Waterford, Connecticut: the place that many of us call home. It is a coastal New England suburb, considered cozy and isolated by many of the tourists who visit in the summer, having always dreamed of living by the sea.

However, the locals tend to see it differently. It is often easy for people to view their hometown as dull and drab with nothing interesting ever happening, regardless of where they live. Does this mean that we are taking our beachy shores and simple lifestyles for granted? Or are we seeing the truth that lies in the bombarding cold of the winter and the high cost of living? It is clear that there are both pros and cons to living in the small spit of land that we call New England, so I set out to determine what exactly makes people love New England, and what makes them hate it.

The Pros:

1. The History of the Area

New England was the first place that the British settled upon once reaching the New World, making it much more rich in history than any other region. New England is filled with many historic buildings, museums to honor American pioneers, and lavish estates once belonging to the richest of the rich. Our little sleepy area has had teacher and American Revolution hero Nathan Hale, playwright Eugene O’Neill, and Oscar-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher as residents.

Knowing that some of the most famous historical figures of the United States lived in this area is definitely an optimistic reminder that New England is, in fact, not seated at the edge of the world, but rather at the beginning of an entirely new one.

2. Diverse Weather

One of the places in the United States to have four unique seasons, New England’s weather is one of the biggest pros to living in the area. With its 100-degree summers and snow-covered winters, with autumns full of  dazzling colors, and a blooming green spring in between, residents are able to experience types of weather from all across the spectrum, giving the area a touch of variety and individuality.

3. Tourist Friendly

Towns such as Mystic, Boston, and Providence provide visitors with a realistic taste of a true New England living. These artsy cities, filled with bustling cobblestone streets and eclectic shops, make up the heart of the coastal New England vibe that so many tourists strive to experience. However, despite their reputation as tourist towns, the locals are also able to benefit from their cozy boutiques and restaurants, as they provide New Englanders with interesting activities and beautiful scenery to live among.

The Cons:

1. Harsh Winters

While some people see the winters of New England as one of the many positives, with the magical snowfall and familial warmth that they bring, they can also be seen as brutally cold and damaging times of the year. New England winters are notoriously brutal, home to some of the biggest snowstorms that hit the country in recent years. These storms have been known to knock down trees, power lines, and strand people in their houses for days, costing the states tons of money.

2. High Taxes

One of the main problems that New England natives emphasize is the extremely high taxes enforced on its citizens. This issue is not confined to one state, but rather the entire Northeast, making it one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.

3. Extreme Industrialization

The New England area has a high population, which means a high rate of industrialization, also known as urban sprawl, and a decrease in the natural scenery of the area. Over the years, more farms have disappeared in New England, and more power plants and buildings have appeared in their place. This makes certain metropolitan areas seem unattractive and overcrowded, and often, the addition of more buildings means more taxes for locals, unfortunately.

New England is an enigmatic area, filled with both good and bad aspects. Some people have always dreamed of living in a small coastal town, while others can’t wait to leave the coastal towns they have lived in their whole life. Regardless, New England is an extremely unique part of our country that helps to shape how others define the United States.