As well as high taxes and having to get a permit and a union worker to do any kind of repair/remodeling in your own house.
i am originally from Pittsburgh but have lived in NoVA since law school. i wouldn’t live in Boston on a dare. i may be surrounded by libs, but: gay marriage is illegal, VA is a right to work state, there is open carry, and we have some of the top public schools in the nation [though mine are all in private, Catholic schools] including universities; our winters are better and i am only 4 hours from Pittsburgh, to be able to go up to visit.