Great places to live in the US??
#1
Great places to live in the US??
Okay, it's decision time. Having been here 20 years I'm thinking it's time to move on from CA due to various personal reasons. Where is a good place to relocate
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
#2
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Posts: 23,181
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Okay, it's decision time.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
#3
Re: Great places to live in the US??
I like it here for all the reasons you mentioned...could do without the winter but all in all its a good place to live. Like Elvira mentioned the countryside is reminiscent of England. We're 45 mins from NYC, the beach and the mountains.
#4
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
I like it here for all the reasons you mentioned...could do without the winter but all in all its a good place to live. Like Elvira mentioned the countryside is reminiscent of England. We're 45 mins from NYC, the beach and the mountains.
#5
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 360
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Boston is lovely (for the reasons given-it's fairly civilised), I like Virginia with it's 'older' towns and proximity to DC. All the little states are possibilities, too, such as Connecticut, Delaware, MD. We've family in the Philly burbs and it's lovely there, too, with good schools and such. They work over in Delaware as it's a quick commute.
Would you mind east coast weather? Will you need to find work?
North Caroline has some good cities, if you don't mind the humidity and occasional hurricane warning. Good for IT jobs.
You've probably seen this, but if not it might give you some ideas. You can search on 'best' places to live (not always the best, but ideas at least), or by most educated, cultural activities, housing. There's a little survey thing on the right on which you can indicate the level of importance for certain elements (housings, culture).
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/money.../educated.html
Would you mind east coast weather? Will you need to find work?
North Caroline has some good cities, if you don't mind the humidity and occasional hurricane warning. Good for IT jobs.
You've probably seen this, but if not it might give you some ideas. You can search on 'best' places to live (not always the best, but ideas at least), or by most educated, cultural activities, housing. There's a little survey thing on the right on which you can indicate the level of importance for certain elements (housings, culture).
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/money.../educated.html
#6
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Okay, it's decision time. Having been here 20 years I'm thinking it's time to move on from CA due to various personal reasons. Where is a good place to relocate
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
not far from the wilderness of northern New England
about 1 hr drive to Boston.
#7
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by jen_andreson
Boston is lovely (for the reasons given-it's fairly civilised), I like Virginia with it's 'older' towns and proximity to DC. All the little states are possibilities, too, such as Connecticut, Delaware, MD. We've family in the Philly burbs and it's lovely there, too, with good schools and such. They work over in Delaware as it's a quick commute.
Would you mind east coast weather? Will you need to find work?
North Caroline has some good cities, if you don't mind the humidity and occasional hurricane warning. Good for IT jobs.
You've probably seen this, but if not it might give you some ideas. You can search on 'best' places to live (not always the best, but ideas at least), or by most educated, cultural activities, housing. There's a little survey thing on the right on which you can indicate the level of importance for certain elements (housings, culture).
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/money.../educated.html
Would you mind east coast weather? Will you need to find work?
North Caroline has some good cities, if you don't mind the humidity and occasional hurricane warning. Good for IT jobs.
You've probably seen this, but if not it might give you some ideas. You can search on 'best' places to live (not always the best, but ideas at least), or by most educated, cultural activities, housing. There's a little survey thing on the right on which you can indicate the level of importance for certain elements (housings, culture).
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/money.../educated.html
Thanks Jen, very helpful. As far as weather goes I've done 20 years in CA, I'm not that bothered about being hot year round, seasons might make a pleasant change.................. not sure I'd want to freeze my ass off though
#8
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Can you be more specific, I guess you mean New Jersey, if so where? What about property prices?
#9
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
........seasons might make a pleasant change.................. not sure I'd want to freeze my ass off though
#10
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Definately recommend Washington DC. Its a bit pricey living in DC but you do get the advantage of being close to museums (practically all of them free) lots of good restaurants, lots of interesting job ops, the metro is fantastic. Downside public schools are abysmally underfunded, politics are the constant source of conversation, the summer is dreadfully hot and humid. It does have the seasons and even cold wintry days are sunny.
#11
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by Kate2112
Definately recommend Washington DC. Its a bit pricey living in DC but you do get the advantage of being close to museums (practically all of them free) lots of good restaurants, lots of interesting job ops, the metro is fantastic. Downside public schools are abysmally underfunded, politics are the constant source of conversation, the summer is dreadfully hot and humid. It does have the seasons and even cold wintry days are sunny.
I love Washingon DC (for all the reasons you mention), but I'm not sure I would want to live there. For one thing it's full of bloody politicians
However, Virginia is lovely and some parts are quite civilised. One of the nicest towns I've been to is Charlottsville (though I hasten to add I only know it as a tourist). But it's in an extremely nice part as far as landscape is concerned (Blue Ridge Mountains etc), and not very far from DC.
#12
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by Elvira
I love Washingon DC (for all the reasons you mention), but I'm not sure I would want to live there. For one thing it's full of bloody politicians
However, Virginia is lovely and some parts are quite civilised. One of the nicest towns I've been to is Charlottsville (though I hasten to add I only know it as a tourist). But it's in an extremely nice part as far as landscape is concerned (Blue Ridge Mountains etc), and not very far from DC.
However, Virginia is lovely and some parts are quite civilised. One of the nicest towns I've been to is Charlottsville (though I hasten to add I only know it as a tourist). But it's in an extremely nice part as far as landscape is concerned (Blue Ridge Mountains etc), and not very far from DC.
I agree with you and Kate...DC area is a great area to live.
#13
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 360
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Thanks Jen, very helpful. As far as weather goes I've done 20 years in CA, I'm not that bothered about being hot year round, seasons might make a pleasant change.................. not sure I'd want to freeze my ass off though
If I had my choice where to live then I would go east--all places suggested thus far are worth a look.
Try these, too for more info (I can't remember specifically how helpful any of them are overall).
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/
http://www.city-data.com/
http://www.findyourspot.com/
Last edited by jen_andreson; Nov 3rd 2006 at 6:33 pm.
#14
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Okay, it's decision time. Having been here 20 years I'm thinking it's time to move on from CA due to various personal reasons. Where is a good place to relocate
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
#15
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by lionheart
Okay, it's decision time. Having been here 20 years I'm thinking it's time to move on from CA due to various personal reasons. Where is a good place to relocate
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
i.e stable economy, safe, good school districts for kids, relatively affordable housing etc. etc.
I'm thinking somewhere that is accessible to major eastern cities such as NY, Philadelphia???, Washington DC for some culture, history and art galleries. Being a city boy I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
Any ideas or recommendations, please give me your reasons why you would recommend it?
Agree with DC: try Georgetown (or is that George Town?) - really pretty, a bit pricey. DC has everthing that you could possibly want.
Annapolis is gorgeous - may be a little small.
Baltimore is a hell-hole!
Have you ever been to Minneapolis? Quite busy, happening, lots of cultural things to do, easy access to everywhere, nice seasons (OK, ass-freezing in winter), affordable, scenic countryside.