Today's installment of "Where We Go and Why We Go There" looks at beautiful Boston, Massachusetts. This New England metropolis is rich with history and happenings, while simultaneously existing as modern force in the worlds of commerce, education, and industry. However, like every city, Bean Town sees its fair share of departures and arrivals, as people move to and from Boston throughout the year.
Based on the top five destinations for people leaving Boston, one might conclude that the grey Atlantic weather has given them the blahs. Florida occupies four of the top five spots (Orlando, Tampa, Naples, and the South Florida Area), with the California Bay Area sneaking in at the #4 spot. Most people relocating from Boston seem to feel an affinity for the Atlantic Ocean... they just want to live near a warmer part of it.
However, when we look at points of origin for people moving to Boston, it helps to compare the stats. What specifically seems to be drawing people towards the Massachusetts capital?
- Washington, D.C. Nearby Washington, D.C., has a cost of living that's almost two-fifths higher than the national average. Couple that with an unemployment rate of 10.2%, and it's no wonder the D.C. Area sends a higher percentage of its residents to Boston than any other city in the country.
- Denver, Colorado. Long commute times and a too-hot-to-handle housing market are a few reasons why people are moving from Denver to Boston.
- Southern California. California falls into the list twice, with the #3 spot going to the southern part of the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, etc.). The cost of living in SoCal is 6.25% higher than the national average, and unemployment is currently at 8.9%.
- California Bay Area. Just a little bit farther up the California coast we find our #4 entry, the California Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose, etc.). The Bay Area boasts an unemployment rate similar to its southern neighbors (8.9%), but also has a cost of living that's a whopping 99% higher than the national average.
- Pensacola, Florida. Rounding out the list at #5 is the only East Coast entry -- Pensacola. This Florida city has an unemployment rate similar to that of the D.C. Area (10.2%), but is also currently experiencing a negative job growth rate (-2.17%).
With an unemployment rate 2.2% lower than the national average, a property tax rate almost two dollars less than the national average, and an estimated rate of job growth expected to top 33% by 2022, it's no surprise that Boston is such a popular relocation option for so many. It can't
just be for the baked beans.