I think taxes and the cost of living make zero difference, except possibly in NYC. Renting in Silicon Valley is not that expensive. It's a very involved quest

I think taxes and the cost of living make zero difference, except possibly in NYC. Renting in Silicon Valley is not that expensive. It's a very involved question why Silicon Valley has pulled ahead of Boston. People write whole books about it. I think the elaborate theories are probably mistaken, and that it's mostly due to a combination of historical accidents (Shockley Semiconductor specifically) and the quality of life in the Bay Area.