re: Anyone here ever lived in New England area?

That really depends on what your reasons are for moving there. Is it a permanent move? Work-related move?

I moved to New York when I was 18 to go somewhere completely different from growing up in rural Louisiana. I went back for work trips frequently over the next 15 years. I hated the winters with a passion.

You're closer to big events. Concerts, sporting events, etc. Other big cities really aren't too far away. Tons of historic stuff to go check out. Museums are cool. Huge variety of good food. Hole in the wall places in Chinatown or Little Italy were my favorite.

It's hard to just pack up and move your entire life, though. Starting over with new friends, new job, not knowing where anything is. It's expensive to go back home and visit family. I saw my family maybe 1-2 times a year if I went home and they came to visit.