Move from California (Bay Area) to MA ? (Boston, Cambridge: homes, tech jobs)

[spotty8a]

My husband and I are both in the computer industry. We live in the beautiful San Francisco bay area... we love it here... we have great careers here... but this place really sucks from cost of living perspective. By the time our son starts school in couple of years, if we need to move to a decent school district, we are looking at homes upwards of $1mil - and even for that kinda money, may not find something in move in condition or larger than our currently 1500sq ft home !

We were thinking of moving to MA... particularly Acton area seems great.
How do schools compare to CA ?
How are the jobs (Hi-Tech) ?
We are South Asian American... how diverse is the Acton area ?

Thanks a lot for your inputs

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by spotty8a

My husband and I are both in the computer industry. We live in the beautiful San Francisco bay area... we love it here... we have great careers here... but this place really sucks from cost of living perspective. By the time our son starts school in couple of years, if we need to move to a decent school district, we are looking at homes upwards of $1mil - and even for that kinda money, may not find something in move in condition or larger than our currently 1500sq ft home !

Originally Posted by spotty8a

We were thinking of moving to MA... particularly Acton area seems great.
We are South Asian American... how diverse is the Acton area ?

Acton is a nice town. A bit far from Boston and Cambridge, but close to other things. The South Asian Americans at my company seemed to flock to Acton (because of the schools), so I'd have to imagine it's at least a little diverse.

From city-data:

[LEFT]

• White Non-Hispanic (87.2%)
• Chinese (4.0%)
• Asian Indian (3.0%)
• Hispanic (1.8%)
• Two or more races (1.5%)
• Korean (0.7%)
• Black (0.7%)
• Other race (0.6%)

Read more: https://www.city-data.com/city/Acton-Massachusetts.html#ixzz0qybjD8oU
[/LEFT]

Edison, NJ it is not (17+%)

Originally Posted by spotty8a

How do schools compare to CA ?

I went to middle and high school in California (Benicia) and I would say, based on no actual evidence, that the schools here are probably better on the average. I'm sure the top districts compare pretty reasonably, but I would say here is better as you move down the scale.

Originally Posted by spotty8a

How are the jobs (Hi-Tech) ?

There are tech jobs, but you'll be leaving the number one place in the world for that sort of stuff. Boston is great for biology/life sciences, but not even in the same neighborhood the Bay Area for computer technology.

[kmann-sherborn]

I know what you mean. My brother-in-law and his family live in Mill Valley and the prices are so crazy there. We lived in the Bay Area for a few years before returning back home here. I know several people who have made the same move for the public schools. There are plenty of good options for suburbs around here with well rated school systems. The transition from a city like San Francisco to the sleepy suburbs like Acton might be a little bit of culture shock.

What kind of computer jobs do you have? There certainly aren't as many high tech companies here as in SV but there are also tech opportunities in other industries like the biotech and education sector.

Feel free to drop me a line if you have other questions. :-)