Is Boston the San Francisco of the East Coast? (Cambridge: sales, homes)

[7035683216]

If you have been to San Francisco or lived there, please share why you think the cities are similar or dissimilar.

[findingmesomeday]

I've lived in both cities:

Similarities:

1. Both small and walkable
2. Both liberal (SF in a different way than Boston)
3. Both have questionable politics when it comes to leadership/those in power
4. Highly educated population
5. Outrageously expensive to live
6. Relatively clean
7. Good public transit
8. Relatively safe
9. I enjoyed living in both places when I was younger (college student in MA, early 20's in CA), then disliked it more when I came back for my 2nd tour (early 30's in CA, 40 to present day in MA)
Differences

1. Quality of public school education
2. Weather
3. Geography/topography
4. Suburbs sprawl more in CA than in MA

I'm sure there are more differences (and similarities) but that's just off the top of my head for now.

[nooneknowsmyname]

I've lived in both cities

Both are organized around neighborhoods
Both cities are small, compact and walkable
Both cities have the same approximate population of 750,000 (city only not including the greater metropolitan area)
Both cities are have other cities nearby that have at least one first-rate university (Harvard and MIT in Cambridge, U.Cal Berkeley)
Both have a large population of well educated people.
Both are expensive although SF, particularly housing, is more expensive
Both have public transit systems although Boston's
(MBTA affectionately called the T) is better because unlike SF, it is a unified system which goes out to the suburbs whereas SF relies on multiple transit systems to travel between the city and suburbs (AC Transit, Westcat, BART, Muni)
Both are considered safe especially compared to other cities
Both are near the ocean
Both have good seafood
SF has milder weather than Boston
In general, the quality of the public schools is better in Boston than in SF
SF is located in a more politically conservative state than Boston. For example, CA has the death penalty whereas MA does not. California is culturally liberal, but politically conservative. Massachusetts, on the other hand, is culturally conservative but politically liberal.
The sales tax is higher in SF and is levied on clothes whereas the sales tax in Boston is lower and is not levied on clothes unless they are considered luxury items.
Boston has a larger percentage of African Americans than SF
Boston drivers are more aggressive than SF drivers making it more of a challenge to drive in Boston.

Can't think of anything else at the moment.

[findingmesomeday]

Boston did NOT have the Fillmore East. That honor went to NYC.

Boston is very segregated. San Francisco is not.

Chinatown in San Francisco is very large and fun to visit. It is not (and used to be quite dangerous) in Boston.

Both cities had elevated freeways that came down. Mother Nature helped in San Francisco (the 1989 quake damaged the Embarcadero Freeway and it had to come down but it was an eyesore anyway) and the Central Artery finally came down.

Only tourists do Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf whereas locals and tourists alike will do the North End, Haymarket and Fanueil Hall.

Boston's Italian neighborhood is called the North End.

San Francisco's Italian neighborhood is called North Beach.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by NChomesomeday

Chinatown in San Francisco is very large and fun to visit. It is not (and used to be quite dangerous) in Boston.

Boston's may not be fun to visit, but it's the only place around to get some decent (authentic) Chinese food.

[findingmesomeday]

Originally Posted by Parsec

Boston's may not be fun to visit, but it's the only place around to get some decent (authentic) Chinese food.

That's true. And hence, another difference. It is NOT true in SF. There is great Chinese (Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.) to be found city-wide and in the 'burbs.

[LeavingMA]

They are both expensive. The vibe was completely different in San Francisco than Boston...not in a bad way or anything, but the cities have two different feelings to them.

[yankee.peddler]

As a native New Englander, I've visited Boston dozens of times. I've also visited San Francisco. I have to say that I don't find much similarity between the cities. Granted, they're both great places to spend time in, but they have very different atmospheres and their suburbs bear nothing in common.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by yankee.peddler

As a native New Englander, I've visited Boston dozens of times. I've also visited San Francisco. I have to say that I don't find much similarity between the cities. Granted, they're both great places to spend time in, but they have very different atmospheres and their suburbs bear nothing in common.

I agree and why would you want two cities to be very similar. I think every city should have a different "personality" to it.

[2KidsforMe]

I love SF, but the historical significance of Boston is second to none. Maybe the title of the thread shoud have been "Is San Francisco the Boston of the West Coast?"