Has anyone lived in both DC and Boston? (Washington: rent, safe neighborhoods)
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New England tends to be more reserved than DC and there's very much a divide I think between those who grew up there, and those who come form somewhere else.
Down here in DC there's a lot of people who aren't "from the area" so we all have to get along, as to being just ignored by the local populace.
I find DC way more diverse in it's demographic as well compared to Boston. Boston had to be the 'whitest' city I've been to so far...
I just read pretty much all of the DC vs Boston threads on our forum. This seems to be a constant theme.
However, MASS has TONS and TONS of Brazilians, Cambodians, Haitians, etc. Seemingly much more than DC anyways.
However, maybe they aren't in Boston itself? Or despite large numbers, there presense doesn't seem to have visibility or something? I am unsure, anyone want to clarify that a bit who might know....?
Is it true what they say about Boston, that it's somewhat racist? I've never been up there, but would love to visit for a few days, maybe catch a Sawx game, but I've heard things about racism and Boston.
The DC area has a significantly larger professional class and a professional class in which minorities play a much larger role. Boston proper is actually more diverse than DC proper; however, the DC metro area is MUCH more diverse than greater Boston. In both areas, the majority of the residents reside in the suburbs. However, most of the popular DC suburbs have a demographic make-up more similar to suburbs in the Bay area or Southern California, whereas most of the Boston suburbs have a demographic make-up similar to Long Island's north shore...huge difference.
Boston is much safer than DC, overall. However, DC appears to be much safer in the heavily visited areas (i.e. it's easier to avoid crime in DC b/c it's more concentrated). Boston has a much more blue-collar vibe than DC. The DC area pretty much appears to be like a mini-Paris (albeit a blacker and less dense one; I'm referring to DC, parts of Arlington and parts of Alexandria) surrounded mostly by suburban Los Angeles (without the beaches and with less hispanics; I'm referring to parts of Arlington, parts of Alexandria, all of Fairfax and Montgomery Counties, and parts Prince George's County ) and to a smaller extent by Chicago's south side (most of Prince George's County). Most of the region's population resides in the suburban LA-like portion.
I think Boston is pretty diverse. Each time I've been up there, I've seen people of many races. Walking through Boston Common on a warm August afternoon, I observed Asians, Indians, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Caucasians, all relaxing, playing, taking pictures, reading, etc.
To me, DC has no character. It feels very bland, sterile, and generic. Boston has a great feel to it, and it's obvious that so many people take pride in their city. I always love visiting there. Similarly, places like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco have real character and a city identity. Other than museums and politics, there just isn't much that is uniquely DC. This is just my personal opinion and observation.
I see you live there, and not Boston. After a girl I know got the **** beat out of her on Russell Street, I've been been staying away from Harm City.
I live in Baltimore, work in DC, and visit Boston 3-4 times a year.
I'm sorry about your friend. Yes, Baltimore has its safety issues and it has its share of characters, but it's not all bad, and it has a lot of personality.
I just read pretty much all of the DC vs Boston threads on our forum. This seems to be a constant theme.
However, MASS has TONS and TONS of Brazilians, Cambodians, Haitians, etc. Seemingly much more than DC anyways.
However, maybe they aren't in Boston itself? Or despite large numbers, there presense doesn't seem to have visibility or something? I am unsure, anyone want to clarify that a bit who might know....?
Massachusetts (along with New Jersey and Florida) does have a lot of Brazilians. They followed the Portuguese to the state. I'm not aware of any significant number of Brazilians, Cambodians or Haitians anywhere in the DC area. Now, if you had mentioned Salvadorans, Koreans or Ethiopians....
However, I don't think the Brazilians have a very visible presence in Boston itself, as opposed to the New Bedford area or some of the outlying suburbs like Framingham. It's like going to DC to look for Koreans and finding out they are really in Centreville instead.
Other than museums and politics, there just isn't much that is uniquely DC. This is just my personal opinion and observation.
The beautiful colorful rowhomes found throughout in many DC neighborhoods are quite unique though.
DC is kind of funny...there is some great beauty to it, but most of the photos always seem to be of the monuments.
Sometimes I wonder if the nation's capitol were in Boston instead. Would the rest of Boston just be completely overlooked altogether as well?
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