostly in NJ or Long Island. It's TOUGH to commute out of Manhattan becuase cars are SO expensive there.
Same with Boston, IT jobs are mostly outside of the city proper, so you'd likely commute. Lots of IT in Cambridge though. In SF, there's a fair # of jobs in SF, but mostly they are located WAYYYYYY far south in Silicon Valley. Most of SF seems to be advertising (or used to before hte .Bomb), finance, education, health care, etc.
It's a very tough job market right now. If you looked for a job first, it's definitely possible that the company would pay for you to relocate. A few years ago it would have been easy, but now it's pretty tough.
Homes in the South End of Boston definitely are VERY expensive. Not as pricey as Beacon Hill or Back Bay, but still way up there. $450K buys you a pretty dumpy 1 bedroom condo. But still, for about $1500/month you could find a smallish decent 1 bedroom, or probably less if you have a room mate.
Boston has a HUGE technology industry. You'd most likely have trouble finding work in New York as a software developer. You'd probably be paid much better than where you are coming from (just a guess) if you were to get a job in Boston. The tech industry in NYC is mostly in NJ or Long Island. It's TOUGH to commute out of Manhattan becuase cars are SO expensive there.
Same with Boston, IT jobs are mostly outside of the city proper, so you'd likely commute. Lots of IT in Cambridge though. In SF, there's a fair # of jobs in SF, but mostly they are located WAYYYYYY far south in Silicon Valley. Most of SF seems to be advertising (or used to before hte .Bomb), finance, education, health care, etc.
It's a very tough job market right now. If you looked for a job first, it's definitely possible that the company would pay for you to relocate. A few years ago it would have been easy, but now it's pretty tough.
Homes in the South End of Boston definitely are VERY expensive. Not as pricey as Beacon Hill or Back Bay, but still way up there. $450K buys you a pretty dumpy 1 bedroom condo. But still, for about $1500/month you could find a smallish decent 1 bedroom, or probably less if you have a room mate.
Apr 17th, 2002 | 08:02 PM
#25
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I'm from Washington DC, so my bias is towards that city. However, here's a tip. I now live in Long Beach, California. It is as affordable as Baltimore, safer than Philadelphia, sunnier than Portland, and as gay-friendly as San Francisco. Plus, it is only an hour's drive to Los Angeles (where, contrary to popular myth, culture does exist). Rents for nice one-bedrooms only blocks from the ocean start at $700/mo. Good neighborhoods: Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights, Naples peninsula. The downside: you MUST commute to Irvine or LA. Check www.gazettes.com.
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