This year brought with it so much drastic change and forced so many to hunker down. Priorities switched as families went into survival mode during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Relationships progressed or disbanded due to unexpected pressures. Roads were, literally, less traveled. As perspectives altered, we wondered if the relationship between New Englanders and their city had changed, too. We asked Boston.com readers: Is Boston still the best city?
Almost immediately on Twitter the prompt was met with amused sass that Boston.com, of all places, would ask such a question. “…asks Boston.com,” quote-tweeted one. Another Twitter user pointed out, “This is like the NFL asking if football is the best sport.”
We heard from born and raised New Englanders, some locals who moved here, and others who left the city behind, about what they thought of Boston. The reviews were mixed — some filled with local pride and no grievances to air, while others wish for major improvements when it comes to racism, traffic, and real estate prices. Interestingly, one pro for some was also listed as a con for others: The influx of college students and out-of-towners.
Here’s a sampling of responses:
Some submissions were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Chris, in Andover, grew up north of Boston and lived in Cambridge during his 20s and early 30s before moving back to the suburbs.
Love: Everything. I love all the sports teams, the Charles, the Navy Yard, the history, the parks, the different seasons, the mix of local Massholes and transplants here for work/school. There are great restaurants and bars. Close enough to the Cape as well as the ski resorts. It has a small town feel with (most of) the amenities of a major international city. There’s a strong sense of pride among Bostonians even if we do flip each other off for minor driving infractions.
Loathe: The real estate prices are insane and the traffic is unbearable. Also, Sox ownership should have never let Mookie go.
One reader, who grew up in the Bay State and worked in Boston for years, said that they “love it all.”
Love: The walkability, first and foremost. It’s a manageable city, unlike NYC or Chicago, or LA. The airport is right here. The T can be infuriating, but it has tons of character. The seasons throw every type of weather at us and it makes us tougher. Sports is a religion. The duck boats and the Public Garden, and Beacon Hill, and the Esplanade. I love it all.
Loathe: The methadone mile. We can do better!
Erin, in Hingham, was born in Brighton, raised in Winchester, and lived in Boston for a few years before moving away in 2001. She returned in 2019 and mentioned an “unshakeable love for the city.”
Love: New England is, in my opinion, the best place to be in the summer and fall. The natural beauty, and abundance of ways to take advantage of it with relative ease are huge bonuses. Plus, New Englanders truly appreciate the season, as it is fleeting, and don’t take it for granted. The architecture and aesthetic of New England are uniquely beautiful as compared to other areas of the country.
Loathe: The people, frankly. From the perspective of One Who Has Left, I now realize that the majority of born-and-raised Bostonians that I meet here in my suburb are completely uninterested in life anywhere else. And while I appreciate the sense of hometown pride, as an outsider, that lack of curiosity is frustrating. When I lived in other states, I was always proud to say I was from Boston, but now that I’m back I feel like I’m actually from someplace else. Or want to be.
Mike, in Charlestown, whose grandparents immigrated to Boston from Ireland, wrote:
Love: The history, the Boston accent, the sports teams and the beauty of our countries oldest city. The Athens of America.
Loathe: N/A. Will always be the best city in the USA if not the world.
Another reader: “moved here from CT after college (went to school in RI). That was over 10 years ago and I have no intentions to leave.”
Love: It’s a city that’s both big and small. The arts, culture and nightlife of a major city with the small town feel of a place where you know your neighbors and every stranger is just one or two degrees separation from from someone or something you have in common.
Loathe: Tribalism and racism are number 1. The T is definitely subpar.
Ethan, in Melrose, who was born and raised on the North Shore, said he wouldn’t consider living anywhere else.
Love: Everything. Where else in this country can you find the birthplace of America, multiple vaccines for the novel coronavirus, and the frickin’ B’s shaking the barn? “The Town” should be mandatory viewing in public schools everywhere to help Boston get the attention it deserves.
Loathe: Nothing.
R Laurence Davis, in Concord, N.H., grew up in the area until they moved away for college in the Midwest, though would visit often.
Love: [I] love the energy of the place. Stand in Copley Square on a bright spring day and just soak it up. I think that a lot of that comes from the huge number of students. I love the variety of cultural activities. I love that it is human size-big enough to have first class everything yet small enough so that it is accessible.
Loathe: The traffic, the extremely rude drivers, the racist tendencies that still linger.
Ray, in Worcester, agrees that traffic is something to loathe about the city.
Love: Food, culture, the four seasons, and charm of New England.
Loathe: Traffic.
One reader said they moved to the area in 1979 for a residency in psychiatry at Boston University Medical Center.
Love: The sports, the food, the politics, the colleges, the closeness of the ocean and the mountains.
Loathe: The provincialism, the constant snark and sarcasm, the attitude of the college students that come for a few years and act like they know Boston — I’ve only been here since 1979, but I’m still a midwesterner.
Nate, from Norfolk, moved outside of New England.
Love: The best sports teams in the country.
Loathe: The worst sports fans in the country.
Cindy, in Weymouth, wrote:
Love: The city bars, nightclubs, Public Garden, the Common, the shows at the Wang. Newbury Street.
Loathe: The parking situation since the former mayor cut out a lot of parking spots. The taxes and the way we all drive.
Mary Thibodeau, in Swampscott, wrote:
Love: Boston has so much character in architecture, culinary flavors and cultural diversity. It’s such a great walkable city and each neighborhood transform you into a different place, time and experience.. With our abundance of top notch academia mixed with a strong arts culture, there is an installment of a love of learning and exploration in us all. Add some rocking sports teams to keep our energy and excitement jacked up and you just have the whole package!
Loathe: Traffic. When it’s bad it’s the pits.
Jim M., in Mission Hill, who moved to Boston for graduate school, wrote:
Love: Smart people, beautiful urban neighborhoods, beautiful suburban neighborhoods, amazingly rich culture for a city its size.
Loathe: The T needs expansion and upgrading.
Mike, in Milton, wrote:
Love: My favorite part of the city is driving through it on the way to N.H.
Loathe: The smarmy know-it-all’s who live here.
Let us know what you love or loathe about Boston in the comments below.
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December 28, 2020 at 11:56PM
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We asked readers if they still loved Boston. Here’s what they said. - Boston.com
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