Seatown vs. Beantown: A Tale of Two Cities

Gibson Sothebys International Realtys vast network
of real estate experts covers nearly every corner of the world, and
our relationship with Realogics Sothebys International
Realty, our Seattle-based affiliate, is one of our
strongest and most collaborative. Like Boston, the Seattle economy
and real estate market are some of the strongest in the nation,
while the quality of life and endless amount of attractions suit
everyones needs year round. Amazons Seattle headquarters has
deployed a gravitational force on the tech industry, drawing
thousands of young tech workers to the city and, in turn,
attracting more tech firms to take advantage of the enlarged talent
pool. Boston has enticed an equally tech-savvy group of young
healthcare professionals to the citys top hospitals and medical
institutions. Both melting pots of global talent, Boston and
Seattle have fostered and nurtured a tech ecosystem, and new
housing developments are proliferating throughout both cities to
provide necessary living options for the influx of young
professionals.

Whether you’re looking to move to the heart of the metropolitan
city or a quaint Seattle suburb, Gibson Sotheby’s International
Realty can help you discover the community, home and lifestyle that
are the perfect fit. By connecting you with a Seattle-based agent
for your distinct needs, we can follow up throughout your
transition to ensure you receive the top-tier service you expect
and deserve as you embark on your next adventure. . .

Boston and Seattle are both vibrant cities full of transplants
from across the world. There is simply something about both parts
of the country that beckons to people. The city famed for rain,
coffee and Seahawks fandom was voted one of the
ten best places to live in the United States in 2018by
the U.S. News & World Report. In Boston, an unspoken camaraderie
permeates through the city. Bostons steady accumulation of
leading-edge knowledge predominantly stems from the citys
saturation with top colleges and universities. The most famousof
these are the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT)andHarvardUniversityranked
first and third respectively in the
QS WorldUniversity Rankings 2018. Few places onEarth
have so many top-rated hospitals and doctors within city limits.
People come to Boston from all over the world to see doctors at
Massachusetts
General Hospital,Boston Childrens
Hospital, and Dana Farber Cancer
Institute. In Seattle, much of the brains come from
the University of
Washington, which has established a highly productive
research community and attracts some of the most talented students
in the world. Amazons Seattle
headquarters has driven extraordinary prosperity (and
an upswing of costs) to Seattle, pouring thousands of
tech workers into the city.

As two of the nations most housing-strapped markets, Seattle and
Boston are currently experiencing unprecedented development of
office, retail and residential space. Cranes fill the skies as
development projects downtown and in other close-in urban
neighborhoods usher in higher and denser cities. Pike Place Market, the
quintessential Seattle attraction, recently expanded with new
amenities, services, housing, and links to a future redeveloped
central waterfront for Elliott Bay. The MarketPlace
projectincluded the addition of 30,000 square feet of
open public space encompassing a public plaza and viewing deck,
neighborhood center, commercial and retail space, and 40 units of
low-income and senior housing. Seattles growth additionally
surrounding core neighborhoods: Uptown, South Lake Union, Denny
Triangle, First Hill, parts of Capitol Hill, the International
District, Pioneer Square, and Belltown.

Boston is also in the midst of a building boom, cranes and steel
structures peppering the city’s landscape.This year, multiple
projects reached critical milestones and new project plans were
revealed. The Seaport DistrictsSt. Regis
Residencesbroke ground in October, while the
groundbreaking for Kenmore Squares Fenway Center took place earlier
this year in January. One
Dalton, Bostons third-tallest tower, officially topped
off in August, adding 61 stories of Four Seasons hotel rooms and
luxury condos to Bostons Back Bay neighborhood. The first tower of
EchelonSeaport, situated
in the Seaport Districts Block M” development area, topped off in
September. The three-towermixed-use luxurycomplex is slated to be
completed in 2020.

Boston also has other advantages. While its been nearly 250
years since Boston’s infamous Tea Party, it this northeastern hub
is still just as revolutionary, feeling like a small town disguised
in the trappings of a metropolis. Easily reached by the Northeast
Corridor on Amtrak, Boston has abundant transit options, including
subway lines and commuter trains serving much of the region.
Bostonians can enjoy weekend getaways to Cape Cod and the South
Shore, or travel out of state to Newport, Rhode Island or Portland,
Maine. Popular summer destinations like the islands of Nantucket
and Marthas Vineyard can be reached by ferry or small plane. The
city of Seattle is slightly more isolated from the rest of the
Lower 48, with few other major cities nearby. Still, several small
towns and luxe resorts lie in close proximity to Seattles
mountainous backdrop. Seattleites can enjoy beautiful 3 1/2-hour
boat ride to the San Juan Islands or trek south to the 28-mile
beach onLong Beach
Peninsula.

Both Seattle and Boston offer walkable commercial cores,
prosperous, diverse economies, and distinct neighborhoods
surrounded by scenic landscapes. Considering a cross-county move to
the beloved Seatown or Beantown? Contact Nicole.Rideout@gibsonsir.com.

SeattleBoston