How. would you describe Boston versus DC?

[Anonymous]

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GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

This is my experience (born and bred Bostonian, moved to DC out of college in the early 90s and never left, much to my chagrin). Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.

I also grew up in the Boston area and moved to DC when I was in my 30s, and agree with both of these posts.

I'm hoping to move back to New England in retirement because it still feels like home, and because between now and dead, I really don't want to live in DC.

I alos grew up in the Boston area and totally agree with this Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.
i have no desire to stay in DC but also no plans to ever move back to the Boston area.

NP. Eh, I grew up in the Boston area (lived in DC 20+ years), but I wouldn't describe it as provincial. Insular, fine. MA has some of the best public education systems in the country. People are much more progressive than most places, and of course you have some pockets of ignorance, but overall I'd say it's much less provincial than the rest of the country.

Totally disagree. Boston is one of the most provincial cities in America. This is very obvious to anyone NOT from there.

Sigh. Ok. Have you been to the rest of the country? Where, pray tell, are you from that is so worldly and sophisticated?

More transient cities like Dallas, LA, Atlanta, Houston etc.

From your question about worldly and sophisticated, it shows you don’t even understand what we mean by Boston being provincial.

Ooooh sick burn. What exactly does provincial mean to you, wise one?

It means having a narrow point of view and limited exposure to any place outside of Boston. Most people in Boston are from there, vacation on the cape and have done limited travel outside of the Boston metro. They have had limited exposure to other cities and people and truly have an inflated view of Boston. There is also less racial diversity. I could go on… it’s a provincial place.

This is so spot on. Vast majority of people I went to high school with still live in Boston, never lived outside of the area after college, do in fact vacation on the Cape and rarely leave New England.

Well, if a place is damn near perfect, why leave?

+1

The region of the US with the least migration is the Northeast. Why leave a place that is beautiful and livable?

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/04/moves-from-south-west-dominate-recent-migration-flows.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

This is my experience (born and bred Bostonian, moved to DC out of college in the early 90s and never left, much to my chagrin). Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.

I also grew up in the Boston area and moved to DC when I was in my 30s, and agree with both of these posts.

I'm hoping to move back to New England in retirement because it still feels like home, and because between now and dead, I really don't want to live in DC.

I alos grew up in the Boston area and totally agree with this Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.
i have no desire to stay in DC but also no plans to ever move back to the Boston area.

NP. Eh, I grew up in the Boston area (lived in DC 20+ years), but I wouldn't describe it as provincial. Insular, fine. MA has some of the best public education systems in the country. People are much more progressive than most places, and of course you have some pockets of ignorance, but overall I'd say it's much less provincial than the rest of the country.

Totally disagree. Boston is one of the most provincial cities in America. This is very obvious to anyone NOT from there.

Sigh. Ok. Have you been to the rest of the country? Where, pray tell, are you from that is so worldly and sophisticated?

More transient cities like Dallas, LA, Atlanta, Houston etc.

From your question about worldly and sophisticated, it shows you don’t even understand what we mean by Boston being provincial.

Ooooh sick burn. What exactly does provincial mean to you, wise one?

It means having a narrow point of view and limited exposure to any place outside of Boston. Most people in Boston are from there, vacation on the cape and have done limited travel outside of the Boston metro. They have had limited exposure to other cities and people and truly have an inflated view of Boston. There is also less racial diversity. I could go on… it’s a provincial place.

NP. This is soooo true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boston’s way better. Signed, DC Native

+1

The climate is awesome and it is not built on a swamp.

Towns are actual towns and have personality and a bona fide (not Potemkin) centers.

Housing stock is nicer.

Ocean and mountains are close by.

+1 to all of this. And Boston is significantly more expensive because of it.

[Anonymous]

I lived in both, currently am in DC. I’m not from either place originally.

I miss Boston so much! It is a different type of energy there with all the young people around from the 30+ colleges in the area. Even though I am far beyond my college years ai really appreciate that vibrant youth vibe. Also people were interested in all sorts of things there, intellectually. We could attend a dinner that had a physicist, musician, gender studies professor, etc. all at the same table. Here it’s lawyers, policy wonks, lawyers, lawyers, the occasional doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

This is my experience (born and bred Bostonian, moved to DC out of college in the early 90s and never left, much to my chagrin). Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.

I also grew up in the Boston area and moved to DC when I was in my 30s, and agree with both of these posts.

I'm hoping to move back to New England in retirement because it still feels like home, and because between now and dead, I really don't want to live in DC.

I alos grew up in the Boston area and totally agree with this Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.
i have no desire to stay in DC but also no plans to ever move back to the Boston area.

NP. Eh, I grew up in the Boston area (lived in DC 20+ years), but I wouldn't describe it as provincial. Insular, fine. MA has some of the best public education systems in the country. People are much more progressive than most places, and of course you have some pockets of ignorance, but overall I'd say it's much less provincial than the rest of the country.

Totally disagree. Boston is one of the most provincial cities in America. This is very obvious to anyone NOT from there.

Sigh. Ok. Have you been to the rest of the country? Where, pray tell, are you from that is so worldly and sophisticated?

More transient cities like Dallas, LA, Atlanta, Houston etc.

From your question about worldly and sophisticated, it shows you don’t even understand what we mean by Boston being provincial.

Ooooh sick burn. What exactly does provincial mean to you, wise one?

It means having a narrow point of view and limited exposure to any place outside of Boston. Most people in Boston are from there, vacation on the cape and have done limited travel outside of the Boston metro. They have had limited exposure to other cities and people and truly have an inflated view of Boston. There is also less racial diversity. I could go on… it’s a provincial place.

NP. This is soooo true.

this is so untrue. The hospitals and universities alone attract world-class talent and people who travel all over the world.

[Anonymous]

Boston is not friendly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lived in both.

Boston (and nearby areas): The most provincial big metro in America. This is both good and bad. All the locals are tight knit and there is a real sense of community. The downside? Very very very hard to break in to the community unless you marry in or are born into it. Everything from the food to the interests of people are exceeding local. Horrific weather. Expensive considering local incomes.

DC (+ NoVa + Maryland): Not particularly 'tight' knit, much less sense of community. But, much more interesting (to a non-insider), better food, more interesting people. Easy to make friends and fit in, even if you didn't grow up here. Not great weather (hate summers). Surprisingly cheap considering local incomes.

Hahahahaha! No.

[Anonymous]

I found it really hard to meet people living in Boston in my 20s. Everyone is from there or went to college there and has their people already.

[Anonymous]

Boston being on the ocean seals the deal for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

What are the “adorable towns”?

NP. Newburyport. Gloucester. Sturbridge. Sandwich. Wellfleet. Concord. Provincetown. Rockport. Anywhere in the Berkshires. Then farther up, Portsmouth, Portland, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, etc.

I'm from Gloucester. I know Gloucester. Gloucester is not "adorable". But is my favorite place on earth.

From a tourist's perspective it's cute. Wingaersheek Beach. The downtown walk. I can't speak to living there, but as a native of another town off of 495 north of Gloucester, I always thought of it as a wicked nice place to visit.

That is a bizarre way to describe where you're from seeing as Gloucester is the end of 128. Anything west of 128 is the sticks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

This is my experience (born and bred Bostonian, moved to DC out of college in the early 90s and never left, much to my chagrin). Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.

I also grew up in the Boston area and moved to DC when I was in my 30s, and agree with both of these posts.

I'm hoping to move back to New England in retirement because it still feels like home, and because between now and dead, I really don't want to live in DC.

I alos grew up in the Boston area and totally agree with this Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.
i have no desire to stay in DC but also no plans to ever move back to the Boston area.

NP. Eh, I grew up in the Boston area (lived in DC 20+ years), but I wouldn't describe it as provincial. Insular, fine. MA has some of the best public education systems in the country. People are much more progressive than most places, and of course you have some pockets of ignorance, but overall I'd say it's much less provincial than the rest of the country.

Totally disagree. Boston is one of the most provincial cities in America. This is very obvious to anyone NOT from there.

Sigh. Ok. Have you been to the rest of the country? Where, pray tell, are you from that is so worldly and sophisticated?

More transient cities like Dallas, LA, Atlanta, Houston etc.

From your question about worldly and sophisticated, it shows you don’t even understand what we mean by Boston being provincial.

Ooooh sick burn. What exactly does provincial mean to you, wise one?

It means having a narrow point of view and limited exposure to any place outside of Boston. Most people in Boston are from there, vacation on the cape and have done limited travel outside of the Boston metro. They have had limited exposure to other cities and people and truly have an inflated view of Boston. There is also less racial diversity. I could go on… it’s a provincial place.

That is not provincial. That is insular. Almost the dictionary definition. From Boston area and loved in a number of places inlcuding DC for a long time. Do not agree with any of that. The idea that people never go anywhere else is just wrong. I have a blue collar family and they travel a lot. The white collar ones doi the same things their peers do here. Boston is pretty diverse these days. Not sure you are living in the present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boston is not friendly

This is true. But becomes welcoming when you embrace it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

GKDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all really interesting; I have lived in both cities. I loved DC in my 20s. I found it so easy to meet people! Easy to navigate, people were transient so everyone was eager to connect (even if it felt a bit fueled by profession). Not sure if this memory is was fueled by my youth and rose-colored glasses, but it seemed like there were happy hours all the time, easy access to power (in the sense that you might randomly end up at a senator's barbecue somehow!), great for visiting family with all the monuments and attractions. Fun restaurants, too, and so much diversity.

However, as we had kids, it felt less livable. I felt the DC suburbs had nothing on Boston's suburbs in terms of schools, charm, livability, town squares, housing stock. The towns farther out in VA felt so drab and cookie-cutter, as did Maryland's (though a bit less so, but places like Chevy Chase were not affordable). I also began to miss day trips: In Boston, you are a stone's throw from adorable towns, skiing, ocean, great smaller cities like Providence or Portland, et cetera. I also appreciated the largely progressive politics and the sense of hometown pride (yes, it can be insular). In DC, people kept moving every couple years, nobody was from there, there wasn't a ton of hometown nostalgia. Also liked the neighborhood-i-ness of Boston and the weirdness/edge/grit/magnitude that puts it on par with a large city like NY.

However, I deeply miss the DC food scene and the sheer ease of meeting new people. It is SO MUCH HARDER in the Northeast.

That is my take.

This is my experience (born and bred Bostonian, moved to DC out of college in the early 90s and never left, much to my chagrin). Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.

I also grew up in the Boston area and moved to DC when I was in my 30s, and agree with both of these posts.

I'm hoping to move back to New England in retirement because it still feels like home, and because between now and dead, I really don't want to live in DC.

I alos grew up in the Boston area and totally agree with this Insular is a better description than provincial, but provincial isn't wrong.
i have no desire to stay in DC but also no plans to ever move back to the Boston area.

NP. Eh, I grew up in the Boston area (lived in DC 20+ years), but I wouldn't describe it as provincial. Insular, fine. MA has some of the best public education systems in the country. People are much more progressive than most places, and of course you have some pockets of ignorance, but overall I'd say it's much less provincial than the rest of the country.

Totally disagree. Boston is one of the most provincial cities in America. This is very obvious to anyone NOT from there.

Sigh. Ok. Have you been to the rest of the country? Where, pray tell, are you from that is so worldly and sophisticated?

More transient cities like Dallas, LA, Atlanta, Houston etc.

From your question about worldly and sophisticated, it shows you don’t even understand what we mean by Boston being provincial.

Ooooh sick burn. What exactly does provincial mean to you, wise one?

It means having a narrow point of view and limited exposure to any place outside of Boston. Most people in Boston are from there, vacation on the cape and have done limited travel outside of the Boston metro. They have had limited exposure to other cities and people and truly have an inflated view of Boston. There is also less racial diversity. I could go on… it’s a provincial place.

NP. This is soooo true.

+1 don’t forget the chip on their shoulders. I married a Bostonian, lived there for 5 years. We moved back to my home base NYC. His family called him a traitor lol. Seriously, everything is a comparison to Bostonians. They think, therefore they are. Also quite racist for what they tout as the most progressive city. To be fair, it is a lovely, walkable, small, and safe city. My son was born there, and it was fun to walk for miles with him in a Bjorn. DHs 92 year old aunt emails houses for sale. She was upset that my son didn’t return for college. He’s the bridge that connects us. We’re there often enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in both, currently am in DC. I’m not from either place originally.

I miss Boston so much! It is a different type of energy there with all the young people around from the 30+ colleges in the area. Even though I am far beyond my college years ai really appreciate that vibrant youth vibe. Also people were interested in all sorts of things there, intellectually. We could attend a dinner that had a physicist, musician, gender studies professor, etc. all at the same table. Here it’s lawyers, policy wonks, lawyers, lawyers, the occasional doctor.

That's my experience too. I think a lot of the people responding here just live/lived d in a whole different Boston that has no connection whatsoever with the academic, arts and medi-sci research culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in both, currently am in DC. I’m not from either place originally.

I miss Boston so much! It is a different type of energy there with all the young people around from the 30+ colleges in the area. Even though I am far beyond my college years ai really appreciate that vibrant youth vibe. Also people were interested in all sorts of things there, intellectually. We could attend a dinner that had a physicist, musician, gender studies professor, etc. all at the same table. Here it’s lawyers, policy wonks, lawyers, lawyers, the occasional doctor.

That's my experience too. I think a lot of the people responding here just live/lived d in a whole different Boston that has no connection whatsoever with the academic, arts and medi-sci research culture.

I think a lot of people are taking stereotypes of Boston straight out of "SNL"! Boston actually ranks 6th among the 25 largest cities in the US in proportion of the population that is foreign-born.