Where would you live? Westport, CT, Hingham, MA or Charlottesville, VA

I am from Westport and used to live outside of Boston (but not Hingham). those two areas have very different vibes even though they are really not that far from one another. It is true that Boston suburbs aren't super friendly. Westport will have more people moving in and out which could help you make friends but people there really do tend to fit a certain mold. I am FB friends with a lot of people who still live there and their posts are all about doubling at SoulCycle and selling Rodan and Fields (sp?). Since Westport is so far from the city, often one spouse stops working when the family moves to Westport or significantly scales back her career. Nothing wrong with that - and the town is lovely with a great beach - but depending on what kinds of people you like to hang out with, you may or may not fit in easily. Basically I would say that if you feel at home walking around downtown Bethesda, you will be fine. If going to a reading at Politics and Prose is more your style, you may prefer Hingham.

One caveat is that if you are black, the Boston area is a rough place to live. Just ask Michael Che http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/03/25/michael-che-boston-racist-city/

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03/26/2017 23:10

Subject: Where would you live? Westport, CT, Hingham, MA or Charlottesville, VA

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Anonymous

I'd say Hingham, if being close to a city is important to you. Otherwise, Charlottesville (IF jobs are very secure, there are limited options there).

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03/27/2017 11:14

Subject: Where would you live? Westport, CT, Hingham, MA or Charlottesville, VA

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I am from Westport and used to live outside of Boston (but not Hingham). those two areas have very different vibes even though they are really not that far from one another. It is true that Boston suburbs aren't super friendly. Westport will have more people moving in and out which could help you make friends but people there really do tend to fit a certain mold. I am FB friends with a lot of people who still live there and their posts are all about doubling at SoulCycle and selling Rodan and Fields (sp?). Since Westport is so far from the city, often one spouse stops working when the family moves to Westport or significantly scales back her career. Nothing wrong with that - and the town is lovely with a great beach - but depending on what kinds of people you like to hang out with, you may or may not fit in easily. Basically I would say that if you feel at home walking around downtown Bethesda, you will be fine. If going to a reading at Politics and Prose is more your style, you may prefer Hingham.

One caveat is that if you are black, the Boston area is a rough place to live. Just ask Michael Che http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/03/25/michael-che-boston-racist-city/

Previous Westport poster here (who grew up there, still visits family a lot.) I respectfully disagree with some of the Westport feedback in this post. Unfortunately, it is not as "politics & prose-ish" as it used to be when I was growing up there (80's) but there is still some of the artsy vibe remaining (Levitt Pavillion outdoor theater that has outdoor shows in the summer, Westport playhouse is country playhouse that has shows year round, a main street (yes, with more chains than when I was growing up there-sadly, but still it is a real downtown with charm, and not a prevalent "Rodan" stereotype either, imo.)