While previous Real Times community profiles have danced around the perimeter of Boston (the city's Back Bay neighborhood, or nearby Cambridge, for example), it would be an oversight to pass over this magnificent city, which -- unlike many other U.S. urban centers -- is home to many longtime residents who wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. And don't try to convince them otherwise, either; their loyalty is fierce.
And it's easy to share their sentiment once you set foot in what has been called the nation's "hub." This is precisely the time of year when many tourists plan their annual excursions to New England. Boston is the center of it all, containing a major airport (Logan) where the majority of tourists begin their adventures. Even if their destinations lie further north, however, once they get a look at the city of Boston, they often stick around a little longer than they anticipated.
There are few cities as navigable as Boston. The city's public transportation system is undoubtedly among the nation's best. There's little reason to have a car in the city, and in fact, many residents don't. If you do, be forewarned: Drivers are particularly aggressive here. With a lack of room to expand, and a large assortment of historical buildings to respect, more and more cars cram themselves into the city's existing streets. The result is vicious traffic, white-knuckled drivers, and lots of double-parking. Take the MBTA (known to locals as the "T"), on the other hand, and you can make your way just about anywhere, including Cambridge, the airport, and plenty of Boston suburbs. That's assuming, of course, that you don't want to walk. Boston is a walker's dream. In fact, it's often called a "walking city" because it's compact enough to make your way across by foot.
One of the most interesting aspects of this city, however, is its wealth of neighborhoods, all of them distinctive in their flavor. Take the North End, known for its predominantly Italian population. Many Italian families have lived here for years. Tourists and residents from other parts of Boston head here for the cuisine; the North End boasts a spectacular array of fine Italian restaurants, the likes of which you'll rarely find anywhere else in the United States. Simply walking through the North End is a treat for the senses. It's a lively area filled with activity and heavenly aromas.
The Back Bay neighborhood, as described in a previous Real Times community profile, is one of the city's most upscale areas -- particularly the Beacon Hill neighborhood, which simply cannot be missed if you plan a trip to Boston. The greater Back Bay area is characterized by gas-lit lamps, row after row of brownstones, and quiet parks, but the Beacon Hill section -- home to what is undoubtely the city's most expensive residential real estate -- is a world unto itself, where narrow streets of brick remain, making navigation by foot and by car a challenge; where relics of 18th century architecture have been lovingly preserved; and where crooked trees grow through iron gates, adding to the atmosphere that makes this neighborhood a historical gem.
Boston also is home to Chinatown; the Fenway/Kenmore Square area, where Boston University, Emmanuel College and Simmons College students live side by side with the locals next to the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park; Allston, a neigborhood characterized by historic homes which have been divided into multifamily residences, a popular choice among local college students; Jamaica Plain, dominated by sprawling two- and three-story homes, and close to the city's concentration of major hospitals and health-care research centers; South Boston, defined by its interesting blend of cultures; Dorchester, filled with triple-decker homes, and where crime has unfortunately been on the increase in recent years; and Brookline, another student haven, also home to a significant percentage of the city's large Irish population.
If you're moving to Boston from New York or San Francisco, for example, where criminally high costs of living are the rule, Boston may pleasantly surprise you. However, if you're from just about anywhere else, you're going to receive a jolt. Boston's cost of living, according to the "Boston Relocation Guide," is approximately 48 percent higher than the national average. So it follows that home prices are just as high. While you can select your home from quite an array of styles -- a brownstone, a Victorian home, one floor of a triple-decker, or even a run-of-the-mill condo -- chances are good you're going to have to settle for less space or a bigger dent in your budget. Don't expect to find brand-new construction in Boston, either. As mentioned before, the city lacks the space for new development, so residences tend to be older yet well-preserved, for the most part. The good news is that you're likely to find archtectural anomalies in your new home -- fireplaces in the bedrooms, unusual moulding, etc.
Anyone lucky enough to live in Boston has prime pick of a multitude of cultural offerings -- the Boston Symphony Orchestra; the Boston Pops (famous for their concerts under the "shell" along the banks of the Charles River); and a dizzying array of museums (the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, the Boston Children's Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Boston Computer Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and Harvard University Art Museums, among many others. Local events are plentiful -- the Boston Marathon, a lively St. Patrick's Day celebration, an annual Fourth of July bash with the Boston Pops, and the Head of the Charles Regatta, an annual showdown among national crew teams that takes place each October on the Charles River. Clubs, theaters and bookstores are also in abundance, due in large part to the presence of 60-plus colleges and universities in the area.
A trip to Boston is a must for any history buff, and an exciting relocation prospect for anyone on the move. Before you head to Boston, however, you might want to brush up on the local dialect. The following site, "The Wicked Good Guide to Boston English," should help indoctrinate you:
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.What are some towns in East Boston??
We grew up in MA and then eventually moved out because it just became unaffordable. My sis is still trying to buy somewhere in MA, but she has given up the dream of living in Boston (until she hits the lottery 
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