The Great Migration (Boston: insurance, home, neighbourhoods)

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by TomnNC

Come to the county in NC that i live in and see who is itching to get back to the northeast. My bet is they will laugh at the thought

Come over to the CT forum- we have several people who bought the 'kool aid' of NC- and are bored with the cultural and intellectual emptiness of the state. Lots of 'bland' cookie cutter existence.

They want back to CT- where the quality of life is far 'superior' so they say.

[Trumpers]

Thanks for sharing that! We are actually trying to do our research and find a nice place to live with affordable housing. The tough part is finding a nice place that has affordable housing, and where we can make a good income as well.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

How could you not count immigrants and births. Last I checked, immigrants and babies are people too. If you discount them, then it is rather a selective data set just to prove your point. The fact is Mass. is not losing people, but gaining them slowly, which would explain why housing prices have not plunge, because demand is still there.

I agree housing affordability is the biggest problem. More should be done at the state level to force some of these snobby towns to build more densely.

I also agree about your point on being more business friendly. However, most of that should be solved through less bureaucracy and selective financial incentives, which has gotten some progress. There is no point in trying to lure plain old manufacturing to the state. I think manufacturing jobs that are now located in the South will eventually be moved overseas, due to international competition. Mass. should just focus on innovation companies and brain power. It will be a niche that is essential for it to be prosperous in the future. It is not essential for Mass. to grow like the southern states, slow growth is actually better so that they can manage quality of life, which Mass. is often ranked among the top states in the country.

Like I mentioned before MA has had negative population growth for the last 2 years. I don't think this is a good sign, but other states have had this similar exodus before and recovered.

As far as the last 15-20 years with MA losing people excluding immigrants and babies, i believe the article i read that in was trying to show that people with a choice were deciding to leave. Babies don't have a say where they are born. Immigrants do have a choice, but i think the article was trying to show your typical american citizen is not being attracted to MA and MA isn't keeping them either. MA is losing some of its typical white collar person.

I agree with your assessment on housing affordability and also less bureacracy for business, but who knows what will happen with MA politics the way they are. Many of the southern states and cities that are so called "booming" or doing well are attracting white collar jobs and businesses. The U.S. economy has been changing from a manufactoring one to more of a service oriented economy.

[2KidsforMe]

A question-does any of the data out there give an age range of those moving of MA? Is is possible that some of those leaving are boomers retiring to Florida, AZ or the Carolinas?

[mtbgirl]

The people that think north carolina is bland and cookie cutter aren't looking very hard. Sure there are plenty of cookie cutter homes, but there are also tons of beautiful tree-lined established neighborhoods. Seems like these people are only noticing the "bad".

I'd rather have the option of buying a cookie cutter for $170k (which i'm doing) than paying $1k per month to rent a 1BR apartment 30 miles outside of boston with appliances from the 80's and crack head neighbors.

[Stevedawg]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Yes, but VA has had the likes of Jerry Falwell and other reactionary types.
Hardly the bastion of tolerance. VA has to offer the Washington suburbs and charlottesburg which are both wonderful- the rest- well ....

As a Virginia Native the washington suburbs are mostly considered the worst part of the state by people who actually live in Virginia. Also many young people dream that moving will fix all their problems.

[mtbgirl]

Originally Posted by 2KidsforMe

A question-does any of the data out there give an age range of those moving of MA? Is is possible that some of those leaving are boomers retiring to Florida, AZ or the Carolinas?

From my personal experience, the people that are leaving are in their late 20s to early 30s, have really tried to make things work in mass for the last few years and finally realized that it will never be affordable. It's a let down when you're finally making good money and still struggling.

[MAtoNC!]

Amen mtbgirl! I couldn't have said it better myself. The Triangle does have culture! There is plenty of culture in Chapel Hill and Durham. Raleigh is a quiet medium size city that should not be compared to Boston. It has some beautiful neighborhoods and a few musuems too!

[TomnNC]

Curious, have you spent more than a week or two in NC? I think it is funny that "several" people on the CT board didnt like it. I hate to break it to ya, these people ARE the minority. As I said, spend time IN the state, rather than perusing these subjective boards. The truth lies in the county and state I live, not the city data forums. Are you offended that people are leaving CT in droves?

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Come over to the CT forum- we have several people who bought the 'kool aid' of NC- and are bored with the cultural and intellectual emptiness of the state. Lots of 'bland' cookie cutter existence.

They want back to CT- where the quality of life is far 'superior' so they say.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by mtbgirl

The people that think north carolina is bland and cookie cutter aren't looking very hard. Sure there are plenty of cookie cutter homes, but there are also tons of beautiful tree-lined established neighborhoods. Seems like these people are only noticing the "bad".

I'd rather have the option of buying a cookie cutter for $170k (which i'm doing) than paying $1k per month to rent a 1BR apartment 30 miles outside of boston with appliances from the 80's and crack head neighbors.

I agree, and there are some so-called "cookie cutter" neighborhoods in MA, they just aren't as large due to zoning and lack of available land.

There are also some very nice subdivisions in NC with lots of brick faced homes and different styles to each place.

From my personal experience, the people that are leaving are in their late 20s to early 30s, have really tried to make things work in mass for the last few years and finally realized that it will never be affordable. It's a let down when you're finally making good money and still struggling.
Today 06:50 PM

That seems to be more of the trend, young professionals and young couples with or without kids. I did read in an article that the metro Boston area especially was having trouble keeping the 24-35 age group because of expenses. They also say that usually if you don't move before 35 your alot less likely to move.