Nutmegger

Sounds like Fairfield County -- with the exception of the easier commute, that is!

LondonSquirrel

A warning about the Boston burbs. They are really nice, but have very high property taxes (and property prices). I know my MIL and FIL find it expensive living there. They retired with a few pensions between them (both get a social security pension and FIL has two work pensions including one from the US postal service) but MIL has had to go back to work full time and she's 72 now. I think it costs them $1000 a month just for health care and property tax. As someone hoping to retire, take my small company pension and then go back to the same job on two days a week aged 53 (by then) in a few months, the thought of full time for another twenty years makes me feel physically sick!

london_calling

I noticed all your negatives (apart from daycare) while visiting NYC before I moved. I previously lived in W London and most applied there too.

What do you miss about England? I came for a 2 year stay so it wasn't an issue, but couldn't live in the US forever because I'd miss the history and proximity to the rest of Europe. I'd be better off financially but so what? The US has great natural beauty in the west but the urban areas, inc Boston, do nothing for me.

The Brits I've met who don't want to go back either came at a young age or aren't the type of people I'd have much in common with at home.

britinusa777777755

What I miss about England in no specific order:
Country pubs next to canals and sitting outside
Walks in the countryside through fields etc
Mountain biking (I know this can be done in the US too, but I had easier access in the UK)
Less emphasis on status, car and wealth
Smaller streets and less highways / noise
More walkable downtowns in most towns and cities (New England might have this too?)
Nicer drivers
Free beaches
Free camping (Scotland)
Less billboards (I know some states like Vermont don't have billboards though)
Less homelessness
Less noise generally in public spaces

Marc_ely

I think you need to live in the country, or at the very least on the outskirts of a town.
I'm sure people will be along with suggestions... "Nicer drivers" made me laugh. That certainly doesn't apply where I am!

tom169

I simply don't think that you can compare an American city to England in general.

For example, I saw more homeless people back in Sheffield than I do round here.

And also, England... beaches? The "beaches" of the UK are far different to the beaches that line the USA.

The commute on the drive from my old place to work in the UK was just as bad, if not worse than the one I have here. There were also a lot of emphasis on status and cars with people buying far too big cars for the small roads and parking spaces.

If you want less highway noise then move to a suburb. The street outside my house is 15mph and I don't hear a thing.

Ecto17

Where in NJ are you? There are some amazing commuter towns that are walking towns, Summit, Millburn, Madison, Morristown is a great town for the young and single. All have lovely restaurants and nice community spirit. I am sorry you are having a tough time.

Michele11

I totally understand you, I live in NYC and I get why people love the city when you come as a visitor or vacation in it but it's a whole different thing when you actually live in it.

I've done it for the last 3 years and for my personal taste I find it too hectic and agree with many of the things you don't like, my brother just move to massachusetts 1 month ago and so far he says he likes it a lot and dont ever want to come back to NYC.

USA it's a big country and I think if you take time to explore or ask around, or google info and with your list of yes and no, you can settle and find something more suitable for your personality.

Good luck!☺

britinusa777777755

Not too tough of a time ! Bit homesick for the UK and also work is not too great either. In North Jersey (Bergen County) now commute isn't too bad. I do really like some of the towns and could live in many of them.

My favorite towns near NYC so far are Tenafly and Montclair. High Bridge is actually amazing too but a bit far for commuting to NYC.

Thanks for those recommendations I'll have to visit those ! Been to Morristown it was nice.

Where are you based right now ?

britinusa777777755

Thanks I'll have to check out some towns in MA and compare the lifestyle to NJ and UK. I have heard Newburyport is an amazing place to live near Boston

Ecto17

At the moment we are on the edge of Madison but in temp accommodation. Really love it around here, has a lot of what l loved about living in the Home Counties in the U.K., i.e. walking towns, communities, and easy access into a large city. If you haven't already do check out Morristown. Have heard that Montclair is lovely thou. Do understand the city life especially with a commute on top can be a grind at times.

viitav

I think you'll be surprised how much has changed (and gone massively downhill) in the UK over the past 5 years.
It's a little unfair to compare sleepy Chester to New York City? Completely different in every aspect.
We're moving to New York from Central London in October and I can't wait however i'm going from one busy city to another. Everything thats wrong with New York is as equally as wrong in London.
Everywhere isn't perfect you just have to decide on what issues you can live with and what you can't.

yellowroom

I lived in Richmond, VA, and that pretty much ticks all your boxes especially for affordable accommodation and easy access to nature (10 minute drive from suburbs into farming/countryside, 90 minutes to coast or mountains). 2 hours to DC for museums. Nice airport that has plenty of connections to the hubs of the main airlines, so easy to get to/from anywhere else. It's also got a vibrant "old town" area with plenty of restaurants and bars.

There are several other smaller cities on the East Coast that would meet your requirements too, like Charlotte or Charlottesville.

MidAtlantic

Yes, I love GA. I'm away from the crowds but close enough to everything I need, including Atlanta airport. Super friendly people/neighbors who will do anything to help in a time of need. The negatives: the humidity and the crazy driving.

AlphaTangoMike

I'll throw my 2 cents in.

I lived in NYC for 4 years (in Manhattan) and completely understand all of your points. NYC is not a true reflection of the rest of the country. I moved to Northern Virginia 2 years ago (about 30 minutes outside of DC) and it's a whole new world. All of the things that you miss can be found here (or in many other places that are not NYC). You should spend more time out of the city, visiting the rest of the US and figure out a strategy to move out of NYC.