SF Bay Area v. Boston personalities (Cambridge, Waltham: fit in, apartments, condo)

[scoutfinch87]

So I grew up near Dallas, and just graduated from uni over in Berkeley, Ca and now I'm considering job opportunities on the east coast in order to move closer to my sister. Having never lived on the east coast, Boston in particular, I'm unable to make any valid comparisons because I have no real reference about the culture of the city. Not to generalize, but what are Bostonians like? Is it true that people on the east coast are on the whole more "real" than Californians? I'm a friendly person myself and I appreciate people who are genuine. I still consider myself pretty young at 20 and I have heard that Boston has a youthful but still very intellectual feel, which is nice to hear. But if I do go to Boston, it would be mostly unfamiliar territory to me, though one of my good friends lives in Waltham. I'm hoping that it's not terribly difficult to make similarly aged friends in the area? lol. Would appreciate your thoughts all! Thanks.

[Chianti]

You'll have no trouble making friends since many people who live there aren't from Boston and are in the same boat you are.

As far as making friends with people from Boston....good luck. You'll find out what I mean when you get there.

[pjscdn]

I'd venture that outside of climate, Boston is the city in the US that is most similar to San Francisco. Without going into too many details, I'd speculate that if you like city life in San Francisco, and don't mind New England winters, then a 20 year old Berkeley grad will fit in fine. The Boston area has a lot of colleges and universities, arguably the highest percentage in the country for a major city, so there is no shortage of people in your age group. While the area isn't known to be very friendly, unlike what you may have experienced in Texas, people here are more "real", as you put it, than what you probably experience in CA. If that characteristic is important to you, then give it a try. Just don't be shy about diving in and socializing.

[smarty]

You'll learn quickly about a special option (the horn) in your car...

Also, how people dress is very different....

Just come visit...

[beantown573]

San Fran and Boston have many similarities and Differences. They both have great culture, arts, theater, and food. Although Boston tends to be a "cold" city much like NEw York, Philly, i.e mostly the east coast cities(not the weather)... you really have to know someone here to get you into the loop.... it also really depends on where you move to in the Boston area. The city it self can be a little bit unwellcoming, but if you go to one of the squares (harvard, inman, central) you may have better luck.

[LeavingMA]

There will be lots of young 20 year olds here due to all the colleges. I've been to San Francisco and Boston, and overall I would say they have different vibes. I really think the west coast has a different mentality than the east coast.

There are some similarities between Boston and San Franciso, but I think most of that just revolves around what cities have to offer.

Most of the people you will meet in Boston grew up in the New England area. You want meet a lot of other "outsiders" like you would in New York City or Washington D.C., or even some cities on the west coast.

[skytrekker]

Both cities have a certain energy- elevated in Boston by the large student population, the great institutions of higher learning (Harvard, MIT, Boston College etc) The far left of center politics- Cambridge is in many ways the east coast version of Berkeley. San Francisco's energy comes from its boom and bust psychology-from the gold rush to the internet, its 'Barbary coast Baghdad by the Bay' reputation-center for radical politics, its large gay population, its High tech pioneers and beautiful physical location.

Boston today has become a thriving biotechnology and finance center,and has remained a 'center for learning' and intellectual thought-a title it has never lost since the 19th century. The city remains the economic and cultural heart of New England. Information technology here is still has a strong presence. Medical research is another hot area of progress.

The cities both have a great deal of charm- Bostons long history gives it a decidedly European look and ambiance you will not find in any other major US City.

Both cities have culinary excellence- though in Boston clam chowder and 'lobsta'- may rank higher then Asian food in San Francisco- Beantown however still has a good sized Chinatown. Both cities have the same type of neighborhood bars and small clubs. Today however Boston has just about every type of culinary experience you could desire.

The climates are vastly different- with San Francisco having a cool water coast dry sub tropical Mediterranean weather regime, with much more sunshine.

Boston's climate is considered mild this far north due to the moderation of the nearby Atlantic, giving the metro area slightly milder winters and less hot summers then areas further inland. Boston will be milder then most cities in the mid west.

As for friendliness, the older resident 'townies', can be in fact be friendlier then some of the newcomers- since the old time area residents have less 'to prove'. New Englanders tend to be reserved anyway- but are generally sincere, and at times too honest, and 'be in your face'.

Having spent time in both places, New Englanders and Bostonians tend to be far less materialistic then those in California. A garish display of luxury goods- cars, clothes etc, is likely to be frowned on- understatement is the key here.

[asl24]

couldn't have said it better myself. I second this review whole heartedly. It's nice to see a fair analysis.

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Both cities have a certain energy- elevated in Boston by the large student population, the great institutions of higher learning (Harvard, MIT, Boston College etc) The far left of center politics- Cambridge is in many ways the east coast version of Berkeley. San Francisco's energy comes from its boom and bust psychology-from the gold rush to the internet, its 'Barbary coast Baghdad by the Bay' reputation-center for radical politics, its large gay population, its High tech pioneers and beautiful physical location.

Boston today has become a thriving biotechnology and finance center,and has remained a 'center for learning' and intellectual thought-a title it has never lost since the 19th century. The city remains the economic and cultural heart of New England. Information technology here is still has a strong presence. Medical research is another hot area of progress.

The cities both have a great deal of charm- Bostons long history gives it a decidedly European look and ambiance you will not find in any other major US City.

Both cities have culinary excellence- though in Boston clam chowder and 'lobsta'- may rank higher then Asian food in San Francisco- Beantown however still has a good sized Chinatown. Both cities have the same type of neighborhood bars and small clubs. Today however Boston has just about every type of culinary experience you could desire.

The climates are vastly different- with San Francisco having a cool water coast dry sub tropical Mediterranean weather regime, with much more sunshine.

Boston's climate is considered mild this far north due to the moderation of the nearby Atlantic, giving the metro area slightly milder winters and less hot summers then areas further inland. Boston will be milder then most cities in the mid west.

As for friendliness, the older resident 'townies', can be in fact be friendlier then some of the newcomers- since the old time area residents have less 'to prove'. New Englanders tend to be reserved anyway- but are generally sincere, and at times too honest, and 'be in your face'.

Having spent time in both places, New Englanders and Bostonians tend to be far less materialistic then those in California. A garish display of luxury goods- cars, clothes etc, is likely to be frowned on- understatement is the key here.

[Crane's Rooster]

Both are politically liberal but practically speaking Boston is very socially conservative and the Bay Area is very not. From my time in these two places, that's the best way to describe it. Both are very desirable areas though. So much history, culture and character in both places.

[CityGirl52]

The New Grad:

First of all, congratulations, you deserve a LOT of credit, good luck with your new venture, have fun! I can tell you a few things that drives the native Bostonians out of their ever loving minds if you'd like to hear it! I'll share it with you so this way you'll understand where they're coming from. You have to remember they've been living here for years and they're witnessing quite a change right before their eyes to their various neighborhoods and it definitely is a change for them from the way it used to be where every one knew each other on the street, even their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and cousins, old boyfriends, girlfriends etc...! From experience, and from what my "old" friends are going crazy with and what annoys quite a lot of them about the "kids" & the "yuppies" moving in to the various neighborhoods, sure it's no parking, but now there's resident parking spots, so they're happy for now, but here's a couple of big ones for you to digest when you move here! #1) Really really loud parties and noise late at night coming from condo's and apartments and the occupants not caring who they disturb and not letting up with any of it. #2) On the other side of the coin? They can't stand the unfriendly IPODer's walking or racing by them on their own streets and neighborhoods and not uttering one single single word to them, not a nod, a smile, a wave, na da, zippo out of them, it's really considered rude in their eyes, downright rude and let me tell you something, it absolutely infuriates them to know end. So if you see people giving you the evil eye? That's what it most likely is! Just smile, nod, yo do cartwheels if you have to, just do anything you have to do; but don't walk or run right by your neighbors that you live beside, or live right near on your street, even if they're upstairs or downstairs from you, always acknowledge them one way or another out of respect. It's a very basic thing actually and this has definitely gotten lost in this day and age, unfortunately. My friends in the North End are hilarious, they say, "What are we living in the Soviet Union now, they can't speak to you??!! That's what they say!!! AND what drives the "older" townies crazy in the City of Boston and trust me, I hear it all the time out of them, and yes it's ALL the time, one way or another it comes up in the conversation about "those" kids moving in! So just keep it simple that's all, give them a wave, a nod, even a smile will do it, whatever you have to do, just don't walk by any of them without a greeting each and every day you bump in to them, that's all it is in a nutshell! So to end my speil? That's the #1 & #2 complaint and that's about it. I think you can handle that one, right? It's pretty simple and easy! You asked for it, well here it is!