Boston or New York City (live in, move, train station)

[Lowerdeck]

I've always found New York to be too large and too overwhelming for my tastes. I will go down there for something, but I'd certainly never want to live there.

I've just preferred Boston. It's a city, but it's not massive and crowded. The tourist traps aren't as insane as in New York. It's not as overpriced as NY is. The people seem to be a bit more relaxed too, the normals and the criminally insane.

And I'd bet that beachwave is a teenage girl (or at least acts like one) from North Jersey or Long Island.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by beachwaverider7

i like ny 1000000000000000000000000000000 times better than boston boston is a pice of crap and ny is so cool

"Hooked on Phonics worked for me!"

[dazzleman]

Originally Posted by Floridagirl08

Personally I prefer Boston over NYC. NYC can be very overwhelming. Boston is a smaller version on NYC. Depends on what you like. NYC is better for culture, night life, and partying and is pretty much the fashion capitol. Fine place to visit but would not want to live there full time. Boston has a lot of history and is very beautiful. Then again I am partial to Boston.

I agree. I work in New York, but Boston is the one city I'd like to live in if I were to live in an urban setting.

Boston is very much a miniature version of New York. It has the same basic set up, just on a smaller scale. For that reason, it's easier to get around and hit all the interesting spots on foot. I love to be outdoors exercising, so that's one thing I love about Boston. For me, a perfect day in Boston is a day when I never have to use motorized transportation of any type.

The climate difference is not great. It gets pretty frigid in the winter as you go north and west of Boston, but the city itself is on the water and much more temperate. It's generally just a few degrees colder than New York in the winter.

I would say, go for the program first. Either city can be great. It's what you make of it.

[FellsMom]

I actually like Boston's winter much better than that of New York. I lived in NY for a few years a while back and always hated it when it snowed one day and melted into a dirty mess the next. In Boston the white stuff actually stay for a while so you can enjoy it.

[syracusa]

I would not want to talk about academic experience, but rather about "first impression" on someone who just set foot in New York and Boston for the first time in her life. Two days ago my husband and I took the train from Atlanta to Boston (yes, this is how badly I hate flying) - with a layover in NYC.

NYC first impression: beyond overwhelming.

Boston first impression: JUST what I have been looking for during my 11 years in the US!
I am on the verge of falling in love with the overall spirit of this city (which is good, considering this is going to be our home from now on, like it or not).

I grew up in what is considered a very crowded capital of Europe and when we got off the train at Pennsylvania Station in NYC, I thought the world was going to close in on me. I started to ask myself how is it even possible that so many people insist on living in a place that seems to offer such low levels of quality of life. So NYC is definitely NOT for us. The madness, the hubbub, the overwhelming diversity of people yet a sense that everyone is completely disconnected from everyone else...NOT GOOD.

Boston - a completely different story. Sue enough though, we are discovering its real estate realities as compared to Atlanta, which are brutal; but then again, we have been told the real estate realities of NYC would make Boston look like a cheap place to live. So I'd rather not even begin to think about how regular Joe-s in NYC live. Let alone go see.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

When I'd come back to Boston/Cambridge after a long weekend in New York, I'd get off the train and feel like I'd come to a big village.

Try Atlanta instead - I am curious to see what you'd feel...

[holden125]

Originally Posted by syracusa

when we got off the train at Pennsylvania Station in NYC, I thought the world was going to close in on me. I started to ask myself how is it even possible that so many people insist on living in a place that seems to offer such low levels of quality of life. So NYC is definitely NOT for us. The madness, the hubbub, the overwhelming diversity of people yet a sense that everyone is completely disconnected from everyone else...NOT GOOD.

After plenty of years in NYC (full disclosure-one full side of my family goes back 100+ years in Brooklyn) I tend to agree overall. In defense of NYC, I will say that Penn Station is probably one of the worst places in the whole city, and there are many nice and quiet neighborhoods that don't resemble its chaos and ugliness in the least.

Unfortunately, if you're going to take a train out of town, you'll have to deal with Penn Station.

[Coolhand68]

Being from NYC I'm biased. I don't think the two compare. But that doesn't mean I have any negative feelings towards Boston. I like Boston is a smaller compact city that is great for walking. It's diverse enough that you can find just about anything you like to eat, and it's cleaner and safer overall. What I miss about NYC is the action and activity 24/7, 24 hour diners and mini-marts all over the five boroughs, more of everything...bars, restaurants, galleries, museums, street vendors, taxi's, public transportation, newstands, parks, waterfront, and better beaches. While it has twice as many sports franchises, it isn't half as wrapped up in sports as Boston seems to be. On the downside, NYC is overcrowded and over gentrified. It's become a city that caters to tourists and the wealthy. It's blue-collar, working class footprint is shrinking with each passing decade.

[acb200]

NYC.
No contest.
I have lived in both and you cannot even compare the two.

Good luck!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by acb200

NYC.
No contest.
I have lived in both and you cannot even compare the two.

Good luck!

Boston.
No contest.
I have lived in both and you cannot even compare the two.

Good luck!