Are there signs of people leaving Boston for cheaper parts of the state yet? (Berlin: violent crime, buyers)

[Bridge781]

Originally Posted by bohemka

Just about anywhere in Europe. My wife and I lived there for a number of years before she dragged me back here after our first child. We love where we live now, and there's something to be said for sharing cultural idiosyncrasies with your children, but the big picture here is frightening—toxic even—and our quality of life was significantly higher there.

Just curious as to what about the US you find toxic? I agree our country has it’s problems.

[WestRiverTraveler]

When I left suburban, small town CT for Boston, I never thought I would return. Even after my daughter was born, I still planned on staying. Then reality set in. My tiny condo in a great area (Roslindale) that I called home for 15 years was too tight for three people and a dog. When I looked at bigger condos and single families, it was clear that I was priced out even though I made a lot of money on my condo. So I moved to Hyde Park for single family because I was all I could afford. After two year and COVID, I'm heading back to CT.

Why? Family is the number one reason. Once you have kids, accessing the cool stuff cities offer mostly goes out the window. Having family to help with your kids is a huge pull. At the same time, things like quiet, less traffic, community schools, etc have a lot of appeal. Unfortunately, those come at a big premium anywhere near Boston.

For people who can work remote or get jobs in small cities, Providence, Worcester, and even New Haven have a lot to offer and the suburbs in RI and CT are a bargain compared to eastern MA.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

Just curious as to what about the US you find toxic? I agree our country has it’s problems.

Really?

There is a pretty standard list of US versus the rest of the first world. Anyone who has lived and traveled outside the US has a similar list.

Science denial. Climate change being the obvious one.
2A
Incarceration rates
Health care at 18% of GDP and half the country gets lousy health care. CODID-19 highlights the public health problem.
Unequal public education plus unaffordable university education
Worker rights. Basics like sick time. Vacation time. Maternity leave. Termination pay.

That’s a start. It’s pretty easy to come up with a dozen more. Merely making the list brands you a socialist here and that’s up there in the toxicity scale.

[simplexsimon]

What are the differences in quality of life if you’re upper middle class in the U.S. vs in Germany?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

What are the differences in quality of life if you’re upper middle class in the U.S. vs in Germany?

Define upper middle class first and the percentages of people that the category is in each country.

(And remember, no matter what that definition is, its far easier to become upper middle class if you weren't born into it as social mobility is significantly higher in Germany.,)

[simplexsimon]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Define upper middle class first and the percentages of people that the category is in each country.

(And remember, no matter what that definition is, its far easier to become upper middle class if you weren't born into it as social mobility is significantly higher in Germany.,)

Oh I dunno...say household income of $250k in MA compared to whatever that is in Germany.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

Oh I dunno...say household income of $250k in MA compared to whatever that is in Germany.

Median Household income in Massachusetts is $78,000. So upper middle class starts at $250k? That’s why (Native born) people Are leaving in droves.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Really?

There is a pretty standard list of US versus the rest of the first world. Anyone who has lived and traveled outside the US has a similar list.

Science denial. Climate change being the obvious one.
2A
Incarceration rates
Health care at 18% of GDP and half the country gets lousy health care. CODID-19 highlights the public health problem.
Unequal public education plus unaffordable university education
Worker rights. Basics like sick time. Vacation time. Maternity leave. Termination pay.

That’s a start. It’s pretty easy to come up with a dozen more. Merely making the list brands you a socialist here and that’s up there in the toxicity scale.

2A? Despite what some on the ride might say you can legally get a firearm in much of Europe you just can't claim that it's a right. More importantly making something illegal does not mean that it goes away the War on Drugs is evidence of this..

You can test out of classes for higher ed for 90%off. I've been to Europe a number of times. But history has shown quite a bit of violence. Religions freedom is spotty at best. I don't know if the EU will last. It hasn't incorporated all of Europe yet. Moreover the lack of population growth and constant demands for immigration get complicated. When I hear the illegals in Latin America crossing over to the United States they probably had access to things like running water and Rose and electricity. In parts of Africa they are fleeing actual Civil War, possibly landmines, genocide and so forth.

in the USA there is right of soil. If you are born here you are citizen hear the concept is pretty simple. But in Europe that is not the case. You can be born in Ireland and *not* be an Irish citizen. They don't view themselves as welcoming immigrants. You can't go to Germany and be consider German. But you can go to the US and be considered American.

Worker rights? Does that include the Poles in the UK and Turks in Germany? They have right of blood, not soil. The EU has tried to be the US of Europe but that might not be what they really wanted.

[Bridge781]

Right wow at upper middle class starting at 250k. So someone who makes 150-200k is just plain ol middle class? There are people in the area who make under 100k. Apparently they would be considered losers by many.

And I guess a lot of people still want to live in Boston:


Report: Boston is leading the housing market comeback

[simplexsimon]

Why are people reading into my definition of upper middle class? I just picked a number. If I said $200k the $150k'ers would be offended. If I said $150k, the $100k'ers would be offended. And I did say household income. Whether that's two earners or one, whatever.

The question was what are the quality of life differences for someone in that percentile in the U.S. vs. Germany. Fine let's be more specific...Boston vs Berlin. Does anybody have a problem with that question?