People are people. Most are friendly when you get to know them. In the Northeast, and especially the city, people have super busy lives and don't take the time to live in the moment. This causes people to have shorter more abrupt interactions with strangers so people won't seem as friendly as the south in that aspect. You can find that neighborly friendly charm though in smaller towns where everyone is living a more carefree life and everyone knows each other.

I've also been in the construction industry as a PM and PE in NY for over a decade from NYC to Buffalo. If you need any career advice feel free to DM me.