Just wondering how I've been doing compared to others.

Right now I've left Sanctuary, helped the MM, setup their settlement, went to the police station and helped the BoS, went on to Diamond City and I was 8th level when I walked in the door. I wasn't really in a hurry but I didn't stray a whole lot (some). Is everyone about the same? How high level can you get if you just stayed around the first settlement?

Thanks.

Depends on your intelligence. I have max intelligence, and I leveled up twice by the time I left Concord. I think the leveling speed is nice. It also makes maxing out other SPECIAL attributes a bit less painful.