Boston job market too competitive? (Worcester, Springfield: house, weddings, buying)

[redguard57]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Many employees in Boston are underpaid relative to the cost of living here. The unemployment rate doesn't tell the whole story.

All places that have cool attributes that makes people want to live there have that problem.

They are also underpaid in places where people don't want to live because there the economy tends to be weak - so the market is even more competitive and the salaries are even lower because there's just not enough money.

I wish I could find the city where people are paid fair wages and jobs are plentiful, but I don't think it exists. If there aren't many jobs there aren't many job seekers, but if there are jobs, job seekers flock there. If it's a pleasant place, then even more job seekers flock there.

Boston is a little harder because there do exist a higher than usual number of college graduates and advanced degree holders because it's the university capital of the nation. So the education arms race raises the stakes a little more - you probably need a master's where elsewhere a bachelor's would be sufficient, PhD instead of a master's, etc...

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by redguard57

I wish I could find the city where people are paid fair wages and jobs are plentiful, but I don't think it exists. If there aren't many jobs there aren't many job seekers, but if there are jobs, job seekers flock there. If it's a pleasant place, then even more job seekers flock there.

And corporations flock there for the talent.

Originally Posted by redguard57

Boston is a little harder because there do exist a higher than usual number of college graduates and advanced degree holders because it's the university capital of the nation. So the education arms race raises the stakes a little more - you probably need a master's where elsewhere a bachelor's would be sufficient, PhD instead of a master's, etc...

And all these universities and the research and graduates create a ton of jobs with the technologies and starts up they spin off.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Many employees in Boston are underpaid relative to the cost of living here. The unemployment rate doesn't tell the whole story.

Well yeah but that's the thing...

I worked retail for 3.5 years and when the pay scales leaked out it showed that the pay was NOT based on the cost of living. It was based on competition. Here's the breakdown.

1 - Remote areas with hardly anything there

2 - Fairly common..Boston is this level..Orlando is this level..Staten Island is this level..

3 - Fairly common (most stores are 2's and 3's)

4 - Rare

5- VERY Rare. Brooklyn, SF, LA..and New Oreleans (they couldn't find help after Katrina).

Wages can vary on a variety of things. There's general competition, cost of operating etc.

As I said before Boston is not really a place to start a career. If you want to search like crazy and make bare bones that's fine but frankly you can afford more and get more even in pay if you leave the metro area. I make more then what I did in the 128 belt in western Mass with a much lower cost of living. Boston tries to sell you everything when in fact it kinda falls flat. Some reasons I've heard for not leaving include...the red sox?!? Huh? Why not just watch it on tv. Some favorite bar/restaurant. There's a restaurant bubble right now because frankly the competition is too high and there's hardly that much of intrinsic differences between them of the same type (Italian, Indian, Chinese etc). Academia? Well sure it's nice to attend higher ed but then what? Museums? How often do people visit them and expect a difference? Past the age of 25 why stay in Boston? Clubs? Who really goes clubbing past their 20s?

Boston gentrified to the point where there's just not much of a soul left. Cookie cutter standardized...typical.

[timberline742]

Who goes out past their 20s? Everyone I know. I'm in my mid 40s and most of my friends are out 5-6 times a week seeing bands, dancing, dining, checking out new arts spaces, events, etc.

I'm not into the scene, but I also know a good chunk of people that are going to the opera, theatre, ballet, museums at least once a week.

This isn't uncommon. And no, not always Boston proper, but Boston/Cambridge/Somerville.

I'd love the cost of living of Western MA, and indeed, I'd like to be closing to the hiking and nature photography, but would I even have the choice of one good show a night? Or a week? In this area, there are half a dozen good shows a night. I'm off tonight, but tomorrow is Middle East, Sat is Johnny D's, Sun is a house show. What would I be seeing in Pittsfield or wherever?

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Who goes out past their 20s? Everyone I know. I'm in my mid 40s and most of my friends are out 5-6 times a week seeing bands, dancing, dining, checking out new arts spaces, events, etc.

I'm not into the scene, but I also know a good chunk of people that are going to the opera, theatre, ballet, museums at least once a week.

This isn't uncommon. And no, not always Boston proper, but Boston/Cambridge/Somerville.

I'd love the cost of living of Western MA, and indeed, I'd like to be closing to the hiking and nature photography, but would I even have the choice of one good show a night? Or a week? In this area, there are half a dozen good shows a night. I'm off tonight, but tomorrow is Middle East, Sat is Johnny D's, Sun is a house show. What would I be seeing in Pittsfield or wherever?

Yeah, people with families (most people in their 30's and 40's) can't go out that often no matter where they live.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Yeah, people with families (most people in their 30's and 40's) can't go out that often no matter where they live.

Well sure. Of course. But there are tons of people without children in their 30s and 40s around. No shortage of them. Thankfully.

If school systems and coaching little league or going to music recitals was my, or my peer's, lives, that would change everything, but I know more 40 yos that play in bands than have children.

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Well yeah but that's the thing...

I worked retail for 3.5 years and when the pay scales leaked out it showed that the pay was NOT based on the cost of living. It was based on competition. Here's the breakdown.

1 - Remote areas with hardly anything there

2 - Fairly common..Boston is this level..Orlando is this level..Staten Island is this level..

3 - Fairly common (most stores are 2's and 3's)

4 - Rare

5- VERY Rare. Brooklyn, SF, LA..and New Oreleans (they couldn't find help after Katrina).

Wages can vary on a variety of things. There's general competition, cost of operating etc.

As I said before Boston is not really a place to start a career. If you want to search like crazy and make bare bones that's fine but frankly you can afford more and get more even in pay if you leave the metro area. I make more then what I did in the 128 belt in western Mass with a much lower cost of living. Boston tries to sell you everything when in fact it kinda falls flat. Some reasons I've heard for not leaving include...the red sox?!? Huh? Why not just watch it on tv. Some favorite bar/restaurant. There's a restaurant bubble right now because frankly the competition is too high and there's hardly that much of intrinsic differences between them of the same type (Italian, Indian, Chinese etc). Academia? Well sure it's nice to attend higher ed but then what? Museums? How often do people visit them and expect a difference? Past the age of 25 why stay in Boston? Clubs? Who really goes clubbing past their 20s?

Boston gentrified to the point where there's just not much of a soul left. Cookie cutter standardized...typical.

I actually find most of Hampshire and Franklin county to be overpriced given the lack of employment. Partly due to the jobs for life many college professors have and the influx of New York Money into the hilltowns. Hampden county is affordable but I can count the towns on one hand that I would want to live in.

I really have only found one place in New England, Bangor, that balances, job opportunities, culture, and quality schools with a low COL.

[timberline742]

Bangor? Interesting. Spent a fair amount of time in Portland, but not Bangor.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by Boston_Burbs

I really have only found one place in New England, Bangor, that balances, job opportunities, culture, and quality schools with a low COL.

Really? Bangor? One does not need to go that far ...

There are plenty of towns in central MA (west of 495) which have highly rated schools, viable houses in the $260-300k range, and access to plenty of high income jobs (healthcare, higher-ed, STEM/R&D, etc.).

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Really? Bangor? One does not need to go that far ...

There are plenty of towns in central MA (west of 495) which have highly rated schools, viable houses in the $260-300k range, and access to plenty of high income jobs (healthcare, higher-ed, STEM/R&D, etc.).

Sorry, re reading my post I forgot to add ability to commute with minimal or no driving. But yes central ma offers a lot for the price. You just need to rely on a vehicle to commute every day. I have kind of been obsessed with mr money mustache lately.

With all those things considered I have been really bullish (to borrow your term) on swampscott especially the 2 family market. Usually a few on the market in the low to mid 400s that that've a 2 bed down and a 2 bed finished attic above. They are assessed pretty low so you get by the high property taxes, get 1400 in rental income, beach, 20 mins from north station.