Moving from NYC to Boston for a buyside gig at 24 yrs old. Never lived there before and won't really have any friends going in. I've done some research on where to live but just looking for other general thoughts.
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Ah, the age-old tale of the city switcheroo! Moving from the Big Apple to Beantown, eh? Well, let's swing through the jungle of information and see what we can find about life in Boston for a young professional like yourself.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some general thoughts about living in Boston:
Nightlife: Boston's nightlife might not be as non-stop as NYC's, but it's got its own charm. Bars close at 2 AM, so people tend to start their evenings earlier. There are good clubs and bars, so your social life doesn't have to take a hit.
Social Scene: It's true that Boston won't have the same size of analyst classes as NYC, but that doesn't mean you can't meet new people. Joining a gym, attending group classes, or using platforms like Meetup.com can be great ways to build a new circle.
City Vibe: Boston is smaller than NYC, which can be a plus or a minus depending on your perspective. It's walkable, and while the public transit isn't top-notch, it's manageable. The city has been growing and developing, especially in areas like Seaport and the South End.
Cuisine: Seafood is a highlight in Boston, and there are pockets of the city like the North End with great Italian food. The restaurant scene is considered above average for a city of its size.
Diversity and Culture: Some have noted that Boston isn't as diverse as other major cities and has had a history of racial intolerance, but there's a sense that it's improving, especially in Boston proper.
Cost of Living: It's high, not quite NYC high, but still up there. You'll need to balance your desires for location, apartment size, and amenities.
Work Opportunities: Since you're moving for a buyside gig, it sounds like you've got the job aspect covered. Boston has a strong finance sector, so it's a solid move career-wise.
Remember, it's all about what you make of it. Boston has a lot to offer, and while it may take some adjusting, you can definitely carve out a fantastic life for yourself there. Keep an open mind, be proactive in meeting people, and explore the city's unique offerings. Welcome to Boston!
Sources: How is living in Boston?, Moving to a new city by yourself? Can anyone share experiences?, Moving to Boston - Suggestions
Southie or Seaport is likely where you'll want to be at 24 and single.
Everyone skis, plays golf, and has a summer beach town that they frequent. A car will open up more of New England but you need to decide if you want / need one.
Feel free to PM me.
From there originally, great place to live in your 20s, gets tiresome in your 30s as more and more of your friends have children and spread out around the Metro area. As the above poster said Southie and Seaport are great for younger well to do professionals. I found Brighton and Brookline (wash sq) to be a bit quieter if you aren't into the clubs and bars with lines and covers. I wouldn't suggest a car in Seaport, garages flood pretty easily haha.
Lived there from basically 12-38 or at least in MA, PM if you want.
Boston is a great city, especially for young people. What exactly do you want to know other than southie and seaport being popular for young people?
Southie
.
Stayed around Beacon Hill, was nice there
Also interested, was very nice when I visited a few years ago
Thought north end and back bay were good neighborhoods, but curious how residents feel about the city from residing there, aside from stuff like cold weather which people experience in the northeast in general
Feel free to ping with any questions
Cousin has lived there for ~2 yrs, I’ve visited a few times. It’s a nice city but socially tough if you’re not from Mass/New England or went to school in area (cliquey vibe for the most part). Very chill and can find some nice places to live. Southie severely overrated, probably 5 other parts of the city are more enjoyable. Tougher to commute in/out of city than an nyc. Less concentrated job opportunities but generally good buy side/investment opps.
Did my associate years in Boston. Think you'd be unpleasantly surprised if you move to Southie or Seaport as some above posters said - depends where your buyside gig is, but if you're at a PE firm in back bay, most people will live in back bay or south end. FWIW, both neighborhoods are very good - south end is better IMO, but would basically describe back bay as some combo of upper east side and soho (not quite as trendy as soho but lots of shopping, typically something interesting going on, etc.) and south end is closest to west village. Southie is like murray hill - all the recent grads and sales bros live there, and you can have some fun nights there but otherwise pretty meh. Seaport is a bit like hudson yards - there's a lot going on but it doesn't really feel like a neighborhood.
Overall, I had a great time in Boston. The first thing everyone will tell you is it doesn't have New York's night life, which is fair, but two considerations; one, it's still a huge drinking city (ton of colleges and employers, it's just more "bars" than "clubs"), and two, at first I was apprehensive about the more low-key nightlife but found myself increasingly fine with (and even thankful for) it as I went from "24 and sending it every weekend" to "26 and I can't believe I used to drink like that". It's shockingly more relaxed and easy-going to do daily life in; you don't need to book a res exactly 4 weeks in advance at 12:01am, the streets are clean and don't smell like garbage, people are reasonably friendly, easy to become a "local" at bars/restaurants/coffee shops around you, and it's super dense geographically so you can get around very quickly on foot / with public transit / uber. The city is very healthy - seems like everyone runs or bikes or goes to Barry's/yoga 4+ times a week, lot of time spent golfing or at the beach or on the river in the summer and lot of time spent in NH/VT skiing in the winter (southern NH sucks but if you go 2.5-4 hours away there's actually some pretty high-quality mountains). My biggest piece of advice would be find someone who grew up around Boston or went to undergrad there and become friends with them your first couple months in the city - I had no ties to the city before moving there but I found this to be incredibly helpful for growing my network, finding the good spots around town, and getting plugged in socially even outside of the city (i.e., really nice to have a buddy's cape house or lake house to go to, nice to be able to play some of the better courses around the burbs, etc.). Go in open-minded, be proactive socially your first few months, remember what it feels like to get outdoors and have some healthy habits, and you'll love it.
Probably the most helpful / real response I've ever read on WSO. Thank you so much!
Even though this thread is a year old, it’s still super helpful. I'm also in my early 20s and just decided to move to a new city for school, so this is exactly what I needed to hear.
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