If anyone leaves MA, where are they headed?

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by maggiekate

Tampa Bay Florida
my choice! Have made the move and 11 years later still here.

I like Tampa and StPete as cities, but FL weather, uck you can keep it.
After all, I might just stay in MA and then head for Portland in 10 yrs so, Ill be here for a bit.

[flexysteve]

Charlotte (or other places in the Carolinas). Lived in MA my whole life. Moved down here 2 years ago and love it.

The weather pretty much can't be beat

[Xenos]

What sort of 'melt down' are you talking about? Financial, social, law enforcement?

My fear is a long-term, inexorable decline, like a Yankee version of Japan, for the same financial reasons. As an escape I am thinking Canada or France. They have their own problems, but least as an immigrant it would not distress me so much, and I could get out from the sense of despair.

[Hundak]

Planning to move to Wyoming or Montana in the near future... I love Massachusetts/Boston but need a slower pace of life.

[lrfox]

Interesting turn of events... I have a job interview (I was actively recruited, so this seems to be very likely) in New York City next week for a planning position in Singapore. I would never have chose Singapore as an option off the top of my head, but now that it's a possibility I'm getting excited.

I guess what this made me realize is that I'll TRY living just about anywhere if provided with an opportunity. By anywhere, I mean any urban area. I have done the small town thing (Farmington and Portland Maine as well as a small town in Massachusetts) and can't stand to do it again. Boston is home. It always will be and I know that if it doesn't work out somewhere else I can always come back to the place I love, but at 23, I'm young enough to give other places a shot to see if I like them. Who knows, I may just find some place that is "perfect."

[mdovell]

it isn't so much of the speed of boston or mass in general but it's the price.

I don't care what realtors say there's no invisible wall when you enter the state. Housing has been in a full blown correction for a few years now. Paying 2x the national average for a house doesn't get you much.

The trouble I see with some is they automatically say "But you won't make more elseware" um yeah but what's the point if you can't own anything? I've seen properties stay at prices and sit for a least three or four years without lowering a price.

In terms of something changing in the state well...um...don't be surprised if this health thing in the state ends in three or so years. It isn't the employer mandate but rather the subsidized and free care pool that is making the costs inflate so much. I won't name sources but its either this or raise taxes and considering question 1 and the result was increased sales tax not much can go up.

I'd say I'd go to NH as the unemployment rate is less..and car insurance.

[professorsenator]

OK, here's the things about Mass. housing costs. They are generally high because of two powerful, interrelated factors that are generally not present (or are much less of a factor) in most other urbanized states:
1. Tight zoning rules that discourage new development. These rules are strongly backed by local residents who want to resist growth and the associated problems (traffic, increased demands on services and infrastructure). The restrictive rules also are supported by those who like to preserve the historic charm and character of their community, and by environmentally-minded citizens who like to preserve natural open space. These interests cut across almost all political and ideological lines -- Democrats AND Republicans support them. Thus, developing vacant land is all but impossible in most communities, especially desirable suburban communities with good schools (where developers generally like to build since demand tends to be strong).
2. The desire, especially in the 'burbs, for large lots and open space. In many other states people are happy with big houses built on 1/3 or 1/4 acre lots. But part of the local market in Mass. is a desire for space (this is a vestigial effect of the love and desire of the New England countryside, which is quite similar to the British upper class' affinity for the country life of rural England, Scotland, and Wales). Thus, houses on one acre lots are common in the Boston 'burbs. People like the space and privacy it affords, and are willing to pay for it. What's more, newer houses built on smaller lots are looked down upon by the market. The space and privacy come at a price, of course -- where 3 or 4 houses might be built on a one acre lot in some places, in Mass. there is strong resistance to this.

[azdreaming]

I'd head back to Tucson, Arizona in a heartbeat. Never missed Massachusetts when I lived there.
Good quality of life, nice weather most of the time, and I never had to shovel sunshine!!!

[bostontopueblo]

Pueblo, Colorado things are so nice and cheap here

[missionhill]

Professorsenator, you nailed it! Any development is greeted with suspicion and often protest. What seems to make it palatable is small-scale projects and very large lots. The land that's not taken out of the equation by environmental considerations, public acquisition, or whatever, is used "wastefully"--i.e., 30 acres consumed to house only 15 families. That's very nice for the 15 families but what about everyone else looking for a place to live? The same 30 acres in a streetcar suburb like Dorchester or Somerville holds 300 families. Maybe we don't need to return to those 19th century densities but one and two acre zoning is excessively restrictive. No wonder housing costs are high.