Quote:
You have to understand that the Northeast isn't monolithic or isn't just the Bos-Wash corridor. There are Northeastern metros that have a COL on par with Southern metros. So, that depends upon the area in the NE. There are plenty of nice walkable villages, with things to in many parts of the NE, like Upstate NY. While winter can be bad up here, the heat and humidity in the South can be pretty bad and for just as long of a time too. There's other issues like crime, schools, things to do and location, among other things that come into play.
|
The hottest weather I ever experienced was in Boston in the summer. Either way, I have absolutely no desire to live in the Northeast again.
As far as why people from the Midwest and Northeast are moving South is because 20-30 years ago the South didn't have much of an economy. When I was growing up the region was economically depressed. These days it has a healthy economy and a diversified set of growing industries. People are no longer constrained to one region or area. I also think many people have a totally different attitude about certain things like family, community, and professional careers. It used to be that a family was tied to a specific town because:
A: Their family lived there. aka- Mom and Dad, Grandparents and so on.
B: They were tied to their community. They went to the same church, same schools, and so on.
C: They often kept the same jobs and followed in their parent's footsteps by going into the same jobs as their parents. The companies they worked for also kept them for decades.
That has all changed. These days if a family lived in say- Chicago, Boston, NYC, or some other Northeastern or Midwestern area, they up and decide that they are tired of the weather and the cost of living and even though their family all lives there- they'll cut and run at the drop of a hat and what's more, they'll move to a city based sometimes on a whim from some magazine article or one of those "top 10" lists. They have zero problem abandoning an area their family has spent generations living in. They are no longer tied down.