The traffic is a hassle only in the rush hour. Most tech companies here operate on flexitime specifically so their employees can avoid it, which works pretty well.

Having said that, I haven't worked anywhere else. The perspective of someone who had would be useful.

where do you work? :)

What other US cities have you considered? Boston? NYC? Seattle? Austin?

Climate would lock you out of most of those places minus Austin.

its a hassle if you drive, Cambridge is really a cycling city.