LOVE Massachusetts HATE Florida (Boston, Worcester: condos, hotels, house prices)

[humidMiami]

An older post here says that Massachusetts got under her skin, she loved it so much. I feel just the same! We've been to Boston, North Shore, the Cape, Martha's Vineyard and a driving tour as far west as Deerfield. I loved everything about it, especially in contrast to Miami, Florida where I live.

I found the people to be (overall) very nice and friendly. So much history, culture, diversity and visually stimulating. Drivers stopped to let pedestrians cross. We asked a passerby where to get lunch and got the inside scoop of the best little sandwich shop. It was April and the weather was brisk inland and icy winds on the Cape. The beaches were pristine, not crowded, no towering hotels and condos.

Miami makes the top of the worst-everything lists for a good reason. It's all true! Claims of diversity are highly overstated. People here have a sense of "entitlement" and add to that no common courtesy or regard for rules. Drivers will literally stop on the freeway, if they've missed their exit, and back up to get off. I've seen this numerous times! The heat and humidity are unrelenting.

Everything is a matter of perspective, of course, but I hate having 8 months of 89-95+ degrees and sticky humidity. I've read here that Massachusetts has 5 months of winter, some say 3 months. I assume this depends on a person's cold tolerance, right?

I've looked at historical temperatures and compared the east coast vs mid-state areas of Northampton and see very little difference in the actual daily temps. So does anyone find the winters to be worse or better in different parts of Massachusetts? I'm not looking at the Berkshires, though.

I've lived in warm/hot weather more than 25 years. I don't think cold winters would kill me! I'd like to hear from people who have moved to Mass from Florida or similar areas where it is hot, rude and uninteresting. Have the benefits of culture, beauty and educated people outweighed the cold winters?

I'm planning a trip to Mass in November. This time I'm going to look at things not as a vacation, but what would it be like to live there. I work from home, so commuting does not matter. I've looked at house prices in the areas around Northampton and find some interesting prospects. I'm looking for about an acre or two of land, not an old house, not a new one built during the housing bubble, not a subdivision and under $300,000. I love the idea of being near a small liberal, LGBT friendly town like Northampton (still have to visit there). Are there other towns or areas I should look at?

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated!
(For anyone protesting my depiction of Miami, I am of course generalizing!)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by humidMiami;25810683 [B

So does anyone find the winters to be worse or better in different parts of Massachusetts?[/b]

I think it's overstated when people say that the winters are much worse further inland, I don't really notice much of a difference. Inland you tend to get more snowfall, but it's not like it's warm and toasty on the cape at the same time. On the cape the temperatures tend to be more mild, but you generally get higher winds so it feels at least as cold. Then of course you get those "ocean squalls" where it snows on the cape but no where else. The spring also tends to come later on the cape as well. I would say it's all pretty much a wash, except for maybe the Berkshires in W MASS (west of Northhampton) where the higher elevations really do prolong the winters (and more overcast/less sunshine).

Glad your impressions were positive, it's nice to see threads other than "Boston is the worst place in the world...".

[humidMiami]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Glad your impressions were positive, it's nice to see threads other than "Boston is the worst place in the world...".

I loved Boston (didn't even mind that I got a parking ticket) and found the people to be much nicer than here. Plus, you have a donut shop on every other corner. Krispy Kreme can't even make it here in Miami!

I'm looking to visit in October or November. I thought I would try to stay around Northampton, but now I found a place on the Cape and might do part of the trip there just to relax.

Another thread said that areas south of Northampton are "gross," and there are farming communities to the north. Any thoughts on this as far as relocating?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by humidMiami

Another thread said that areas south of Northampton are "gross," and there are farming communities to the north. Any thoughts on this as far as relocating?

The "gross" comments are probably referring to the cities of Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee. Anywhere else you should be fine.

[MikePRU]

My family has strong ties to the Miami area. My parents and both sets of my grandparents have each maintained a residence in South Florida for as long as I've been alive. We spent vacation weeks down there regularly. I still go there for many of my vacations. I also went to college in South Florida as well and considered moving down there permanently but for a lot of the same reasons you state you dislike the Miami area I disliked it as well.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by humidMiami

So does anyone find the winters to be worse or better in different parts of Massachusetts?

Yeah... I grew up in the South East part of the state. We were always a little warmer than Boston, and quite a bit warmer (well, relatively speaking) than Worcester or Western MA. While Worcester may be getting 12 inches of snow, Cape Cod and the South Coast may get 2-3 and rain. That forecast is pretty much common for all big storms. Average annual snowfall in Worcester is around 69 inches while in New Bedford, the average annual snowfall is less than half of that (33 inches). The difference in temperature is typically not much more than 5 degrees or so, but that can be all the difference that matters when you're talking 29 degrees or 34 degrees (snow vs. rain).

The ocean is the big culprit. The ocean never freezes so when inland areas drop below freezing, the cities and towns along the coast are often warmed a bit by this effect. The South facing communities (along the South Coast) have the additional benefit of their water being warmed by tropical currents (vs. Canadian currents on coastal communities North of Cape Cod).

This, of course, has the inverse effect in the summer. Coastal communities are typically a few degrees cooler than inland communities. To me, being on the coast impacts humidity the most in the summer. Summer evenings in a coastal location are FAR more comfortable than summer evenings inland, thanks again to the sea breeze.

Again, you're only talking a difference of around 5 degrees or so on average, but that makes all the difference in the world sometimes (mostly with snow). But no matter which way you slice it, MA gets cold in the winter.

[kellygreene]

I lived in Florida (the gulf coast) for ten years. Loved the winters, being near family and the beautiful beaches, but that is about all. Moved back to MA when I could.

The winters here vary, though it seems we get less snow near the coast. Last year was incredibly mild, the year before not so much. And there have been winters where it was so cold (with windchill factor) that it was actually painful to be out. Here's some advice: if you are going to buy a house, make sure it is well insulated and check the fuel bills, also - get a snow blower. For a car, all-wheel or four-wheel drive is good to have - and carry a snow shovel and salt/cat litter with you. Get a warm coat, good gloves and boots. Good luck!

[Northeast99]

Originally Posted by humidMiami

An older post here says that Massachusetts got under her skin, she loved it so much. I feel just the same! We've been to Boston, North Shore, the Cape, Martha's Vineyard and a driving tour as far west as Deerfield. I loved everything about it, especially in contrast to Miami, Florida where I live.

I found the people to be (overall) very nice and friendly. So much history, culture, diversity and visually stimulating. Drivers stopped to let pedestrians cross. We asked a passerby where to get lunch and got the inside scoop of the best little sandwich shop. It was April and the weather was brisk inland and icy winds on the Cape. The beaches were pristine, not crowded, no towering hotels and condos.

Miami makes the top of the worst-everything lists for a good reason. It's all true! Claims of diversity are highly overstated. People here have a sense of "entitlement" and add to that no common courtesy or regard for rules. Drivers will literally stop on the freeway, if they've missed their exit, and back up to get off. I've seen this numerous times! The heat and humidity are unrelenting.

Everything is a matter of perspective, of course, but I hate having 8 months of 89-95+ degrees and sticky humidity. I've read here that Massachusetts has 5 months of winter, some say 3 months. I assume this depends on a person's cold tolerance, right?

I've looked at historical temperatures and compared the east coast vs mid-state areas of Northampton and see very little difference in the actual daily temps. So does anyone find the winters to be worse or better in different parts of Massachusetts? I'm not looking at the Berkshires, though.

I've lived in warm/hot weather more than 25 years. I don't think cold winters would kill me! I'd like to hear from people who have moved to Mass from Florida or similar areas where it is hot, rude and uninteresting. Have the benefits of culture, beauty and educated people outweighed the cold winters?

I'm planning a trip to Mass in November. This time I'm going to look at things not as a vacation, but what would it be like to live there. I work from home, so commuting does not matter. I've looked at house prices in the areas around Northampton and find some interesting prospects. I'm looking for about an acre or two of land, not an old house, not a new one built during the housing bubble, not a subdivision and under $300,000. I love the idea of being near a small liberal, LGBT friendly town like Northampton (still have to visit there). Are there other towns or areas I should look at?

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated!
(For anyone protesting my depiction of Miami, I am of course generalizing!)

Well if you think that "It was April and the weather was brisk inland and icy winds on the Cape", with the last year winter, then you will be frozen in other winters.
I have been in Mass over 30 years, and plan to go South (yes Florida:-)), even I still like the cool morning air in the Fall and Spring of Mass. However, I do think that snow storm is no longer for me.
If you like go to Mass again in the October, and New Hampshire in the second week of October. You would also like to visit South Shore towns such as Braintree, Hingham, Rockland, Scituate,...

[humidMiami]

Northeast99, I know it sounds ridiculous that April is brisk or icy! That was actually in about 2001, some days I spent on the beach though. I think I am changing my plans to visit again in October instead of November. I can understand that you would be sick of snow, just as I'm sick of the sun all the frackin' time and the heat. I will look at the south shore areas again too.

Where in Florida are you going?

[Northeast99]

Originally Posted by humidMiami

Northeast99, I know it sounds ridiculous that April is brisk or icy! That was actually in about 2001, some days I spent on the beach though. I think I am changing my plans to visit again in October instead of November. I can understand that you would be sick of snow, just as I'm sick of the sun all the frackin' time and the heat. I will look at the south shore areas again too.

Where in Florida are you going?

I will go to St Pete. I still haven't decide if I will stay in St Pete or Tampa yet. I like to go South because I like to plant, and shoving snow isn't fun anymore.

BTW, Cohasset is another town to look at. Marshfield is nice and not too expensive.