Orlando or Boston? (vacation, home, crime)

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I know here in Orlando we have alot of people from the UK but I don't know about in the Boston area. I don't know that it would make much difference.

There are loads of Brits is Boston (although probably not as many as in Orlando, but then I suppose that's no bad thing!).

There's also a Facebook Group "Boston Brits" who arrange regular meet-ups.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by tonrob

There are loads of Brits is Boston (although probably not as many as in Orlando, but then I suppose that's no bad thing!).

There's also a Facebook Group "Boston Brits" who arrange regular meet-ups.

Thats interesting, I would think Boston would be closer to what Brits are used to back in the UK.

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

Thats interesting, I would think Boston would be closer to what Brits are used to back in the UK.

Yes, compared to Orlando!

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by tonrob

Yes, compared to Orlando!

Its really strange but there are times when I am down in Orlando that I hear as many British accents at the attractions as I do American. Especially when they have their Fall break, they come here for the warm weather, often for a couple weeks at a time.

[dbansal]

I grew up in suburban Boston, weather is horrible. I know a lot of Brits in the Orlando area, weather is important to them. Also Boston has very high taxes & cost of living. The advantages of Boston are good public transportation and better downtown. There are some great communities in the Orlando area however, really depends on where you will be working in both cities. I personally would not go back to Boston, not worth the brutal weather and costs. Massachusetts is one of the few states that has negative domestic migration (meaning take away international migration and the state is losing people), there is a good reason for it...

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I love the weather here and I have to say I could not live somewhere cold again.
However that is not the case with everyone out there. Some people say they enjoy the change of seasons. If warm weather is a must then of course you will not like Boston. The snow can be rather tedious and last until March, one time we even had snow in May.

[pianogal]

Alot of the regulars here may be surprised to hear me say this, but Boston is one of my favorite cities. If the weather were not so cold and I could afford it, I would definitely consider living in the Boston area. However, I've lived in the south too long and shudder to think of enduring a winter there.

Boston is a major city with all that has to offer PLUS the HISTORY is one of the biggest draws for me. Also, in terms of education, Boston is tops. It is home to MIT, Harvard, Boston U and on and on.

It is really a personal decision based on your priorities. The following is a comparison based on my observations of the two areas....Orlando, FL (my home) and Boston, MA.

Education - Boston (hands down)
Highly developed Urban City - Boston
History, Museums, etc. - Boston
Transportation - Boston
Culture and the Arts - Boston
Climate - Orlando
Cost of Living - Orlando
More hometown, relaxed, family friendly atmosphere - Orlando
Active Lifestyle - Orlando
Entertainment - Orlando

I know these are highly debatable....but are just MY opinions. Good luck on your decisions. The two areas are completely unique to each other. I would suggest spending a few days in each before you make the decision where to move if possible.

[Wilshire81182]

It is true, they offer a completely different experience, night and day.
Keep in mind that the Boston area is a much more well rounded world class city with a metro more than twice that of Orlando. That is part of why things like culture, the downtown, and public transportation are much different there. Much of the city was also developed before the invention of the automobile, unlike most of Florida's cities so it is much more compact and walkable. Orlando was developed around leisure, entertainment and tourism and very carelessly for the most part. It is trying to correct some of those rash decisions now and in the future, but it will probably never be quite like Boston or the other NE cities.

[miakelly]

I have lived about an hour from Boston my entire life. I LOVE it. It has so much to offer, including excellent schools & colleges, culture, so much to do, history....etc. You'd never be bored in Boston.

However, I would NEVER want to live in Massachusetts. One of the state nicknames is 'Taxachusetts'. I live in NH and we have no income tax or sales tax. Massachusetts taxes are notoriously high. It is an extremely liberal state (how you take that depends upon your politics). Florida has no income tax, but a sales tax. Homes in Mass are very expensive, as is the cost of living.

The weather up here in the Winter is awful. It will be very difficult to get out with your son from late November until late March. It will be extremely cold so you will have to really bundle him up. There will be lots of snow.

We are moving to Orlando in less than a month. My main reason for leaving is the weather. I have 2 small kids and I just cannot take another Winter being stuck inside for months.

You could love Boston, there are lots of things to love about it. But for me, the bad weather outweighs all the positives of living in New England. To be honest, it's downright depressing in the Winter. It's dark outside & freezing in the morning when you wake up, and it's dark outside and freezing again by 4:30 at night.

You need to ask yourself how important weather is, as well as cost of living. Orlando beats Boston in both of those areas.

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by miakelly

I have lived about an hour from Boston my entire life. I LOVE it. It has so much to offer, including excellent schools & colleges, culture, so much to do, history....etc. You'd never be bored in Boston.

However, I would NEVER want to live in Massachusetts. One of the state nicknames is 'Taxachusetts'. I live in NH and we have no income tax or sales tax. Massachusetts taxes are notoriously high. It is an extremely liberal state (how you take that depends upon your politics). Florida has no income tax, but a sales tax. Homes in Mass are very expensive, as is the cost of living.

The weather up here in the Winter is awful. It will be very difficult to get out with your son from late November until late March. It will be extremely cold so you will have to really bundle him up. There will be lots of snow.

We are moving to Orlando in less than a month. My main reason for leaving is the weather. I have 2 small kids and I just cannot take another Winter being stuck inside for months.

You could love Boston, there are lots of things to love about it. But for me, the bad weather outweighs all the positives of living in New England. To be honest, it's downright depressing in the Winter. It's dark outside & freezing in the morning when you wake up, and it's dark outside and freezing again by 4:30 at night.

You need to ask yourself how important weather is, as well as cost of living. Orlando beats Boston in both of those areas.

Although as the OP's coming from the UK the daylight hours in winter are longer in Boston than in London (with the reverse obviously being true in summer). Also while there will be stormy days with lots of snow and freezing temperatures there is a lot more blue sky here in winter vs. the endless weeks or boring drab grey cloud back home in London. This is something that I was pleasantly surprised with when I first moved over - UK winters are really dark and depressing.

And I still find the snowy winters a novelty - 3 years in - despite all the shovelling I have to do. Winter doesn't have to keep you indoors - although I do realize that a very young child will present additional challenges. Difficult to make a blanket 'Orlando is better for weather' statement as it depends on the individual's preferences.