Great places to live in the US??
Nov 3rd 2006, 7:46 pm
#16
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Bismarck North Dakota .... not overcrowded ...
how about this on 27 acres .... $310k
http://www.prairieroserealty.com/windy.htm
how about this on 27 acres .... $310k
http://www.prairieroserealty.com/windy.htm
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:03 pm
#17
I approved this message
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,425
Re: Great places to live in the US??
<--- grew up in Boston. The city itself is compact compared to other cities and very beautiful. The housing stock is very different compared to California: most houses are older and more worn. Boston's expensive (but nothing like California), the job market is very weak right now...not a great combination. Traffic is not too bad compared to other cities but the drivers are simply insane. Public transportation is actually good. Falls are spectacular, summers are steamy, winters are wet and miserable, springs are termed "mud season".
It's an OK place to live, but not that great.
I lived in DC for five years about ten years ago (so my comments could be well past their sell-by date). DC is really two cities: a very upscale and mostly white area (NW) that is almost subsumed by a larger, crime-ridden mostly black area (anthing not NW). Racial tensions were readily noticable to me living there. Georgetown is absolutely gorgeous (one of the best urban neighborhoods in the US, IMO) as is most of Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle/Mass Ave and parts of Adams Morgan. IMO, most everything else in the city is either pretty bad or downright scary. Frankly, the DC government brings ineptness to the level of art, it's the worst run place I've ever lived. The Maryland burbs are either fairly unexceptional (Silver Spring) or very swank (Chevy Chase). The northern VA burbs are typically huge, sprawling towns of brand new developments of McMansions. Alexandria and Arlington are both more urban and more interesting suburbs (to me at least). DC is very slightly cheaper than Boston (much cheaper than California). Summers are tropical, Winters are fairly mild (with occassional ice storms), Spring and Fall are both delightful (particualrly spring with the cherry blossoms). Traffic is awful, just awful. Public transportation is fairly good but the Metro doesn't go to Georgetown.
I wouldn't pick either city. Guess which city I'd pick.
It's an OK place to live, but not that great.
I lived in DC for five years about ten years ago (so my comments could be well past their sell-by date). DC is really two cities: a very upscale and mostly white area (NW) that is almost subsumed by a larger, crime-ridden mostly black area (anthing not NW). Racial tensions were readily noticable to me living there. Georgetown is absolutely gorgeous (one of the best urban neighborhoods in the US, IMO) as is most of Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle/Mass Ave and parts of Adams Morgan. IMO, most everything else in the city is either pretty bad or downright scary. Frankly, the DC government brings ineptness to the level of art, it's the worst run place I've ever lived. The Maryland burbs are either fairly unexceptional (Silver Spring) or very swank (Chevy Chase). The northern VA burbs are typically huge, sprawling towns of brand new developments of McMansions. Alexandria and Arlington are both more urban and more interesting suburbs (to me at least). DC is very slightly cheaper than Boston (much cheaper than California). Summers are tropical, Winters are fairly mild (with occassional ice storms), Spring and Fall are both delightful (particualrly spring with the cherry blossoms). Traffic is awful, just awful. Public transportation is fairly good but the Metro doesn't go to Georgetown.
I wouldn't pick either city. Guess which city I'd pick.
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:03 pm
#18
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 617
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?
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:09 pm
#19
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 9,845
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by Hiro11
<--- grew up in Boston. The city itself is compact compared to other cities and very beautiful. The housing stock is very different compared to California: most houses are older and more worn. Boston's expensive (but nothing like California), the job market is very weak right now...not a great combination. Traffic is not too bad compared to other cities but the drivers are simply insane. Public transportation is actually good. Falls are spectacular, summers are steamy, winters are wet and miserable, springs are termed "mud season".
It's an OK place to live, but not that great.
I lived in DC for five years about ten years ago (so my comments could be well past their sell-by date). DC is really two cities: a very upscale and mostly white area (NW) that is almost subsumed by a larger, crime-ridden mostly black area (anthing not NW). Racial tensions were readily noticable to me living there. Georgetown is absolutely gorgeous (one of the best urban neighborhoods in the US, IMO) as is most of Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle/Mass Ave and parts of Adams Morgan. IMO, most everything else in the city is either pretty bad or downright scary. Frankly, the DC government brings ineptness to the level of art, it's the worst run place I've ever lived. The Maryland burbs are either fairly unexceptional (Silver Spring) or very swank (Chevy Chase). The northern VA burbs are typically huge, sprawling towns of brand new developments of McMansions. Alexandria and Arlington are both more urban and more interesting suburbs (to me at least). DC is very slightly cheaper than Boston (much cheaper than California). Summers are tropical, Winters are fairly mild (with occassional ice storms), Spring and Fall are both delightful (particualrly spring with the cherry blossoms). Traffic is awful, just awful. Public transportation is fairly good but the Metro doesn't go to Georgetown.
I wouldn't pick either city. Guess which city I'd pick.
It's an OK place to live, but not that great.
I lived in DC for five years about ten years ago (so my comments could be well past their sell-by date). DC is really two cities: a very upscale and mostly white area (NW) that is almost subsumed by a larger, crime-ridden mostly black area (anthing not NW). Racial tensions were readily noticable to me living there. Georgetown is absolutely gorgeous (one of the best urban neighborhoods in the US, IMO) as is most of Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle/Mass Ave and parts of Adams Morgan. IMO, most everything else in the city is either pretty bad or downright scary. Frankly, the DC government brings ineptness to the level of art, it's the worst run place I've ever lived. The Maryland burbs are either fairly unexceptional (Silver Spring) or very swank (Chevy Chase). The northern VA burbs are typically huge, sprawling towns of brand new developments of McMansions. Alexandria and Arlington are both more urban and more interesting suburbs (to me at least). DC is very slightly cheaper than Boston (much cheaper than California). Summers are tropical, Winters are fairly mild (with occassional ice storms), Spring and Fall are both delightful (particualrly spring with the cherry blossoms). Traffic is awful, just awful. Public transportation is fairly good but the Metro doesn't go to Georgetown.
I wouldn't pick either city. Guess which city I'd pick.
It looks like you've picked Chicago?
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:16 pm
#20
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Minneapolis and Chicago are both lovely cities that are 
in the winter. Elina might not have trouble with that much snow though. 
If humidity is an issue, and it will be if you live on the East Coast, what about Colorado (Boulder comes to mind) or Northern California/Nevada (eg Sacramento, Reno)?
For culture and connectivity to the UK you can't beat NYC but you'll encounter high property costs and quite a bit of winter.
in the winter. Elina might not have trouble with that much snow though. If humidity is an issue, and it will be if you live on the East Coast, what about Colorado (Boulder comes to mind) or Northern California/Nevada (eg Sacramento, Reno)?
For culture and connectivity to the UK you can't beat NYC but you'll encounter high property costs and quite a bit of winter.
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:20 pm
#21
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Minneapolis and Chicago are both lovely cities that are in the winter. Elina might not have trouble with that much snow though.
If humidity is an issue, and it will be if you live on the East Coast, what about Colorado (Boulder comes to mind) or Northern California/Nevada (eg Sacramento, Reno)?
For culture and connectivity to the UK you can't beat NYC but you'll encounter high property costs and quite a bit of winter.
in the winter. Elina might not have trouble with that much snow though. If humidity is an issue, and it will be if you live on the East Coast, what about Colorado (Boulder comes to mind) or Northern California/Nevada (eg Sacramento, Reno)?
For culture and connectivity to the UK you can't beat NYC but you'll encounter high property costs and quite a bit of winter.
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:24 pm
#22
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Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by LeedsGirl
Reno is a cess pit and Sacramento is not far behind. (Sorry if I offended anyone
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:26 pm
#23
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Ooookay .... they didn't seem that way to me, but I was a too-rist.
.
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:26 pm
#24
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Ooookay .... they didn't seem that way to me, but I was a too-rist.
I wouldn't go quite as far as LeedsGirl but...
Nov 3rd 2006, 8:27 pm
#25
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Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by LeedsGirl
Well, Reno is a cess pit, maybe Sacramento's not that bad. The in-laws live there so that's probably why I don't like the place .
. ) and having a large liberal university nearby (UC Davis) seems attractive. What about northern northern California (as in the w(h)ine country)?
Nov 3rd 2006, 9:46 pm
#26
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by snowbunny
The governor's mansion was very nice (I didn't see the governor himself so that may have helped ) and having a large liberal university nearby (UC Davis) seems attractive.
What about northern northern California (as in the w(h)ine country)?
) and having a large liberal university nearby (UC Davis) seems attractive. What about northern northern California (as in the w(h)ine country)?
Do you have ADD???
Nov 3rd 2006, 9:53 pm
#27
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Re: Great places to live in the US??
thought about FLorida - i hear Orlando is superb, near International Drive
Nov 3rd 2006, 10:05 pm
#28
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,465
Re: Great places to live in the US??
[QUOTE=lionheart] I don't think I'd like to be too far out in the sticks and nowhere too hot like AZ, TX, NV.
QUOTE]
We didn't want you to come here anyways!
QUOTE]
We didn't want you to come here anyways!
Nov 3rd 2006, 10:05 pm
#29
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Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,287
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by Ray
Bismarck North Dakota .... not overcrowded ...
how about this on 27 acres .... $310k
http://www.prairieroserealty.com/windy.htm
how about this on 27 acres .... $310k
http://www.prairieroserealty.com/windy.htm
Nov 3rd 2006, 10:09 pm
#30
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Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 157
Re: Great places to live in the US??
Originally Posted by anotherlimey
Chicago's a good choice!
