Lived in Davis sq, and I can say it can get pretty boring after a year. Cambridge is nice. Climate sucks. I mean cold is bearable, by i couldn't stand the lack of light. I got winter's blues in there. Locals suck. You will never learn the names of your neighbors. Students everywhere, which gets annoying after a while. Stupid puritanism everywhere. The 24hr store in Davis sq. closes at midnight, b/c the city doesn't want people to work past midnight. Alcohol is heavily regulated. Heck, there even are no happy hours. (they are illegal). and they call themselves liberals? Ah, and racism is rampant. I had a black girlfriend for a while, so I know.
I liked the boat house, in the Charles river, were you could register for $120/year, and learn how to sail. The urban transport is pretty good (better than bay area).
For me it was good for a year or two, and then it ended up being boring. Moved to SF, and my quality of life improved a lot. people are just way much friendlier in here.
edit. there are a lot of biotech jobs around there (in Cambridge mostly). Lot's of tech jobs, but it is mostly big coorporations, and nothing too exiting. Few startups, but no near the number of startups in SF bay area. But housing is cheaper, about %30 cheaper, but still very expensive (third most expensive area, after NYC, and SF). And you can meet lot's of smart people, with masters, phd's, etc. More intellectual than the bay area.
I liked the boat house, in the Charles river, were you could register for $120/year, and learn how to sail. The urban transport is pretty good (better than bay area).
For me it was good for a year or two, and then it ended up being boring. Moved to SF, and my quality of life improved a lot. people are just way much friendlier in here.
edit. there are a lot of biotech jobs around there (in Cambridge mostly). Lot's of tech jobs, but it is mostly big coorporations, and nothing too exiting. Few startups, but no near the number of startups in SF bay area. But housing is cheaper, about %30 cheaper, but still very expensive (third most expensive area, after NYC, and SF). And you can meet lot's of smart people, with masters, phd's, etc. More intellectual than the bay area.