Where to move in the North East?
June 18, 2022 8:03 AM Subscribe
My partner will finish up their veterinary residency in July of 2023 and we’re talking about where to consider relocating too. We currently live separately. I have a number of health issues so I need to live somewhere with great options for medical care, preferably by a university. The rest of our wish list includes: in the North East, in or very close to a mid to large city, not to far from the coast
I’m currently in NYC, and we’ve thought of Boston and Philadelphia. Any other suggestions?
"In or very close to a mid-to-large city" does narrow it down a lot - have you thought about Providence? On the smaller side of "mid" but it does have a "city" feel and an academic medical center.
posted by mskyle at 9:29 AM on June 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 9:29 AM on June 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
I assume Buffalo is too far away and inland, but it would otherwise tick your boxes.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:11 AM on June 18, 2022
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:11 AM on June 18, 2022
Portland, Maine. I also understand that some of the vet practices here have been actively recruiting people recently.
posted by yellowcandy at 10:22 AM on June 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by yellowcandy at 10:22 AM on June 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
Philadelphia would likely be an excellent choice. Tons of top-notch university medical centers, 90 minutes from NYC by train (DC also very accessible), not far from the coast, and probably about half of the cost of Boston to buy a house (even dinner out is substantially cheaper - I've lived in both Philly and Boston). In my opinion Philly is most similar to Brooklyn in terms of architecture, scale, and vibe (although obviously that's quite subjective). Philly flies under many people's radar but it really is excellent: beautiful, walkable, historic, decent weather, diverse, excellent food scene, urban in all the best ways, beautiful nature accessible by public transit, affordable relative to other East Coast cities, stuffed with universities and all the benefits that entails, etc. Happy to elaborate on anything or answer any questions.
posted by ClaireBear at 10:23 AM on June 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by ClaireBear at 10:23 AM on June 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
Volunteering the Albany - Schenectady - Troy NY area; multiple universities, Albany Medical College, and the Albany Med system. 2 hrs to NYC. Downtown Troy especially has undergone a resnnaissance over the past decade and is often favorably compared to Brooklyn. Not close to a coast, though there are water activities with Hudson River, Mohawk River and Lakes George and Champlain.
For real ocean coast, I second Providence RI. Could also consider satellite towns of Newport RI (only 35 min to Providence) and Fall River MA. Possibly also look at Portsmouth, NH - very small city on NH's tiny coast, but not far from Boston.
posted by Ardea alba at 10:42 AM on June 18, 2022
For real ocean coast, I second Providence RI. Could also consider satellite towns of Newport RI (only 35 min to Providence) and Fall River MA. Possibly also look at Portsmouth, NH - very small city on NH's tiny coast, but not far from Boston.
posted by Ardea alba at 10:42 AM on June 18, 2022
Baltimore fits all of these criteria with a much lower cost of living compared to NYC or Boston. Several top-notch hospitals, universities, mid-sized city, and you can live right on the water.
It’s very easy to take Amtrak up to New York or Philadelphia and there’s a great commuter train to DC.
posted by forkisbetter at 10:57 AM on June 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
It’s very easy to take Amtrak up to New York or Philadelphia and there’s a great commuter train to DC.
posted by forkisbetter at 10:57 AM on June 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
Providence, RI (the state is tiny, you can live anywhere in it and meet your criteria) or Wilmington, DE?
posted by DarlingBri at 11:19 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 11:19 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
New Haven is nice. Small city, big college town. 2hrs to NYC or Boston by train. Housing is I think cheaper than renting because of student rental demand and lots of old houses.
posted by kokaku at 12:05 PM on June 18, 2022
posted by kokaku at 12:05 PM on June 18, 2022
Philly is your best bet if cost of living is at all a concern, plus it's an easy quick(ish) bus to NYC. Though I agree, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore is a truly world-class hospital, and Baltimore's housing market is undervalued (in my opinion, anyway). Though it is far enough from NYC to make day trips, while technically possible, a lot of driving for one day.
posted by coffeecat at 5:55 PM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by coffeecat at 5:55 PM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
Providence has public transit to Boston both by amtrak and mtba
posted by brujita at 3:02 AM on June 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 3:02 AM on June 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
Seconding New Haven. There has been a small resurgence of agriculture here, and I know there is demand for large animal vets. Bethany is right outside new haven and filled with horse farms. Everything is close, but real estate is far cheaper than the rest of New England, with very good school systems, great universities and overall a high quality of life. I never wanted to move to Connecticut having grown up here, and now that I’m here I’ve realized it’s pretty great (admittedly, grew up in Stamford which was just a corporate bedroom community).
posted by ghostpony at 4:46 AM on June 19, 2022
posted by ghostpony at 4:46 AM on June 19, 2022
Also Yale New Haven is the dominant research hospital in Connecticut.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:05 AM on June 19, 2022
posted by SemiSalt at 5:05 AM on June 19, 2022
Throwing in another vote for Baltimore. Great hospitals, plenty of colleges, low cost of living, great rail and airport access.
Maryland is such a gem of a state - so much geographic and cultural diversity, in a small package.
posted by champers at 12:13 PM on June 19, 2022
Maryland is such a gem of a state - so much geographic and cultural diversity, in a small package.
posted by champers at 12:13 PM on June 19, 2022
How about Western Massachusetts? Very affordable compared to other regions. Three great hospitals between Northampton, and Springfield. Plenty of colleges in the area, and depending on where you live, about a two-hour drive to Cape Cod.
posted by Hanuman1960 at 4:39 AM on June 20, 2022
posted by Hanuman1960 at 4:39 AM on June 20, 2022
No one seems to mention Worcester, so I will. 2nd largest city in New England, undergoing a strong renaissance with significant downtown rework. An hour to Boston, a little more to the shore in Hull (south of Boston) or an hour and a half to the RI shore. UMass Medical provides a great medical option that is taking over a great deal of the east-central edge of the city. If you don't like Worcester itself, the suburbs are quite nice - especially north and west. Plenty of vet clinics that need help too.
The biggest downside - and I suspect it's true of most of what you'll look at - is real estate prices are out of control. The house we paid $400k 6 years ago is now $700k on Zillow. I suspect that's about to come crashing back to earth in the near future, though.
posted by neilbert at 4:26 PM on June 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
The biggest downside - and I suspect it's true of most of what you'll look at - is real estate prices are out of control. The house we paid $400k 6 years ago is now $700k on Zillow. I suspect that's about to come crashing back to earth in the near future, though.
posted by neilbert at 4:26 PM on June 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by terrapin at 9:21 AM on June 18, 2022 [4 favorites]