Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US — its nickname, Beantown, harkens to the days of the Triangle Trade (1700’s), and it was the historical setting of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and other famous American moments. It has evolved from its history into a modern metropolis, though.
Today, Boston is also one of the most influential and exciting cities in the world, playing host to world-inspiring universities, like Harvard and MIT, world-renowned businesses, and a world-class healthcare system. Bostonians enjoy a thriving sports scene, great food and arts, and crisp, colorful fall days.
Boston’s Layout
Boston is located on the Massachusetts Bay. Its downtown is on the Atlantic Ocean’s coast and is divided from nearby cities and neighborhoods by the Charles, Mystic and Neponset rivers.
Boston is known by some as the city of neighborhoods, and learning about each neighborhood and its offerings is important. The most famous neighborhoods are Downtown, Charlestown, and Back Bay (home to the iconic Brownstones). Neighboring cities include Cambridge (home to Harvard), Everett and Winthrop (one of the oldest towns in the nation).
Positives of Moving to Boston
Education – A discussion of Boston’s merits involves bringing up some of the best universities in the country. Harvard, MIT, University of Massachusetts, Boston University, and Boston College are all known for contributing to Boston’s the U.S.’s the world’s intellectual scene. Likewise, it has some of the best high schools in the nation. Consider Boston Latin School, for example. Verifiably the oldest school in the country, it predated Harvard College by a year.
Economy – The economy of Boston is booming — the sixth largest in the nation. It’s well rounded and has strengths in high-tech industries as well as the insurance and financial fields.
Sports – Boston is a big sports town with famous teams, including the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots, and famous venues, like Fenway Park and Foxboro. If you follow sports, be sure to check out the scene in Boston, going to games is a great way to meet friends.
Healthcare – Health services in Boston take their strength from nearby medical schools, most notably Harvard Medical School’s teaching hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital. Combine its state of the art facilities with some of the brightest minds in medicine and liberal health care laws, and you’ve got a very healthy metropolis.
Public transit – The public transportation system in Boston gets a lot of praise for being extensive and easy to understand. People use it to commute to work, and students use it to get around the Boston area. It’s the fifth most used system in the US, which means that it’s doing its job in terms of functionality and popularity.
Negatives of Moving to Boston
Cost of living & rents – Like most major cities, the cost of living in Boston is very high. Rent is what gets the most complaints from new transplants, so definitely consider finding a roommate beforehand.
Bad for biking – Boston is notorious for not being particularly bike friendly. It’s been named one of the worst cities for biking by Cycling Magazine! The city is currently working on improving its bike lanes and bike rules, but hardcore cyclists should beware.
Weather – Boston gets some brutal winter weather, including dreaded Nor’easter winter storms, which dump snow, wind and biting cold on the area.
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