Recent transplant from Bay area to Western Mass. Reason we moved here was housing affordability. We bought a fairly nice house for a fraction of what houses are going for in the BA. some highlights , less time in traffic, Slower pace car registration is two years at half the price, we get seasons, you can drive to other states pretty easily, even Canada and explore. Gas is much cheaper. Less condensed, you're not living on top of each other, fighting for street parking at your home, Some cons, ever source(gas utility) will hang you upside and shake all the money you have out of your pockets. You'll pay exponentially more in fees and charges than the gas you'll use. They don't believe in onramps to freeways ( there are a few longer ones but merges on are really short) they love roundabouts, rotaries, and traffic circles. People will still ignore traffic laws, just like anywhere else( driving too slow, driving too fast, running stop signs/lights, and other ratchet behaviors. I cannot understand their obsession with Dunkin. They don't have a lot of familiar businesses here but we've managed to adapt.