New York City is booming. People are moving into the city at a level not seen since the end of WWII, and the city's population is the highest it has ever been. Around 147 fresh faces land in the city every single day, with quite a few of those transplants coming to work in the city's thriving tech industry.
But why would people move to New York to work in tech? On the surface, the decision doesn't seem to make sense. The Bay Area remains tech's capital, and rent isn't that much cheaper here than it is in San Francisco. Yet, every day more people arrive. We decided to ask them why they came:
Matt Tumbleson, Founder and CEO at Teckst
Where did you live before moving to New York? I lived in Miami and moved here in 2011 in the dead of winter.
Ouch, that must have been a transition. Certainly you knew it was cold here. Why New York? I wanted to accelerate my career, and the opportunity and pace of the city is the best in the United States. There’s more to New York than just tech, so if I ever wanted to work for a finance, CPG, real estate, or hospitality company, there are so many options.
Were you considering anywhere else? Maybe someplace warmer? I considered San Francisco, Chicago and Boston. Between all of the cities, none could compare with the vast opportunities of New York.
How do you like it so far? It’s the greatest city on Earth. Everyone works so hard, but also values travel and learning. Despite being so massive, there is a real community here.
Kevin O'Neill, VP Product and Engineering at Rocketrip
Where did you live before moving to New York? Toronto, Canada. We moved down here in October of 2014.
Toronto, eh? Why the move to New York? Why not San Fran? When we were deciding to move, we were looking at balancing the opportunities between my tech career and my wife's fashion career. From the perspective of offering balanced options for the two of us, there was no comparison. New York offers great opportunities for both of us. Silicon Valley was not even an option on the table.
Were you considering anywhere else? We did consider Los Angeles, as my wife does do a lot of work out of there. But, then it would have significantly reduced the number of exciting options for my tech career. While there are some interesting options out in LA, it's just not the same compared to the scene in NYC.
How do you like it so far? While we miss the obvious things (family, quiet, free healthcare), nothing really compares to living in one of the greatest cities in the world. People say this all the time, but the best part of the city is the feeling of infinite things to do, new restaurants to try, and a great shopping scene (fashion is a big part of our family... remember?).
Oh, and let's not forget about the overall walkability of the city! It's really great to not have to own a car, but still feel like you can get anywhere you need to go.
Outside of the metropolitan aspects of the city, the overall tech vibe that exists here is amazing, and it has been really exciting to be a part of it. Generally speaking, the energy has been infectious for all of us, and a motivator to continue to push hard in the work that we're doing.
Miguel Iglesias, Backend Engineer at x.ai
Where were you living before coming to New York? I lived in Miami for a year, and after that I got a job in San Francisco. I was only there for about a month, and got the offer from x.ai in New York. I moved here the fall of 2014.
You've been moving around a bit. Why did you end up here? I had never even visited New York before joining x.ai, but for me it had the allure of a cosmopolitan metropolis. It didn't disappoint.
What other cities were you considering? I wasn’t really considering anywhere else, but in the distant future, I'd like to try the south of Spain or England.
How do you like New York so far? New York's fame is well deserved. Every day contains the promise, or at least suggestion, of an adventure. Not that it always occurs, but when it does, it's memorable and great. I'd say New York is like a good memories factory.
Brittni Iturralde, Client Programs Manager at ContextMedia
Where did you live before moving to New York? I grew up in a suburb in New Jersey, very close to New York, and lived there prior to moving to the Big Apple.
What made you move over the river? I grew up loving New York and coming in all the time for shows, events, and random adventures with family and friends. During my summers off in college, I spent a ton of time interning here, and getting to know the city even more. That was when I really fell in love with its dynamic energy, diversity and fast-paced lifestyle.
Where else were you considering? I wasn't considering another city. I had my heart set on New York ever since I started thinking about being on my own.
Now that you're here, what do you think? I couldn't ask for a better place to live. I feel so lucky and fulfilled. There's always something new to explore and discover.
Michelle Collins, Client Success Specialist at Teckst
Where did you live before moving to New York? I lived in Orlando and moved to New York in May of 2014.
Why did you choose New York? I wanted to work in publishing, and New York is the hub of that, so I accepted a job at a women’s magazine. Since then, I’ve obviously traded in magazines for tech!
What other cities were you considering? I strongly considered London, but New York seemed like a lot more of a realistic move for a recent grad.
Are you glad you ended up in New York? New York is awesome! I don’t see myself leaving New York anytime soon. That is, unless we open up a London office, then I’ll be the first to sign up for a transfer!
Issam Zeibak, Full Stack Developer at Rocketrip
Where did you live before coming to New York? I lived in Tokyo and moved last July, 2015.
Wow! That's a move. What made you move to all the way around the world to New York? My wife and I have both been here before. It became a dream of ours to move here. We found that it's a ridiculously diverse city in culture, nightlife, art and kid activities. Regarding tech, people here feel truly passionate about the new startups and projects they're working on. In contrast to San Fran, it's obvious that New York is driven by many different kinds of people and professions, which is refreshing. We also travel a lot, and New York is great travel hub to fly to and from.
What other cities were you considering? We considered San Francisco. It is a beautiful city, but New York offered a good balance with other industries. Plus the metro is more convenient, with some decently affordable housing for a small family within 30 to 40 minutes of Midtown. We also considered Vancouver, but I lived there before and it was too small a city in retrospect. Berlin came pretty close to winning, but New York won out.
Well, we're glad you came here. How do you like it? Everyday I wake up and can't believe I live here. It's awesome and I'm loving every aspect of it. I'm already used to the apartment sizes from living Japan, and the ceilings are much higher here.
Mark Goethals, Senior Marketing Manager at ContextMedia
Where are you from? When did you come here? I grew up in Northern Michigan and went to school in Metro-Detroit. After living in Detroit for a few years post-university, I relocated to the East Coast in 2009.
What made you head east? It's a common dream for a lot of Midwestern kids. I always had my eye on New York as the place I wanted to live and build my career. I was working as a junior art producer at an advertising agency in Detroit when a job opportunity and realistic move to NYC presented itself.
Was it New York or bust, or were you eyeing other towns as well? I was fairly happy in Detroit, and wasn't planning a big move at the time. I briefly entertained a move to LA, but I was more inspired by the drive and energy of New York. Of course, the job offer and a dream fulfilled didn't hurt either.
Is New York living up to your dream? I love New York. It's tough but rewarding, and undisputedly one of the greatest cities on Earth. Everything from the food, music, art, fashion...it's all world-class. The great thing about working in tech in New York, especially with ContextMedia:Health, is the opportunity for growth. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime experience already, and we are set to more than double our team this year!
Jeff Smith, Data Engineer at x.ai
Where were you living before coming to New York? Hong Kong for two years and then San Francisco for four years before that. I left San Francisco for Hong Kong in 2012, and left Hong Kong for New York in 2015.
So, you're not phased by high rent. What made you decide on New York? I'm married to a woman in finance. So, in Hong Kong, she found good jobs, but I struggled. In San Francisco, I found good jobs, but she struggled. In New York we don't have to compromise. The job market is awesome for us both.
With the world at your fingertips, where else were you considering? I was just considering going back to San Francisco, or maybe trying out London, but I think both of them are far less exciting places to live and build tech.
So you're liking New York so far? I love it! Beyond having a more balanced job market, I found that New York has one huge advantage over San Francisco or a finance city like Hong Kong or London: the people here are interesting. I've made friends with so many programmer/comedians, banker/artists, marketer/dancers here. New Yorkers are just way more fun and interesting than anywhere that I've ever lived.
Scott Morris, Account Executive at Teckst
Where did you live before moving to New York? I lived in South Philadelphia. I just moved to New York two weeks ago!
Wow! Welcome. What brought you to New York? I chose NYC because it is the land of opportunity! Anyone who is passionate about their career should be here. The opportunities are endless. You can work for any company in the world!
What other cities where you considering? Chicago, Denver and Austin.
How do you like it so far? Are you glad you chose NYC? I love it here. The energy is amazing. It is contagious!
Adam Wright, Marketplace Manager at Breather
Where did you live before moving to New York? Los Angeles
What made you choose New York? Job and a new adventure. It's New York!
Were you considering anywhere else? San Francisco.
And, how do you like it so far? Within 72 hours, it was love at first sight. I fall deeper in love everyday.
