Amazon New HQ (50k jobs), MA? (Boston, Cambridge: pool, to relocate, rank)

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Cape Cod population peaked in 2000. It's been fairly flat since. It's the story of anywhere not urban. Aging population. Low birth rates. The Cape sees enough retiree migration that the population isn't likely to shrink. It's just going to continue to do the "White Florida" thing.

All high cost of living places have outward migration of middle/lower middle class people who can't afford it. The inward migration tends to be high skill people and the draw is worldwide. Your new neighbor is just as likely to come from Bangalore as Des Moines.

But also a high inward migration of very poor immigrants and students, funded by federal dollars in many cases (not all).

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by mdovell

True but here's more exact numbers.

1950 801,444 +4.0%
1960 697,197 −13.0%
1970 641,071 −8.1%
1980 562,994 −12.2%
1990 574,283 +2.0%
2000 589,141 +2.6%
2010 617,594 +4.8%
2016 673,184 +9.0%

Right about that. It isn't anywhere close to what it was in 1950 and is still lower than 1960. It hit a bottom in 1980 and growth certainly is on the upward swing, I get that. But we can't ignore the fact that it is taking so long to get back to what it was. 56 years to get close to where it was in 1960. People left and the 128 belt was made and then 495.

Thanks for proving my point, that Massachusetts population hasn't increased much since the 1980's. And they haven't built much since then (look at the suburbs around Boston). Its basically the fact that a lack of housing (supply) determines the price of housing. They refuse to build and its difficult so costs will stay up. It doesn't mean people are dying to move to Boston. In general, the high cost of Boston and the Northeast area has kept the middle class away.

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

Thanks for proving my point, that Massachusetts population hasn't increased much since the 1980's. And they haven't built much since then (look at the suburbs around Boston). Its basically the fact that a lack of housing (supply) determines the price of housing. They refuse to build and its difficult so costs will stay up. It doesn't mean people are dying to move to Boston. In general, the high cost of Boston and the Northeast area has kept the middle class away.

The population of Massachusetts has gone up 1.1 million from 1980 to 2016 and NH another 450,000. That's 6.6 to 8.2 million that's significant growth.

[tysmith95]

I feel as if some of the decrease, or lack of an increase, is an increase in living standards. Kids sharing rooms used to be the norm, now many people believe that every child should have their own room.

[The_General]

Originally Posted by mdovell

If you factor out immigrant the Boston area has lost population for well over a decade. There are many towns that frankly are going to die out without some new influx or increase to the birthrate. Cape Cod comes to mind and the Berkshires.

Why would we factor out immigrants?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by The_General

Why would we factor out immigrants?

Seriously, one of my closest friends is a chemist in Kendall Sq. She is a Scottish immigrant. Why would she not count?

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Seriously, one of my closest friends is a chemist in Kendall Sq. She is a Scottish immigrant. Why would she not count?

<sarcasm>

Because all immigrants have poor English language skills and work low wage jobs.

</sarcasm>

[bugelrex]

It would be fair to say the job growth in Boston has come from tech and biotech. 2 sectors which rely heavily on legal immigration (overseas students staying in USA to work)

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Seriously, one of my closest friends is a chemist in Kendall Sq. She is a Scottish immigrant. Why would she not count?

Because we are losing both legal and illegal immigrants (or aliens if you prefer) post 9/11 with the whole fortress mentality. I don't like it myself.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business...1yO/story.html

The labor market is extremely tight right now. Plenty of industries can't find people or at least the right people. I'd argue that pretty much anyone that wants to work is working.

My point is that maybe it might not be in the best of long term sustainability to rely on immigrants. If the president stays on for all four or even eight years we're in for some serious wage inflation. I've seen projects delayed months if not years.

[robr2]

Well Marty Walsh released that Boston's bid for Amazon will center on East Boston, not too far from Logan which means Suffolk Downs.

Worcester has come up with a $500 million tax incentive plan over 20 years and a 98 acre site around Rt. 20.

Somerville, Lynn, Greater Lowell/Billerica, Greater Lawrence/North Andover, Leominster, Fall River, Foxborough, New Bedford, Taunton, and Springfield/Enfield, CT have all proposed plans.