Living in Massachusetts you may have noticed something; it might seem small at first, but there is a wide difference between the two halves of the state. The eastern and western halves of Massachusetts can feel like separate states sometimes. From wildly different landscapes to the way each side enjoys a summer day, there are plenty of ways Massachusetts can be split down the middle. How many of these can you relate to?
1. There are way more people in the east.
Bet you didn’t know that 88 percent of Massachusetts citizens live in the Boston metro area. Hampden, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin counties are home to a little less than 830,000 people total, based on the most recent census. Compare that to 4.9 million people in the greater Boston area alone. It's safe to say there is a lot more room out west.
2. Convenience
In western Massachusetts, driving 20 minutes to get to the nearest store is no big deal. In the eastern part of the state, not being able to see a CVS from your house is considered isolated. It really is up to the individual but they both have their pros and cons. You can easily get to the store, but you sacrifice land and space.
3. A "beach day" means different things.
People in the east have better access to the coast, which means a day is on the shore is more likely to involve the actual ocean. Meanwhile, people in the western part of the state will probably head to a nearby lake or pond. Both are really great options because there are some incredible beaches in Massachusetts, but the same can be said about our lakes.
4. The accents can be different.
Everyone is familiar with the "classic" Boston accent. On the flip side, people from the extreme western part of the state can actually pick up what most people would think of as a New York accent. However, most people seem to fall somewhere in between. Either way, it's pretty clear you're from New England whenever you travel outside of the state. The overuse of the word "wicked" gives it away every time.
5. And the terrain is definitely very different.
Western Massachusetts is known for its rolling hills, mountains, fertile farmland and wide-open spaces. Eastern Massachusetts is pretty flat with greater urban sprawl, as well as unique environments like coastal swampland, dune cliffs and sandy beaches.
6. Sports loyalties vary.
You can pretty much assume someone from the eastern part of the state will be rooting for the Patriots or Red Sox. However, western Massachusetts’ proximity to New York means that you’ll find a decent number of Giants and Yankees fans. Long before the Patriots, and their massive winning streaks, the Giants were the only team in the northeast so you may find some of those fans throughout the state. The Red Sox are a totally different story, if you like the Yankees in the East, you might get thrown into the sea like the Boston Tea Party.
7. Seasons are done differently.
People in the east likely associate Christmas with skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond, Halloween with trips to Salem, and the Fourth of July with fireworks over the nearest harbor. In western Mass., you’re more likely to head to Yankee Candle Village or Bright Nights at Forest Park to celebrate Christmas, hang out at Tanglewood in the summer, and head to the Big E in the fall.
8. Dunkin’ Donuts
Actually, we all love Dunks equally.
If you live in Massachusetts, you may have seen these subtle to massive differences. What other ways do you think eastern and western Massachusetts are different or similar? Let us know in the comments! For more about life in Massachusetts, check out these 15 inside jokes you'll only appreciate if you come from Massachusetts.
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