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Boston Is One Of The Best Cities To Be A Writer

Zippia, a career consulting and recruitment organization, recently published a report that details the best cities in the country for writing. They determined that Boston is one of the best…

A female writer making notes looking at a laptop computer at office.
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Zippia, a career consulting and recruitment organization, recently published a report that details the best cities in the country for writing. They determined that Boston is one of the best cities for writers. The city was named in the top five in the country.

The past four years have significantly changed the landscape for many businesses and industries. As a result, many jobs are done remotely.

To state the obvious, the convenience of a remote culture is attractive. Not having to spend your valuable time and hard-earned money on commuting is part of the appeal. In addition, many organizations have realized how they can effectively run their businesses by leveraging technology-led communication platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Writing (and all its creative branches) as a career can be an autonomous function and make a huge contribution to a company's success. However, it is helpful to know how the conditions for writers vary by city.

"Whether you're starting your career as a writer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for writers to live in will help you make a decision," Zippia said. In order to compile their list, categories such as average salary, the highest and lowest salaries, and the total jobs currently available (that are specific to the market).

"These aren't just the best-paying cities for writers; we also consider how easy it is to find work as a writer," Zippia explained.

Why Boston Is A Top City To Be A Writer

Ranking only behind San Francisco, California, Boston's average annual salary for a writer was $90,878. This was just about $500 less than San Francisco. According to Zippia, there are 35 open writer jobs in Boston. There is also a huge swing in the salary, with the highest earners hitting $155,000 annually, and the lowest percent earners at $53,000.

In a simple LinkedIn search using the Boston, writer, and $140,000+ salary filter, 21 open job results immediately populate. Many of these high-end salary jobs are aligned to technical or medical writing, but other organizations, such as DraftKings and Circle, seem to be in this range for senior content specialists.

Let's compare how the Boston statistics measure up to other markets. Fresno, California ranked as the best city for a writer, however the Boston numbers for open jobs and salary expectations are higher than Fresno.

Los Angeles, California, which ranked fifth, has the most job opportunities, with 73 total writer jobs listed. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ranked 10th, rounding out the top cities for writing in the country.

From Pizza To Guitars Here Are Your Best I-95 Stops From Boston To New York

There are roughly 220 miles and four and half hours between Boston and New York. On the drive south (or return trip North), it's likely you'll need to make a pit stop. Whether it's to accommodate a bathroom request, grab a bite to eat or get a breath of air, we've compiled a list of the best stops along I-95 on the Boston to New York drive.

We'll assume here that we are driving south. Therefore, your journey begins in Massachusetts. You'll pull past Providence and a few exit signs for T.F. Green Airport before enduring the meat of the trip. That would be a good two-plus hours through Connecticut, where you will surely slow down at some point. Finally, after trekking through the Constitution State, you start to see the exit sign numbers get down to single digits. The empire state awaits.

This journey can seem like a grueling effort up and down I-95. In a bigger picture, a four-hour route between two major markets is not really that much. Just ask the Midwest. If you want to drive from Chicago to Minneapolis, you are looking at close to a seven-hour drive, with only one state in the way. Nonetheless, the 1-95 Boston to New York route can be grueling. Therefore, we put together a collection of different stops to help make it more enjoyable.

Of course, this exercise does not include kids screaming in the backseat that need an immediate stop. Perhaps that's another list. Here, we will pinpoint some pleasing attractions you would have the time to stop for. However, we won't stray too far off the exits. And while taking 12 hours to play blackjack at Foxwoods would be a blast, we will narrow in on relatively short stops only.

So, let's hop in the car and find the best stops from Boston to New York along I-95.

*Note - we are not going in order of stops from north to south. We are listing in an overall ranking format.

#1 Frank Pepe's Pizza

We'll start with the best thing to stop for. Pizza. Frank Pepe's is a legendary establishment in the New Haven pizza scene. The good news here is that you have choices. If the original New Haven spot is too far off the path (or has a long wait), there's also a location in Fairfield, CT at Exit 24.

#2 Hoxie Scenic Overlook Point

If you need a moment of fresh air or to loosen up the legs, this scenic lookout point offers a nice view of the Mystic River. There's comfortable parking space, and its an easy pull off or on to the interstate. It's not uncommon to find people taking photographs here as well.

A view of the Mystic River in CT. Hoxie overlook

#3 Cafe Tempo Coffee House

Sure there are dozens of Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts right along the path, but pulling into Cafe Tempo Coffee House in Warwick, Rhode Island is well worth the wait. A homemade banana hazelnut iced coffee makes any slow-moving traffic situation more manageable.

#4 Milford Service Area Rest Stop

After all that pizza and coffee somebody is going to need a bathroom. At mile-marker 41, via southbound access, you will find a rest stop in Milford CT that is a direct pull-off I-95. You can fill up on gas, or more food if you still feel like snacking. There are plenty of fast food and candy options at this stop.

Blue rest Area sign off the highway, pointing to the exit

#5 Bay State Vintage Guitars

This is applicable on your way out or into Massachusetts. Bay State Vintage Guitars is a family owned shop has some of the nicest custom and vintage guitars available. Each instrument on the wall tells a story and his a history that goes back well beyond what's considered classic rock. They are located on Washington St. in Norwood.

#6 Colony Grill

Hot oil pizza is a thing in Connecticut and it's delicious. Colony Grill in Stamford is bound to have whatever game that is live playing on their TV's. Their menu consists of pizza and drinks, so you know they take their pie seriously. Like Pepe's, you have a few choices in addition to Stamford. Their Fairfield location is also a stone's throw off I-95.

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.