I’m not trying to sound hostile or anything. But I am a little annoyed that San Diego gets recommended as much as it does here.

I was born and raised in San Diego. Yes, it’s an astonishing place to live, there are wonderful people. Great food too. But the struggle to survive doesn’t not outweigh the good.

People throw around “it’s a solid economy” and “there’s good opportunity”…Yes there’s a solid economy but only if you have the right experience. Mainly, there’s a huge economic divide. The people who I saw who had the “California dream” and lived with any sense of comfort had the higher end of STEM careers or some other field that required a good decade of education and experience. Everyone else who lives in San Diego struggles to survive. More some then others

Also jobs are a huge issue if you aren’t in a sought after field. I remember graduating from high school and had gained some good job experience in the more rural-mountainous side of California. When I came back finding just part time, work was impossible. People were literally fighting over the most bottom of the barrel jobs. The best way I can describe living in San Diego if you constantly feel like you’re living in a recession.

Yes it’s a pretty area to visit. But once you live here you’ll see how truly dystopian it is.

Have an opportunity to relocate for work to Seattle (Renton) or Boston (Watertown). Want to hear your thoughts on either cities living closer to downtown but commuting to suburbs for work.

We are DINKWAD / HENRY and will be renting. Dont care about owning a home for now but maybe in the future. Enjoy 1h long walks with our pupper daily and longer on weekends (but don’t want them to smell like wet dog). Love food (esp Korean or Chinese) and working out of cute coffee shops.

Cities we have enjoyed living include Highland Park TX, The Woodlands TX, Irvine CA, La Jolla CA due to their safety, relative walkability within the central core.

I'm looking at moving in the next few years. Lived in Colorado pretty much my whole life. I love Colorado but I want to experience something new. East coast has appeal to it for me since I've been in the western half my whole life. I'm not too keen about living on the coast because of hurricanes but not completely against it. West coast I'm okay with too. Most of my family live in the western half of the country so I'd still be reasonably close to them

While Reddit is known to skew liberal or blue, here's an article about Americans increasingly moving into places that reflect their political beliefs.

BTW, my husband and I did the same thing nearly 40 years ago when we were moving to suburban NJ. My husband checked the town's voting record along with school scores, commute options, professional fire department (no volunteers) and number of synagogues with affiliated Hebrew schools.

Millions of Movers Reveal American Polarization in Action - Gifted https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/30/upshot/voters-moving-polarization.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WU4.mWmV.-DBVD8Id29tW

I'm wondering what the best states in the US are to live with the mentioned criteria above

Humidity really flares my asthma and dysautonomia, I have severe pollen allergies, and I also have POTS too.

We’re currently in the process of planning to move to a new city and trying to figure out how to make the most of our budget while also trying to see the benefits of living in an area below our budget. I’m curious of others people experience in living in a more affordable area versus a more expensive area.

40 F and 46M no kids, can work remotely. We put our entire lives in storage in the greater charlotte metro area. We have zero timeline or deadline on finding our next home. We are just flying by the seat of our pants with one vehicle and everything that fits inside. First stops are eastern coast hoping to find an island or beachy village that feels just right. We’ve been renting short term and long term rentals both private and through VRBO. We do plan to go to our parents’ for the holidays. But, to be honest, we are going to miss our second stop. Everyone is so friendly. So charming. There is so much right here.

I currently live in Tri-Cities, WA and am desperate to get out of here. I’m a 24 year old female just for some background :)

I have my degree in education & looking to move somewhere that the pay is fairly decent. Although a lot of states don’t pay well in education, I think other states cost of living might match their salaries better (I’m probably completely wrong)

I’m hoping to move somewhere that has all four seasons (or close enough) and where I won’t have to deal with tornadoes/hurricanes.

If anyone has any ideas please send them my way :)

Seems like most of what people are looking for is low cost of living and “four seasons”

But Des Moines , Iowa gets criminally overlooked despite having BOTH those things!

Might be a long shot but figured I'd post looking for ideas... I am a 25 year old female looking to move to a small-ish mountain town. To preface, I lived in Flagstaff, Arizona for seven years and absolutely LOVE it. It is my ideal town in pretty much all ways (minus the job market lacking). I would move back in a heartbeat, but I have lived in AZ my whole life and am trying to expand my horizon and not just stick with what is comfortable. There's gotta be more out there, right?

So... I'm looking to move to a "mountain town" similar to Flagstaff. It doesn't NEED to be a mountain town, but I like that kind of "vibe" for lack of better description. Things important to me... seasons, for one thing. I love having all four seasons, and LOVE winter. I look forward to the cold and snow. I am also looking for somewhere with a primarily youngish demographic. Doesn't need to be all college kids by any means, but I loved that Flag had a nice mix of college kids, young professionals, families, etc. As mentioned, I am 25 so post grad but still semi young. I also am a lesbian, so LGBTQ friendly is pretty important to me.

I also work for Trader Joe's currently and have a pretty good set up with them, so looking for a city that has a TJ's so I can transfer. I do know this makes my options a little more limited.

Less important things but still want to mention- I love a good local brewery/ bar scene. Same with coffee shops. I don't care so much about restaurants- I'm not much of a foodie but that could be a plus when family comes to visit. They do love to eat.

I also boulder and would love a town with an indoor bouldering gyms so I could climb year round (when winter doesn't permit for outdoor). I am also big into hiking, snowboarding, biking and most all outdoor recreation but I feel that is pretty much a given when looking to move to a mountain town.

Let me know any ideas please! Cost of living isn't too big of a deal to me, which I know I am incredibly privileged in saying. As stated, I have a good gig with Trader Joe's and also work remotely as a private graphic designer for a company that pays me quite well, so I am pretty comfortable and only have myself and my dog to take care of. Also, I prefer living with roommates anyway and plan to find people to live with no matter where I move. I hate living alone lol, so that cuts housing costs anyway.

Lastly, some places I had briefly looked at-

Asheville, NC

Salt Lake City, UT

Fort Collins, CO

Boise, Idaho

Bellingham, WA

Portland, ME

** I am aware these are not all mountain towns please don't be a smart ass **

So, my fiance (M28) and I (F30) live in Columbia, South Carolina. I grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina. My fiance has had a bit more experience moving around than me, nothing crazy but enough to not be as nervous about it as I am. Luckily, I am well-traveled, so I'm not necessarily afraid of new places or have a small comfort zone as far as other parts of the country. We desperately want a change, a move, a big one!

I recently passed the bar exam and am waiting to hear back about my licensure application with Utah (transferring my score bc I didn't pass in Maine, but did in Utah) although we arent really that interested in living there. I am interested in doing federal work (especially environmental)/remote work so this doesn't mean that we have to move to Utah. So maybe by federal agencies, non-profits, etc.?

My fiance works at a large state university with major athletics as an advisor, he enjoys it, but is open to other career fields. He's interested in staying at a University (big or small) or maybe other schools/libraries.

We are looking for:

• Blue State/Blue City, liberal area
• colder climate with snow and milder summers (as mild as possible with climate change)
• legal recreational and/or medical marijuana
• lots of culture/nightlife
• lots of greenery/trees, water
• preferably has an NFL team and/or a big college football team
• would be nice if there were other sports teams as well
• less religion oriented, less children oriented, more animal/pet friendly

We have been considering places in Maine (Portland, Lewiston), Massachusetts (Boston), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), Minnesota (Minneapolis, Duluth), Michigan (Grand Rapids, Traverse City), Colorado (Colorado Springs, Boulder), Utah (SLC, Ogden), New York (Albany, Cold Springs, Buffalo), Washington (state (Spokane, Seattle) and DC). But we are open to anywhere!

I really appreciate any insight you can offer!! Thank you in advance!

I know there are some general opinions on this, but I'd love to have a more nuanced discussion rather than your typical "avoid red states / the south / midwest" sort of thing - as I think it's very possible to have good pockets within those places, as well as bad pockets within blue states. Which cities legitimately have issues with intolerance, or just have a bad scene for finding love or making friends within the community?

Whole post;

I’m (30F) looking to move somewhere new in the U.S. to start over after divorce. I don’t mind cold or dark, "dreary" weather, and I absolutely hate the heat. I’m interested in a place with a tech-oriented environment that leans more to an academic and intellectual community, with access to good libraries and museums. I would appreciate a city that hosts cultural events/festivals throughout the year. Access to nature is important to me (preferably water; lakes, rivers, or the ocean) as I enjoy scenic morning walks. I also prefer places with good public transportation and walkability, though that’s not my top priority. Also, if it is close to a major airport, that would be great! Don't mind living in a tiny studio or 1 bedroom, definitely don't want roommates. My budget for an apartment is $1,500-$2,000. Where would you recommend?

Edit--

I just realized there's a typo in the title, "leans" not "learns". Anyway, thanks so much for everyone's input!! Based on the comments, majority say these are the places to consider; -Seattle -Boston -Minneapolis -Chicago

I hate three things: cold weather, traffic, and property taxes. However, I like being able to walk to the grocery store, so I don’t think the small town life is for me.

Are there any cities in the US that fit the bill?

Hello everyone,

I'm going to venture around Europe with my camper (and a dog) starting in December, and I have taken this choice mainly as an opportunity/tool to look for my next city to live in. I've lived in various cities/countries in the last years, and I feel it's arriving the time to settle (yes, a paradox to buy a camper) at least for a decade or even more.

I'm 35y, and I'm Italian. I work online. I lived in Berlin, Porto, Milano and Bologna (and outside of Europe too, but this won't count).

I'd love to know which cities you've been to during your travels that fit (as much as possible) these characteristics I'm looking for, so to go and visit them myself to get a feel for the quality of life and the offering.

- A city that has things to offer to the youth, cultured, vibrant, spacious/not stressful, open minded (maybe with some expats too so to bring fresh mindsets). Does not need to be super big, I rather care about the liveability and vibes.
- Serious nature nearby, both for me and for my dog. Maybe possible to live in nature and commute to the city when needed (I don't need a job as I work online, so I'd be fine to stay a bit outside)
- Affordable rentals and cost of living, but not necessarily dirt cheap. I can't afford London, but I don't need to live in the middle of nowhere in Sicily to beat costs either.
- Affordable real estate market in case I wish to buy a house. I'd love if housing has the possibility of having gardens or outdoor spaces (for instance, in Milano you are already lucky if you get a balcony).
- Friendly people, this is important. I can't stand anymore living in a city where everyone is generally grumpy, rude, or superficial.

The last part that I'm concerned about, but I can work around it, it's of course language. I've lived in Berlin without speaking German, and it was doable and my choice, but I did miss connection with people. On another note, in Porto I did speak a little of Portuguese, but people were surely friendlier on average.

Now, what cities have you visited that left you interested and match (as much as possible) what I'm looking for? I'd put it in my travel list with the camper, and go try them to check how it feels living there.

I have some cities/countries that are interesting to me, mainly Italy (but still need to find the right city), UK (cause English is native and there's lots of music and art, and people are friendly, but I'd need a Visa), and Netherlands (people are friendly, English is widely spoken, and I appreciate their focus on art and social ethics).

Would love to hear yours!

Thanks a ton!!

Hello everyone,

I am in my final year of college and I'm beginning to look for jobs around the country.

I have to find somewhere near the mountains. I love to hike, climb, snowboard, and just to look at mountains. I understand that places around the mountains are more expensive, but as long as I can get a decent job I believe I can make things work for myself. I'm used to harsh, humid summers so extreme weather doesn't bother me, and I am willing to adapt to brutal winters. I don't care about people's politics, I just care to meet kind people which I believe you can find anywhere. I love walking, but the city itself doesn't have to be walkable, I'll just hike in my free time.

Does anyone have any recommendations that aren't Denver? Any ideas/input would be much appreciated. Have a nice day!

Hi all,

I’m looking to move to a more conservative state with a lower cost of living. I work remotely and I’m not tied down to Maryland for any reason. I’d prefer to be somewhere that has warm weather a majority of the year. Cost of living is huge for me. I don’t understand spending 2k+ on a studio apartment when I can spend that one an entire house rental.

I’ve lived in Maryland my entire life. I’d like somewhere with a young professional population and a walkable city nearby. I like to drive so a less densely populated area is fine as well.

Thanks in advance!

In residential architecture. I just visited Philly and Chicago architecture is over hyped. In terms of Residential housing, My god Philly is gorgeous and surprisingly very European. Love the narrow streets super cozy, dreamy and cute

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/what-moving-house-can-do-your-happiness/617667/?gift=tsAD4fJIBs9BE09N-1BAfkTLTpt7KR2xT2d83SDKf_o&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

It keeps coming up in my feed, and I've read it twice now, trying to glean something meaningful or useful from it, and it's just not clicking. I'm a big fan of recognizing limitations and finding alternatives that may meet a need in a different way, so I really wanted to take something away from this article. Maybe there is nothing useful to glean, or maybe it's just me.

It seems to be saying that we should look for and move to a place that has some of the sensory qualities of the place we call "home." For me, that's Santa Ana winds, citrus, olive trees, warm evening light (unfortunately usually caused by wildfires), etc. It's SoCal. There is no substitute, and unless I win the lottery, I will never be able to move back there, so making this inventory of desirable, homey things is just making me angsty and sad.

Did anyone else find any take-aways in this worth considering?

The reality is with the increase in global warming and extreme weather events, there is nowhere on the planet that is safe from extreme weather events and natural disasters.

It doesn't matter if you live in California, Arizona, the Midwest, the South, the East, the West, there is nowhere that is going to be safe.

For example; just yesterday over 62 people died in Valencia, Spain due to extreme flooding. This is an area that never sees extreme weather events, it is dry and barely rains (similiar to Arizona), there aren't any earthquakes there, there's really no forests so forest fires are out of the question. There aren't any volcanoes nearby either. Naturally, nobody was prepared. The rains hit when people were returning from work and thousands of people got trapped in their cars and houses and died.

No matter where you go; extreme weather events are possible anywhere; at any time. Places where they are less likely to happen can actually have the worst impacts because nobody is prepared or used to them. There is practically nowhere you can go where you will be safe from them if you are unprepared. Be it tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, forest fires, extreme cold events, extreme heat events, extreme storms, something is possible everywhere on this planet.

Some places are also more prepared to deal with these disasters than others. It's easier to provide aid to a small population of people than a very large one. The amount of resources required in larger cities after an event like this is much larger; as is the competition for these resources.

If you are considering moving somewhere, because you are worried about certain natural disasters; or even if you aren't that worried; this is something you really should keep in mind.

👋🏻

I was born in NY, but I’ve (30F) been in Florida most of my life. My partner (32F) is from MA.

We’re currently in Tampa/St. Pete, and we LOVE it here. We have a community, a great group of friends, etc etc.

However…..the heat is getting worse and worse every year. The COL is forcing us out even though we have decent jobs. I pay $2300 for a 1/1 which is crazy. There’s nothing to really do outdoors. The heat makes it miserable to leave the house, and once it’s cool out, there’s few and far between places to swim due to wildlife, especially with a dog. Speaking of, I have a black lab/weimeraner who is getting older but still likes to be active. I want him to have more than a downtown landscape vs. swamp lands where he can get eaten by an alligator or bit by a snake.

I love hiking, considered SLC for a long time but as a lesbian, it’s not feasible. I work in healthcare and my fiancé is a chef, so I think we need to be in a major metropolitan area, or minor. I want seasons. Afraid of the northeast winters, but the northwest and west COL. I also get nervous about Texas or Midwest because we are lesbians.

Our list of possibles: -DC -Tacoma, WA -Anywhere other than Portland in OR -Southern UT/AZ (the heat though) -Charleston, SC -Ocala, FL -Asheville area was high on our list but after Helene…. -MIGHT consider the northeast but it has to be enticing.

I have no idea. We’ve talked about every possibility and every factor but we feel stuck. Any advice?

There are a lot of places that look beautiful and fun to live in, but I’m not sure I want to live in some conservative state that wants to go after minority rights. I need that stamp of not-crazy after November.

When I was younger I never based my moves on politics, or not much anyway, but it’s so divisive now that I just can’t move some places.

Hey all,

So I am a recent mechanical engineering masters graduate (also did undergrad in mechanical engineering from the same university) from Texas, and I really want to get out of here for a change of pace. I see everyone saying that San Diego is the ideal dream city to live in the US, and it makes sense given how expensive it is. I have been there a few times, and it is great for sure. I went for a friend's wedding, and I also went for vacation! The weather is amazing, and so is the nature. But, even putting money entirely aside, is it REALLY the best place to live in the US? I am genuinely having my doubts about if it really is, for the following reasons:

1. It is car centric. This is an ABSOLUTELY HUGE con in my opinion and is a reason why I may prefer cities like DC, Chicago, or Boston. I actually visited Boston recently and absolutely fell in love. It may be my favorite US city so far. For those who have been to DC or Chicago, how have those been?
2. I always hear tons of people saying that the socal culture extremely pretentious, rude, and fake. Now I can't comment on this directly since I have never lived there, but browsing the San Diego/LA subreddits, it makes sense based on reading many unfriendly and unwelcoming comments on there. For example, people on there are extremely discouraging about people wanting to move there, especially from places like Texas. Other subreddits for their respective cities are much more welcoming based on my observation. TO BE CLEAR: I understand that reddit is not always representitive of the IRL scene, and your experience may differ wildly depending on who you interact with. But it's still a note I wanted to take regardless.
3. While the SD beach vibe is great, some people may prefer the beauty of the Colorado mountains/snow. Others may prefer the nature of the great lakes/New England area. Others may fall in love with Chicago's gorgeous skyline, architecture, and lakefront. And others may be amazed by DC/Boston's beautiful, colonial/historic architecture and some cobblestone streets.
4. This may be an unpopular opinion to an extent, but many may appreciate the feel of 4 seasons.

Thoughts appreciated!

P.S: Browing the San Diego subreddit, I saw people shaming others for not being rich enough to move here or not being competitive enough in their field, saying things like "the whole world wants to move here, it's really competitive", "you are wanting to come to the city where the world's best wants to live", etc. This takes me back to my argument of being pretentious that I was mentioning earlier. It's absolutely disgusting and left a REALLY bad taste in my mouth.

I'm 55M Single, no kids. Retired. 2 homes (primary + rental) and have ~4500/ income after taxes.

My physical activity level is low due to injuries, with biking being about the max effort. Maybe golf, with a cart, which would be nice actually.

Currently PNW, but tired of rain/cold/gloom.

I like boating, fresh and salt water, and I feel like I need to be near water. Warm, but not hot, to help with joint issues.

My last 2 years I've been in a holding pattern for various reasons, and I never let myself dream, or even envision, what my life might be like after everything was settled. And, now that that process has been resolved, I'm really unsure where I want to be. I just know it isn't here.

I'm really just taking a shot in the dark, hoping for a little inspiration.

Thoughts? TIA!

Wife and I are considering a move out of Boise due to COL and we can't compete with this housing market. Born and raised here and it's nuts. Not looking to buy just yet, we'd be looking at renting for the next few years.

We love outdoor recreation so public land access is a must. We love dispersed camping, hiking, skiing/snowboarding, fishing, hunting, and whitewater rafting/kayaking.

We make about 90k before tax and she's a CNA and I am a CDL driver, only requirements are a decent sized Deaf community since we both are Deaf.

I have family in the CDA/Spocompton area and we enjoyed spending time out there.

I (32F) currently live in a small town in CA. I got a decent gig money wise (to afford rental expenses for living on my own, not homeownership). I however am very active and find myself traveling 3+ hours to get to the cities and do fun stuff. I have a couple of local friends but they’re usually busy and my other CA friends live far). No feasible dating locally. I like this little town but for someone with my lifestyle and my age- I feel if I stay I’m missing out on life. I can always come back with a job- they’re always hiring for my line of work. I have the opportunity if I wanted to move to DC area or Colorado Springs.

DC - would be great but I’m concerned of work-obsessed, high-achieving work is life/no fun culture I’ve been warned about and inability to buy a home. Advantages are I’d have the chance to make friends, a partner, have a fun, varied social life, and access to other cities. Could get a job doing something that’s challenging rather than the mind/numbing job I got. Haven’t visited yet, and right now is not very likely (no vacation days).

Colorado Springs- I’ve visited a lot and like it. One downside is how military heavy it is. I’m afraid to not find “culture” and diversity of activities and thought. Not sure how the scene is for 30s single folks. Great outdoors access but I’m worried to live land-locked (I’ve always lived near the ocean and it’s very dear to me). Homeownership would be the most feasible out of the three. I’m not looking to stay in one place forever, I like new places, and quality of life (work/life balance, meaningful/challenging work, social scifies, meeting people, explore) is more important than homeownership for me right now (I still would like to buy).

My priorities are better work (job functions/more fulfilling), social activities (clubs, jazz, opera, local events), dating, diversity, access to nature.

My perfect place to live is Manhattan or Boston if that’s any help. Help me decide or any info to make this decision more informed would be appreciated. TIA!

I'm looking for a fun city where I can spend my 20s and possibly settle down.

I've narrowed it down to these four - Portland, Denver, Austin and Richmond. I'm looking for somewhere easy for transplants to make friends, and a good sense of community. I'm also big on fitness / outdoors stuff and enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, bouldering etc. Live music is also a huge plus for me.

I also hate traffic, so I'd prefer a city easy to get around.

I work in finance / tech, so assuming I can get a job in any of these four cities, which one would ya'll recommend?

Hi all,

I'm on 3 month travel rotations for work and currently have to decide between on a position in Monterey or San Jose area (Jan-Mar). I have about a day to decide and I keep going back and forth.

A bit about myself:

I am very much an outdoorsy person (getting into mountaineering), love visiting national parks or any other scenic places really. Not a huge beach person typically (lol), but it could be cool to experience that lifestyle for a bit and maybe trying surfing. I like to see live music and visit the occasional brewery, I like food as much as the next person, but never been a 5 star restaurant type.
As for work I will be driving to patient's houses, so spending a few hours a day in the car.

I was hoping to get some insights or comparisons from locals on the usual things:

-Cost of living (food, gas, rent)

-Nearby attractions/sites/entertainment/cities

-Culture

-Traffic

Thanks so much in advance for any input!

Note: I don't need to live in either city proper necesarily, just close enough to commute

We work remote, are in our mid30s, and have a toddler- no additional kids in our future. We are looking for a city/suburb that has excellent schools, reasonable housing, good healthcare, and natural beauty. I have got to have lots of easily accessible hiking areas and nature parks. I spent my 20s between Colorado Springs and Denver, and I am at my happiest when I have multiple hiking areas to choose from, that aren’t swarmed with people, within 20-30 minutes. I need good camping within a couple of hours. We love winter, so a place that actually has outdoor activities in winter would be ideal. I really love the water, so preferably plenty of lake/river options as well. We are politically liberal, and after growing up and spending the last 3 years in TX, i gotta get away from the excess of far right religious extremism.

We were initially sold on the idea of Maine (Bangor area). But the healthcare landscape there is an absolute deal breaker as I have chronic health issues. We have also decided we will need to go more urban than we would like for the sake our our daughter’s opportunities and education.

We have briefly talked about Oregon but COL seems outrageous, paired with the fire/air quality issues.

Since we met and spent so much time in CO, it was our favorite place we lived (with major flaws that forced us out) we considered other CO cities, specifically Fort Collins. But home buying there is insane and the cost of insurance sucks thanks to fires. I am also concerned about rising crime there.

Traffic is also a factor. Denver area traffic is bad. Dallas area traffic is worse (current location). Anything less than that is a win honestly, but would like insight.

We are focused on Minnesota/Wisconsin now. Madison or a suburb of Madison seems to tick most of our boxes. Suburbs of Milwaukee or Minneapolis seem like other viable options. The music/sports scene and proximity to a major urban area (Chicago) is a major draw for us as well.

Please share your knowledge with me. Are there any suburbs of those areas you recommend? Any places to avoid? Any recommendations for cities/suburban in other states you might want to recommend?