SWF age 30 considering Boston from Raleigh-Durham, NC (Cambridge, Quincy: hotels, neighborhoods)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What about single people in their 40's? I'm 44. Do you think it's possible to meet anyone meet there?
If you're thinking of moving just for the purpose of meeting someone, just a personal opinion, but I don't know that I'd move anywhere just for this purpose, unless maybe you're talking about someone from an isolated area with a very small population, with very few possibilites for meeting people, moving to a city. Unless you're way up in the far northwestern corner of the state, I'm guessing you're not that isolated in northern NJ. I'm just concerned that you need to realize that no city offers some magical formula that makes it easy to overcome all the usual obstacles to social interaction. I'd hate for anyone to move to Boston or anywhere else expecting to avoid all the usual difficulties and end up disappointed. That said, I'm sure Boston offers opportunities for a person of any age to meet someone. I'd guess someone your age would be more likely to meet people through work and through the pursuit of activities of interest rather than out clubbin', and I wouldn't think that any city would be a place where it would be magically easier to meet people than in other cities, but there are people of all ages in Boston, so the pool of potential mates is there, whatever your age.
Chicago Ave highs
Jan 29
Feb 34
Mar 46
Apr 58
May 69
June 80
Jul 84
Aug 82
Sep 74
Oct 63
Nov 47
Dec 34 y 59
Lows
Jan 14
Feb 19
Mar 28
April 37
May 47
Jun 57
Jul 63
Aug 62
Sep 53
Oct 42
Nov 31
Dec 20 Y 39
Average rain fall year 36" Snowfall 39"
Boston Av high
Jan 36
Feb 38
Mar 45
April 56
May 67
Jun 77
Jul 82
Aug 80
Sep 73
Oct 63
Nov 53
Dec 41 y 60
Av lows
Jan 22
Feb 23
Mar 31
April 40
May 50
Jun 59
Jul 65
Aug 64
Sep 57
Oct 47
Nov 38
Dec 27 Y 44
Precip per year rain 43" Snowfall 41"
Boston's climate is slightly milder then Chicago. In January the average high is 36, compared to 29 for Chicago (7 degrees warmer)
Chicago has lower overnight temperatures in the winter then Boston. In January, Chicago 14, Boston 22.
Spring is later coming in Boston because of the still chilled waters of the Atlantic.
Summers in Boston are slightly less hot again because of a sea breeze.
Autumns last longer in Boston, again because of the oceanic influence -the now warm waters of the Atlantic delaying the onset of winter. Snow fall and yearly precipitation are about equal.
Bostons climate is slightly more moderate, with less summer & winter extremes of heat and cold.
Last edited by skytrekker; 06-25-2008 at 05:16 AM..
Well, first off forget your car in Boston because the city isn't made for automobiles. The weather like most of New England, is all over the place. In my opinion winter is much too long.
As far as being 30, their are people your age out there, but they are harder to find. From September to late May when the college students are around, you will definitely notice them. I'm 28 and feel left out of the scene now. I have no desire to go to Boston and put up with college students and annoying young people in their 20's. The music scene is ok, I wouldn't say it is a great city for music.
I haven't been to Chicago and I haven't been to Philly for awhile, so I can't give you an accurate comparison between those and Boston.
Boston definitely is a walkable city (if you don't mind crappy weather on and off), but also be aware coming from Durham you will probably have some price shock. Going out in North Carolina and going on in Boston are completely different on your wallet.
My advice is to try to visit the city first. It is about a 13 hour drive from Durham. This time a year most of the college students are gone, so you won't get that experience. If you keep your car there are many things outside the city also that may appeal to you.
What do you like to do when you get out? I think being in your 30's and wanting to leave the college kids behind is realistic, you just have to know where to go. Stay away from the college areas and you'll be less likely to be bothered with them. There are some places in Back Bay (where I live) and Downtown/Financial District that could be up your alley, but it depends. Are you little black dress and diamond studs or are you backless top and pants with heels type? Or a lil' of both? Because there is a difference in terms of atmosphere (lounge with a cocktail or music-scene type?). I think 30 is a great age to be in Boston. If you are interesting, open minded and intelligent, which you seem to be by your post, you'll have no problem finding things to do. I'm married and I feel like I fit in just fine. Not too many college kids where we're at, so maybe that helps. But, if I were single, I think i'd be inspired by the city and feel as vibrant here as I do now. It's a great place. Good luck. And please, let us know what you like to do and about how much you can afford so we can suggest some places for you. All in all, I'd say take the plunge. :-)
Chicago Ave highs
Jan 29
Feb 34
Mar 46
Apr 58
May 69
June 80
Jul 84
Aug 82
Sep 74
Oct 63
Nov 47
Dec 34 y 59
Lows
Jan 14
Feb 19
Mar 28
April 37
May 47
Jun 57
Jul 63
Aug 62
Sep 53
Oct 42
Nov 31
Dec 20 Y 39
Average rain fall year 36" Snowfall 39"
Boston Av high
Jan 36
Feb 38
Mar 45
April 56
May 67
Jun 77
Jul 82
Aug 80
Sep 73
Oct 63
Nov 53
Dec 41 y 60
Av lows
Jan 22
Feb 23
Mar 31
April 40
May 50
Jun 59
Jul 65
Aug 64
Sep 57
Oct 47
Nov 38
Dec 27 Y 44
Precip per year rain 43" Snowfall 41"
Boston's climate is slightly milder then Chicago. In January the average high is 36, compared to 29 for Chicago (7 degrees warmer)
Chicago has lower overnight temperatures in the winter then Boston. In January, Chicago 14, Boston 22.
Spring is later coming in Boston because of the still chilled waters of the Atlantic.
Summers in Boston are slightly less hot again because of a sea breeze.
Autumns last longer in Boston, again because of the oceanic influence -the now warm waters of the Atlantic delaying the onset of winter. Snow fall and yearly precipitation are about equal.
Bostons climate is slightly more moderate, with less summer & winter extremes of heat and cold.
Thanks so much to Skytrekker who (3 posts above) saved me some serious time on looking up weather averages. I really appreciate it! Where did you get that info?
LeavingMA, thanks for the feedback. I did indeed visit for 4 days last week, but I was primarily in Southie, Back Bay and the South End. Why do you feel left out? I would love to know where you are hanging out that you feel you don't fit in as a 30-something.
What do you like to do when you get out? I think being in your 30's and wanting to leave the college kids behind is realistic, you just have to know where to go. Stay away from the college areas and you'll be less likely to be bothered with them. There are some places in Back Bay (where I live) and Downtown/Financial District that could be up your alley, but it depends. Are you little black dress and diamond studs or are you backless top and pants with heels type? Or a lil' of both? Because there is a difference in terms of atmosphere (lounge with a cocktail or music-scene type?). I think 30 is a great age to be in Boston. If you are interesting, open minded and intelligent, which you seem to be by your post, you'll have no problem finding things to do. I'm married and I feel like I fit in just fine. Not too many college kids where we're at, so maybe that helps. But, if I were single, I think i'd be inspired by the city and feel as vibrant here as I do now. It's a great place. Good luck. And please, let us know what you like to do and about how much you can afford so we can suggest some places for you. All in all, I'd say take the plunge. :-)
Let's see...to answer your questions:
-I'm currently cute top, designer jeans and heels going out type, but I would love to have cause to go classier on occasion. Just not much reason to dress as such in Durham/Raleigh.
As far as $ goes, I think I'm probably looking at making something in the high $80k's? I know that's tacky to share, but I need some realistic advice here. I definitely don't want to share a place with a roommate (I'm such an only child), but I don't want to have to live in a closet. My estimate was prob around $1500 (give or take a couple $100) in rent?
I think I'm mostly just freaking out about leaving my friends to try something totally unknown. I'm afraid of getting up to Boston and thinking "OMG what did I get myself stuck in?!?!!!"
hey there. If you can up your budget to $1600 and you work hard at searching, I think you should look into Back Bay/Beacon Hill. I know I know. Before someone jumps on me (it's notoriously the most expensive area), there are deals to be had and if you can find one it's so worth it. Close to everything. Public transportation is abundant, cute shops galore (coffee shops, tea shops, a great bookstore with a yummy cafe attached to it), everything you need at the tip of your fingertips. Close to Cambridge, close to downtown, close to everything. I think you'd fit in nicely in Boston. Give it a go. If you are seriously considering it, take a trip up. bnbboston.com is a fab resource.
Here are a few thoughts in response to several posts:
Okay, regarding the question of whether one feels overwhelmed by college kids in Boston. Something I noticed about LeavingMA's post is that he said he's 28. Maybe he's young enough to have found more mature interests so recently that he still hasn't discovered the places where adults hang out. I don't know, of course. Truth be told, he's not the only user I've seen on here who has claimed to feel overwhelmed by the college atmosphere in Boston. I don't find this to be the case myself.
Think of it this way. You've lived much of your life in the South. Have you spent time in Atlanta? Maybe not, but if you have, keep in mind that Boston's and Atlanta's metro area populations are about the same. Which one is bigger depends on how you define a metro area, but they're basically in the same ballpark in population. If you're familiar with Atlanta (or Miami or Dallas or Philly), you'll get an idea how unlikely it is that a city of that size will be entirely defined by one industry, no matter how significant that activity is in the city's economy.
As far as clubs and places dominated by college students, well now I'm male, kind of brawny, and inclined toward cross-dressing infrequently if ever, so I wouldn't know about hitting the clubs in a cute top, designer jeans, and heels. In fact, I don't spend time in the city anywhere near as often as I used to, so I'm not the person to ask what clubs to hit if you want more of an adult crowd.
For that matter, in my early 30's, when I did hit the city often, my tastes in entertainment were changing and expanding. Instead of doing the clubs, I was beginning to find a lot more interest in out-of-the way restaurants, a cocktail in the lounge of an upscale hotel (or when in a more casual mood a few brews at a genuine intimate bar, rather than a club), checking out the museums or the aquarium, strolling along the promenade past the newer waterfront hotels, doing a whale-watch tour, sailing in the harbor, etc. You know, all the variety of activities available in a city, besides hitting the same old dance clubs all the time. Getting involved in these kinds of activities, I not only never felt overwhelmed by the college crowd, but for the most part was not even especially aware of their presence. Sure, when you're in a restaurant, there's a good chance that your waitress is a student, but so what? You're outside the college setting, so the presence of a student doesn't suddenly make the whole neighborhood seem like a campus. Besides, the waitress might very well not be a student. Or, if she is a student, there's a decent chance that she's a local girl who's a commuter student with a whole other life outside of school. The point is, sure, if you live near a college you'll be overwhelmed by college kids. If you hang out at the clubs in Kenmore Square and Allston you'll feel overwhelmed by college kids. But if you go to the places where adults go--guess what--you'll find an adult atmosphere.
Regarding another of your concerns, I don't see anything tacky about throwing out the numbers regarding income and housing budget. After all, this kind of info helps people give advice. I don't think you're looking at anything fancy on your housing budget, but I do think you can have that small lonely-only apartment you're seeking. If you give us some idea what kind of neighborhood you'd prefer to live in, and whether right in the city or nearby, people should be able to offer suggestions about specific areas that might be best for you.
Hey, so you've visited Boston. What were your impressions (even if based only on a few days' visit)? Anything grab your interest? Obviously it must have been a basically positive experience, since you're on here seeking more info about the area. So, other than that . . . continued best of luck figuring out this next step on the big journey.
Last edited by ogre; 06-26-2008 at 11:00 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm just concerned that you need to realize that no city offers some magical formula that makes it easy to overcome all the usual obstacles to social interaction. I'd hate for anyone to move to Boston or anywhere else expecting to avoid all the usual difficulties and end up disappointed. That said, I'm sure Boston offers opportunities for a person of any age to meet someone. I'd guess someone your age would be more likely to meet people through work and through the pursuit of activities of interest rather than out clubbin', and I wouldn't think that any city would be a place where it would be magically easier to meet people than in other cities, but there are people of all ages in Boston, so the pool of potential mates is there, whatever your age.
, so I wouldn't know about hitting the clubs in a cute top, designer jeans, and heels. In fact, I don't spend time in the city anywhere near as often as I used to, so I'm not the person to ask what clubs to hit if you want more of an adult crowd. 
