Relocating to Boston from Charlotte, NC

[LeavingMA]

A lot of southern cities are quite new, most of the major development has happened in the last 10 years or so. In 25-50 years people may think that some of those cookie cutter homes and neighborhoods give the area character.

If you look at downtowns around MA and New England, they are older, but many of the houses are similar, on small lots, and built from the late 1800's until early 1900's. I wonder if people considered them cookie cutter and bland during those days.

It really is a catch 22, because people want affordable housing and more acreage, but you won't always get that if you give lots of acreage and make homes custom. All that will do is force more people further outside the cities and raise prices in certain areas.

Boston is an older city and unique because it has lots of history. I think southern cities offer more affordability and are easier to drive and park. Cary is nice, and yes there is some so-so development, but I see that up in MA and New England also. I also saw some beautiful developments in NC that would be a great area for families, meeting people, and having the amentities nearby, which is what lots of people want. I thought parts of Raleigh, especially inside the beltline and in parts of North Raleigh were really beautiful. Raleigh is actually know for its oak trees and having lots of parks.

Things eventually change and adapt in cities to what people buy. If people didn't eat and stop at all these chain stores and buy in all these subdivisions, nobody would build them. I like ranch style homes, but nobody really wants these anymore, so you never see builders creating a ranch-style subdivision.

[findingmesomeday]

New England is beautiful and very quaint. Each town has its own personality. But each town has its own school district, its own form of government, etc. You can live in a town with very good schools but if you move 1/4 mile down the road, you'll be in a different school district which might have crappy schools. Or you can live in a small town (as I do) which has to combine some of its sports teams with the next town over which can get interesting--different athletic fees, different school hours, different awards programs, etc.

It's outrageously expensive to live here, the winters are very long and very cold and there is no spring. Fall is gorgeous. People are not necessarily rude, but they're hard to get to know.

It's an entirely different experience than the south. I know you want to experience something different than North Carolina. You might have less culture shock if you went to Chicago or St. Louis.