I was going to suggest Michigan. The rural areas are very very red and very very religious. But there are blue/purple areas in metro detroit, and mid michigan. Winters in metro Detroit really aren't *that* bad compared to northern MI. COL is reasonable. But the public transportation system is garbage, as in, there isn't one. (motor city, go figure).
There's a lot of suburbs of metro Detroit that are nice! I grew up in Livonia and I believe people still move into that area to be in the public school system (I think north of 6 mile is probably the most desirable). Every time I go back to Michigan I laugh at what they call a "rush hour." And then I cry because I just hit a giant pothole.
I'm currently in Northern Virginia taking a break, we've had some issues with DS and the weight has mostly been on me and I've been fighting with DH a lot so I arranged a trip to visit family this week and go into the office (I kept my job when we moved and I telecommute).
The traffic here is horrendous. There's nothing close to it in Michigan even with the construction on 23! My friends and family keep saying I should move back but I don't want to. I just can't handle NoVa anymore! Back to Michigan tomorrow
ETA but yes about the potholes. Last time I picked my mom up from the airport I hit a pothole on a curve near the terminal and I really thought my car was just going to break apart it was so huge.
Several years ago we lived in DC and wanted to move at least partially for COL reasons. We moved to Tallahassee and it was awful, we didn't last two years. And this wasn't a completely random place for us, we had friends there and family nearby. I learned that places are usually HCOL for a reason, they are pretty good places to live.
I may be confusing you with someone else, but isn't your H European? I've been looking into moving to Europe recently and I'm amazed by how low the COL is in a lot of places. Not super cheap, but way less than I was expecting.
We've kind of looked into Europe - France with it's give me your scientists! plea. But in a backwards way, we'd want H to be a citizen first. If we left to live in Europe he'd give up his green card.
Minneapolis. Big enough that there's plenty to do - there's actually more theater per capita there than anywhere in the country but NYC. But MCOL. Worst part is definitely the weather. And obviously nowhere near an ocean. We may have the opportunity to move within the next year, and we prefer MCOL because the salary bump I'd get wouldn't be enough to fully account for the COL in a place like D.C. or SF (although I would move back to D.C. anyway). Random places that will probably rank surprisingly high on our list include Birmingham, Cleveland, and Portland ME.
We have a really good friend in Cleveland, so we've thought of it.
And yes, as I've been poking around, the salary bump (or lack there of) has really surprised me. I'd only take a $7k drop to move to North Carolina.
You can buy a bigger house there, find a school where your child may not be shanked (and can be ranked higher in her class -- hey, a benefit!), and still be an hourlong drive from civilization.
But I am literally answering your question; this is what I would do, especially because I grew up there, and my mom still lives there.
I have no idea what type of work you and your husband do or what you are looking for in a city.
The answer for you is largely dependent upon whether the area has jobs in your industries.
We did this. We bought a 3,500 SF house for about $200,000 less than we could have purchased an 1,800 SF condo in south OC.
It is hot as Hades right now, though. I think you've always lived close to the ocean?
Amenity-wise, things are improving. Like a GASTROPUB opened near us and that was very exciting for me. LOL.
I don't know much about schools, but apparently our area is pretty desirable and a lot of families have moved here from OC. There's no way in hell I'd move out here if I had to commute back to the OC. The 15/91 interchange is a bitch.
However, if it requires your H to commute to OC, forget about it. The commute is such a bitch and so draining.
ETA: the commute the other direction is pretty easy (San Diego). Actually, that's something I like about our area. We're an hour 15 from San Diego and OC, an hour and a half from Palm Springs. I feel like we're a leeeeeetle too far from LA, though. I'd like to go out there more but it's usually a 3 and a half hour round trip.
I grew up mostly in the midwest, but don't really want to go back to where I came from.
We did this. We bought a 3,500 SF house for about $200,000 less than we could have purchased an 1,800 SF condo in south OC.
It is hot as Hades right now, though. I think you've always lived close to the ocean?
Amenity-wise, things are improving. Like a GASTROPUB opened near us and that was very exciting for me. LOL.
I don't know much about schools, but apparently our area is pretty desirable and a lot of families have moved here from OC. There's no way in hell I'd move out here if I had to commute back to the OC. The 15/91 interchange is a bitch.
However, if it requires your H to commute to OC, forget about it. The commute is such a bitch and so draining.
ETA: the commute the other direction is pretty easy (San Diego). Actually, that's something I like about our area. We're an hour 15 from San Diego and OC, an hour and a half from Palm Springs. I feel like we're a leeeeeetle too far from LA, though. I'd like to go out there more but it's usually a 3 and a half hour round trip.
I grew up mostly in the midwest, but don't really want to go back to where I came from.
Minneapolis. Big enough that there's plenty to do - there's actually more theater per capita there than anywhere in the country but NYC. But MCOL. Worst part is definitely the weather. And obviously nowhere near an ocean. We may have the opportunity to move within the next year, and we prefer MCOL because the salary bump I'd get wouldn't be enough to fully account for the COL in a place like D.C. or SF (although I would move back to D.C. anyway). Random places that will probably rank surprisingly high on our list include Birmingham, Cleveland, and Portland ME.
We have a really good friend in Cleveland, so we've thought of it.
And yes, as I've been poking around, the salary bump (or lack there of) has really surprised me. I'd only take a $7k drop to move to North Carolina.
I'm on the fed pay schedule, and for a lot of the HCOL places, the increase in locality pay just doesn't fully offset the increased COL. It might be worth it if I were single and looking to go out to the latest trendy place all the time, but meh, I'm good with a place that has daycare I can afford, a church I like, good food culture, a baseball team, a good library system, and enough live theater and/or music to keep me entertained.
About twice a year I have a it's-too-expensive-here, the-taxes-are-insane induced meltdown and I start exploring real estate in Delaware shore towns, Charleston, and some areas of NC, but then I wimp out and resign myself to the fact that I'll be a lifer here.
I could have written this post myself. I want to leave, but I don't think I ever will because the only place that would be remotely interesting to me is even higher COL SoCal.
Back to the question,MCOL wise, prior to having kids, we were going to move to Atlanta (funny, we moved to SLO instead). But, sadly I feel like Atlanta, as our integrated family, would be too much of an uphill battle.
Oh no! As a native Atlantan, this makes me sad. In the city and close-in suburbs, I don't think anyone would look twice, honestly. Our neighborhood (and all the ones nearby) are full of all kinds of families - no one bats an eye. Now, the outer suburbs, maybe but even they have improved!
I don't know. I've lived within 10 or so minutes from the ocean my whole life and I don't think I could give that up. Yet I also couldn't move to Florida or see myself down south really.
Minneapolis. Big enough that there's plenty to do - there's actually more theater per capita there than anywhere in the country but NYC. But MCOL. Worst part is definitely the weather. And obviously nowhere near an ocean. We may have the opportunity to move within the next year, and we prefer MCOL because the salary bump I'd get wouldn't be enough to fully account for the COL in a place like D.C. or SF (although I would move back to D.C. anyway). Random places that will probably rank surprisingly high on our list include Birmingham, Cleveland, and Portland ME.
We have a really good friend in Cleveland, so we've thought of it.
And yes, as I've been poking around, the salary bump (or lack there of) has really surprised me. I'd only take a $7k drop to move to North Carolina.
Back to the question,MCOL wise, prior to having kids, we were going to move to Atlanta (funny, we moved to SLO instead). But, sadly I feel like Atlanta, as our integrated family, would be too much of an uphill battle.
Back to the question,MCOL wise, prior to having kids, we were going to move to Atlanta (funny, we moved to SLO instead). But, sadly I feel like Atlanta, as our integrated family, would be too much of an uphill battle.
Oh no! As a native Atlantan, this makes me sad. In the city and close-in suburbs, I don't think anyone would look twice, honestly. Our neighborhood (and all the ones nearby) are full of all kinds of families - no one bats an eye. Now, the outer suburbs, maybe but even they have improved!
We'd love your adorable family here!
This isn't really accurate however its not terrible here.
Oh no! As a native Atlantan, this makes me sad. In the city and close-in suburbs, I don't think anyone would look twice, honestly. Our neighborhood (and all the ones nearby) are full of all kinds of families - no one bats an eye. Now, the outer suburbs, maybe but even they have improved!
We'd love your adorable family here!
That's very kind of you, but an unwelcoming environment toward interracial couples, is why we had to turn down Georgia Tech in the first place. Luckily, that experiencejust the two of us, before we had babies. It wasn't overt like nasty looks, or comments. It was more subtle like being blocked from advancement once people found out I wasn't white. We're not subjecting the girls to that sort of dynamic. Plus, there seems to be a really clear, still segregated, white Atlanta, and Black Atlanta in terms of social, professional, and charitable circles and networks. So, again, how would that work for us? We still like visiting, because it's a fun place.
I think you are correct but all my fancy friends are of color. Now I need to see how it works for them.
We're in Orange County now and sometimes get jealous of my BIL/SIL who bought double the square footage for half our purchase price in Colorado. The UC system soothes me a bit, but really the University of Colorado is not bad.
To answer the OP, I would look in certain parts of Washington and Coloardo. Houses have appreciated in both states, but it's still not as high as California. I also like to look at areas of Florida, but I've heard a lot of horror stories of the weather and dumb people.
Post by goldengirlz on Jun 30, 2017 9:59:19 GMT -5
At this point in my life, we'd look at Sacramento/Davis because that's as red as I'm willing to go. We'd also look at Denver and Seattle, which are expensive but not necessarily by California standards.
I second Philly being a great, livable city. I also love Atlanta. I don't think we're ever moving back East though.
Everywhere I'd move to is almost as expensive as LA, so I'm no help.
I briefly considered moving back to Utah/Salt Lake City and tried to convince myself the Salt Lake is actually starting to purple...but that is a very small area. I had an experience last time I was there that reminded me how small that liberal bubble is there. But hey, its pretty, lol.
Post by amberlyrose on Jun 30, 2017 11:01:11 GMT -5
We have a ton of friends leaving Denver's rising cost of living for.. Columbus. I've never been there, but apparently it's starting to boom and has a similar lifestyle to Denver.
The burbs of Denver are still decently priced, especially up north. For Denver city center, I'm finding similar pricing here in Redondo, Manhattan, and Huntington for condos.
Minneapolis. Big enough that there's plenty to do - there's actually more theater per capita there than anywhere in the country but NYC. But MCOL. Worst part is definitely the weather. And obviously nowhere near an ocean. We may have the opportunity to move within the next year, and we prefer MCOL because the salary bump I'd get wouldn't be enough to fully account for the COL in a place like D.C. or SF (although I would move back to D.C. anyway). Random places that will probably rank surprisingly high on our list include Birmingham, Cleveland, and Portland ME.
We have a really good friend in Cleveland, so we've thought of it.
And yes, as I've been poking around, the salary bump (or lack there of) has really surprised me. I'd only take a $7k drop to move to North Carolina.
I got to keep my job and I telecommute but my H got a higher paying job when we moved away from DC. It's been 3 years and now he makes 30% more than he did in DC.
Oh man, I'm moving to south bay (redondo) next month and I'm worried the hcol is going to drive me crazy. My suggestions from my past expriences are Raleigh, Portland, and Charleston. I'm in Denver now and I'm ready to get back to a coast so I wouldn't recommend that. I hope you find what you're looking for!
I've lived in Redondo almost my entire life. Granted, the other places I lived were San Francisco and the Silicon Valley so I have always lived in HCOL places. But, I will say that the cost of living never bothers me. Especially when I can walk less than a mile and be on a beautiful beach.
Have you ever lived here before? Let me know if you need any info on the area.
So you guys are saying I shouldn't be jealous anymore of my CW who quit recently to move and be a SAHM in SLO?
Remember that time when, instead of being a SAHW in SLO, I decided to go to grad school full time and work full time, to avoid boredom ... and I was still bored? Yeah, don't be jealous. Does her spouse work for the government, or telecommute? Because there aren't many jobs in that college town. The place is great for wine tasting, but not so great for long term employment, and building a family.
We have a ton of friends leaving Denver's rising cost of living for.. Columbus. I've never been there, but apparently it's starting to boom and has a similar lifestyle to Denver.
The burbs of Denver are still decently priced, especially up north. For Denver city center, I'm finding similar pricing here in Redondo, Manhattan, and Huntington for condos.
I pay 2100 a month for a 2 bed 2 bath apt. in south Denver and to buy a sfh it's about 650,000 to 700,000 in this school boundary line. I don't get paying that much money for this weather and not being close to the coast. People adore Denver, though. I thought I was going to before I moved here.
This is what I was going to suggest. Or Murrieta. My BFF just bought 5 acres and a beautiful 3000sq foot home for the cost it would be to buy a small SFH where we live.