Between graduate school and my most recent job, I have lived in New Haven, CT for a total of 7 years. It would have been 8, but I ran out of funding while writing my dissertation, so I left early to go finish in absentia.
I keep checking the math on that because it feels like so much longer. My personal hot take on New Haven has always been this:
It is very obviously not Philadelphia, and I would like to go home now please.
It's not that I am a Big City Person (NYC? not a fan!). It's not that it's a particularly bad place to live. It's more that it has the feeling of in-betweenness.
A small city stuck between larger and more desirable cities, a weird population constantly churning as students at all levels grow out of the place, a college town that does not quite pull off the "college town" vibe, a downtown that is not quite bustling. And I'm sorry, but New Haven apizza is only pretty good, not great! Eat it once or twice and you're all set.
New Haven: It’s ok, but I’m good now, thanks.
To be fair, much of my assessment is clouded by my association with and feelings about Yale. I could have ventured out of the bubble more, explored more neighborhoods, and/or made closer ties with townies. It's true that relative to its size, New Haven has a lot to offer: tons of restaurants, good theater and music options, some really good running spots (important to me).
But each time, after the first year or so here, I felt an overwhelming sense of "meh" that grew gradually into an urgent "get me back to Philly NOW." Indifference mixed with a healthy dose of homesickness. In runner's terms, I could not stand the idea of doing the New Haven Road Race a third year in a row while being stuck doing the Gritty 5k virtually yet again. And when would I finally get the chance to run Broad Street?!
So I am moving. I had planned to commute on the train next year regardless, even before a new and better job opportunity dropped into my lap. I just could not be here anymore. I’m sorry, New Haven.
I'm not moving to Philly proper. My new job is on the main line, so I am sticking to the suburbs. Yes, later today after the movers have gone and I've left this empty apartment broom-swept, I am headed home.