Where should I move?

November 1, 2005 8:04 AM

RelocationFilter: Help me find my spot! I'm basically looking for a city like Montreal, but located within the United States. Where should I move?

I want to live a fun city that's not too big. NYC terrifies me, not to mention the outrageous cost of living. I'd like to live somewhere that has great music happening all of the time, great restaurants, and is large enough so that the excitement won't ware off for a while. However, not so huge that I'm always going to feel lost. It's essential that this city is affordable, safe, and has lots of options for nightlife. I've thought about Austin and Portland, but I'm not convinced yet that either one is the utopia that I'm looking for.

Background: I've always lived in the Northeast and haven't done a whole heck of a lot of traveling. I'd like to stay on this side of the country, but I would consider somewhere on the west coast if you can convince me that it'd be worth my while. I have no interest in Chicago.

Bonus: A place with some interesting radio stations, and some accessible nature.

posted by TurkishGolds to grab bag (46 comments total)

I suggest either San Francisco or Boston. I don't think you are really going to find an affordable city in the U.S. that has the same kind of cosmopolitan, international atmosphere as Montreal. Denver is affordable but is quite provincial, although I love it. Atlanta is hotter than balls in the summer and doesn't really have the international flavor. Maybe a college town like Madison, WI or Ann Arbor or a place like Providence, RI. I'm curious to see what others say.
posted by spicynuts at 8:08 AM on November 1, 2005

Where do you live now? If you want to stay in the Northeast, Boston strikes me as where you'd want to live with the exception of the cost of living part. However, good music scene, young city (with all the college kids), great restaurants, city that feels like more of a small town.
posted by jerryg99 at 8:10 AM on November 1, 2005

Washington DC works except for the cost of living and the radio stations.
posted by grateful at 8:15 AM on November 1, 2005

Portland, OR
posted by Pollomacho at 8:16 AM on November 1, 2005

Sadly, there's no utopia...if price were no object, San Francisco would be my pick, too.

What are your issues with Portland/Austin? Both have a cool hippie vibe. I live in Seattle, which fills a lot of your criteria, too. Certainly has the good radio (KEXP, though you can listen to it online from anywhere) and the close to nature bit. It's pricy compared to Austin, but cheap compared to San Fran. Restaurants are good (lots of fresh seafood) but again, no San Fran or Chicago.

From what I've seen, the only US cities with just crackling nightlife all the time are NYC and Chicago.
posted by GaelFC at 8:18 AM on November 1, 2005

So we can better understand, why do you have no interest in Chicago? To me it fits all of your criteria?
posted by pomegranate at 8:19 AM on November 1, 2005

Boston is all but affordable, and the drivers are almost as bad as in Montreal so you should feel right at home.

You just have to get used the the Bagel Inferiority Complex brought on by the New Yorkers.
posted by bondcliff at 8:21 AM on November 1, 2005

Lots of good answers in the thread where you asked this question a year ago.
posted by Mayor Curley at 8:23 AM on November 1, 2005

I'm surprised you haven't considered Providence, RI. It's also near enough to the rest of civilization that it is hard to get bored in the city and environs. If you feel liks going farther south, what about the sorta artsy cities, like Asheville or Greenville NC?
posted by whatzit at 8:28 AM on November 1, 2005

Portland, Maine

Really.

As a bonus, we share some aspects of Montreal's weather. :-) There are even some enclaves of French-as-primary-language here.
posted by anastasiav at 8:28 AM on November 1, 2005

SF is truly the most European city in the US from my point of view, and I think that's along the lines of what you want. I disliked Portland for the small-big city feel (too new, too homogenous) and nothing ELSE around. Austin is great, but it's Texas if you go anywhere else - the true southern US.

If you want smaller, I would second Ann Arbor, or even Madison. Both are very cool for younger people.

Don't go by cost of living, it's cheaper than you think once you pay rent and even that is offset by wage scales should have have a decent professional jorb.
posted by kcm at 8:29 AM on November 1, 2005

In my opinion, San Francisco provides the finest American analogue to Montreal. It's lively. It has huge hills, crazy people, great food, a good amount of diversity, and is a big enough city to attract plenty of entertainment. It is nothing like any other city in the country, and at times feels like a parallel universe. All very Montrealish things by the way. So they don't speak French...at least you'll hear people saying "hella" in an unironic fashion. The only downside is that SF is ridiculously expensive, unlike Montreal. If I were on a budget I'd go for a Portland or Seattle type place, myself.
posted by Succa at 8:30 AM on November 1, 2005

I'm going to go on a limb here and also suggest (not recommend) Pittsburgh. It's on the Eastern side, there's a lot of young people (college age, then a gap until retirement age), very very affordable, and there's a lot to do given the surroundings and colleges. However, it's extremely provincial, racist at times, and boring if you're looking for cosmopolitanaeity. Then again, you could buy a house in a nice area for cash and spend your days fixing it up for fun, if that's your thing. It might be worth a visit. I hate it, FWIW. :)
posted by kcm at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2005

Lots of good answers in the thread where you asked this question a year ago.

Ohhhh! Snap! Hey, TurkishGolds, it might be worthwhile to the continuing life of this thread to tell us why you discounted all the suggestions from last year. I don't think any of those cities have changed all that much in a year, although you may have.
posted by spicynuts at 8:36 AM on November 1, 2005

Pomegranate, I have no interest in Chicago becuase I'm bitter towards it because of a girl. I almost moved there, and then didn't. I'd rather not start thinking about it again. A bad reason, for sure.

I'm not interested in Boston becuase it's basically where I grew up. I'm ready for something different. Also, it's so damned hard to get around.

Providence, RI seems boring.

MayorCurley, thanks for pointing out that thread. I forgot about that.
posted by TurkishGolds at 8:37 AM on November 1, 2005

Texas is the true Texas, not the "true southern US".

Why are you so keen on relocating exactly anyway, that may help narrow the scope a bit.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:39 AM on November 1, 2005

I think I'm going to recommend St. Paul/Minneapolis. I've only been there once, for a short visit, and it was ten years ago, so I'm hardly the one to be making the suggestion, but I've heard good things about the city for the young and musically-inclined. It's not a coast city, but new bands always seem to be coming out of there, and there's college life there that would keep things interesting. I don't know about expense, but I can't imagine it would be like Boston. Just something to think about, I guess.

Can anyone else back that up or tell me I'm completely wrong? I'm actually kind of interested.
posted by bibbit at 8:43 AM on November 1, 2005

Austin, TX - live music, affordable, outgoing, liberal, ... oh wait, you said you're not convinced about it. Why not? Have you visited either place? How can you think about a city to move to without actually visiting?
posted by barnone at 8:45 AM on November 1, 2005

MayorCurley, thanks for pointing out that thread. I forgot about that.

I remembered that someone from Western Mass asked the question a while ago. Then I looked and saw that you were from Mass. Then I thought "maybe he asked it and forgot." Sho 'nuff!
posted by Mayor Curley at 8:48 AM on November 1, 2005

Portland, Austin, Seattle are all great.

You might also look into some of the bigger college towns - Eugene, Madison, Ann Arbor, Columbus etc.
posted by Heminator at 8:52 AM on November 1, 2005

I'd second Portland, Maine. Everything you're looking for in a small package, plus it's close to home for you. Stay away from Madison, WI. It's, well, you wouldn't like it, I'm pretty sure, and, well, nobody lives there anymore because it's too crowded.....
...and stuff....
posted by Floydd at 8:55 AM on November 1, 2005

Madison
posted by rossmeissl at 8:56 AM on November 1, 2005

Austin has been good to me for five years now. It's true what has been said: Austin is an oasis of cool in a big desert of.... well, Texas. It's very far away from other places I would like to go, though I've enjoyed New Orleans in the past, which is only 8 hours away by car. Close by Texas standards.

Good luck.
posted by Jonasio at 8:58 AM on November 1, 2005

If you are looking for somewhere exciting, safe, cosmopolitan and somewhat "East Coast" in values then perhaps you could consider a European city.
posted by rongorongo at 8:59 AM on November 1, 2005

I'd second Portland, Maine.

I have a policy of not disparaging the place where I grew up in public forums. That said, look very carefully and think very hard before you move there. Get a job FIRST.
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:03 AM on November 1, 2005

Count another vote for Austin, if you can stand the summer. I was in Denver and Boston over the last two weeks and can't imagine living in either spot. Blech. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

What's up with you New Englanders and things being "close by"? Driving from Providence to NY for entertainment? What? Why not live somewhere that doesn't force you to leave the state to have fun?

Not a big fan of San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle. I grew up in the Northwest and the winters are pretty depressing. San Francisco is just a bit too homogeneously liberal, among other things. I would rather live somewhere where liberalism is something to be proud of, not a functional prerequisite to entry. But that's just me.
posted by spiderwire at 9:08 AM on November 1, 2005

anastasiav is right about Portland, Maine, but so is Mayor Curley.

Portland can be a lot of fun...if you have a good job and a decent income, which is easier said than done. Another real downside is that it is quite small, and you can run out of fun things to do in a couple of years. Everytime I go to Portland, I remark to myself "I'm not sorry I left".
posted by briank at 9:17 AM on November 1, 2005

Hmmm...I wouldn't consider Columbus a college town. I mean OSU is huge, but this place just doesn't have that "college town vibe"(TM). If you want an Ohio college town, think Athens (home of OU). That being said, you might want to look into Columbus. It can be a bit provincial at times, but there is a good music scene, a lively arts community, a decent radio station, and good restaurants. It's pretty cheap and there seem to be enough jobs to go around. The public transportation system sucks though, if that matters to you. It's embarrassing for a city this size. East/West coasters tend to turn up their noses at midwestern cities, but most of them have never even visited "fly-over country."
posted by Otis at 9:18 AM on November 1, 2005

I think I'm going to recommend St. Paul/Minneapolis. [...] Can anyone else back that up or tell me I'm completely wrong? I'm actually kind of interested.

That's what I was coming here to recommend. Sounds like it fits most, if not all your criteria. There was a thread here that did a good job of extolling the virtues of the Twin Cities (as well as the drawbacks).
posted by undertone at 9:19 AM on November 1, 2005

This thread says a lot about AskMe and the predominant culture represented here. Nothing wrong with that - just find it interesting. Seems a city has to be liberal for it to be a "good" place to live. Actually, there are places all over this country - yes, including the South - that are wonderful places to call home. I think it's great you want to get out and live somewhere different, but maybe you should travel a little just to see and experience different places before you make decisions about picking up and moving. Good luck with whatever you choose!

-
posted by Independent Scholarship at 9:27 AM on November 1, 2005

another portland mainer here. rents here are high-ish but otherwise the cost of living if you live on the peninsula is low. it is hard to find a job in certain fields, but others are booming, so without knowing your career it's hard to assess whether you'd have a hard time. For example, many many graphic designers here looking for work. But lots of jobs in science and technology, nonprofits, and (of course) real estate and service industry. Bad place to be a librarian.

On the whole, it's a wonderful place to live and fits your criteria-- plus 4 1/2 hour drive to Montreal.
posted by miss tea at 9:28 AM on November 1, 2005

New Orleans has fantastic restaurants, wonderful music, the best radio station I've ever heard and a French heritage.

Safety is a bit problematic, though.
posted by timeistight at 9:29 AM on November 1, 2005

I'm surprised that nobody's suggested Philadelphia yet.
Within 6 months of living here, you'll know everyone in your neighborhood. It's the biggest small town in the US. Within a week, you'll be on a first name basis with everybody at the coffee shop on the corner. There are a ton of bars here, some of which have a good music scene (the Kyber, the North Star) and there are plenty of good music venues here. There's an ever-improving arts and culture scene and, apparently (I forget the source) it's been said that Philadelphia is well on its way to becoming one of the best places to live.
posted by Jon-o at 9:53 AM on November 1, 2005

What's up with you New Englanders and things being "close by"? Why not live somewhere that doesn't force you to leave the state to have fun?

Since moving here, it's always seemed to me a way to go "away" but be close enough that it was not expensive and you didn't have to have time off from school/work. So many options, relatively cheap/near, and much more rapid change in geography, atmosphere, culture.

Coming from Minnesota, this is a huge difference - there's nothing exotic about going to Wisconsin for the weekend!
posted by whatzit at 10:01 AM on November 1, 2005

Portland, Maine (Hi Everybody!) is surprisingly cosmopolitan for a city of @65,000. Pay scales are somewhat lower, and cost of living is somewhat higher, than many other places. There are lots of great restaurants, medium amount of nightclubby things to do, lots of outdoor activity; skiing, sailing, hiking, cycling if you don't mind hills. It's geographically beautiful with mountains and ocean. The University is much better than it used to be, but is not (yet) a major resource. The Art College adds lots of interest. The black population is largely recent refugee immigrants, which makes the issue of diversity pretty interesting. It's pretty safe. Boston is 2 hours away, so big events are available. I love living here except for the length and severity of winter.

What are the things you like and dislike about Montreal? If you aren't tied down by family or job, I'd recommend visiting several cities to see what clicks.
posted by theora55 at 10:10 AM on November 1, 2005

Well, that sounds to me like a great argument in favor of Austin. You can travel to Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, or San Antonio pretty easily, and it's like being in a different country! --And it reminds you how lucky you are to live somewhere that doesn't suck.

And then, if you actually want to *go* to a different country, there's always Mexico, which is warmer than Canada.
posted by spiderwire at 10:12 AM on November 1, 2005

I would also like to add that I just made myself a ham sandwich for lunch, using all-natural yummies from the Whole Foods super-mega-flagship store, ate it in the backyard, and then laid out in the sun in a tshirt for a while.

Ahh, November.
posted by spiderwire at 10:13 AM on November 1, 2005

Bonus: A place with some interesting radio stations, and some accessible nature

Richmond, Virginia has a great radio station. And lots of beautiful parks. Plus mountains not too far away.

And restaurants and nightlife.
posted by JanetLand at 10:17 AM on November 1, 2005

Philadelphia? Great city even if the people living there have an inferiority complex that gets ridiculous at times.

But if you're not in the biotech field, there are no..jobs...there...at...all.
posted by huskerdont at 11:15 AM on November 1, 2005

Following the general college-town vibe and JanetLand's recommendation, I'll toss in Charlottesville, VA. Not so much there on the nightlife side, although there is a decent music venue, but DC is two hours away and Richmond is one hour to the east. However, for a town of about 50,000, there's some awesome restaurants, plus gorgeous scenery, general friendly vibe, and TWO awesome radio stations: WNRN and WTJU. You're also a half-hour away from Shenandoah National Park. Due to Virginia's weird alcohol laws, there aren't any actual straight-up bars, but plenty of restaurants that serve a lot of alcohol.

C-ville was recently listed in some magazine's rankings as the best mid-size town to live in in the US.
posted by LionIndex at 11:41 AM on November 1, 2005

New Orleans has fantastic restaurants, wonderful music, the best radio station I've ever heard and a French heritage.


Did you seriously just recommend moving to New Orleans? Have you heard about this little rough patch they had with the weather?
posted by spicynuts at 11:44 AM on November 1, 2005 [1 favorite has favorites]

I hope the people that recommended Ann Arbor were joking. It's nothing more than your average provincial small midwestern town, except that its delusional residents think it is something that it's not.
posted by gyc at 12:45 PM on November 1, 2005

How about Burlington, VT? It's much smaller than the other megaplexes named (pop. ~38,000), but it's a really lively, fun, engaging, cosmopolitan college (University of Vermont) town with plenty to do, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. A nice, vibrant downtown, with tons of restaurants and nightlife for a city its size. It's also within day trip range of Montreal! It is expensive, but if you don't mind living outside of town, prices drop pretty quickly as you move into rural Vermont.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:33 PM on November 1, 2005

Philadelphia? Great city even if the people living there have an inferiority complex that gets ridiculous at times.

But if you're not in the biotech field, there are no..jobs...there...at...all.

Agree, except for the jobs part...there's healthcare and healthcare-related jobs, nonprofit admin, social services, higher education...
posted by desuetude at 3:07 PM on November 1, 2005

I personally have no experience with Pittsburgh, but I have friends who moved there last year (artist/academic/music types) and they love it -- it's affordable (they bought a cool house that they're rehabbing) and they've said some good things about local arts & culture scenes.
posted by scody at 3:57 PM on November 1, 2005

Portland, Oregon. Small and clean with plenty of both idealism and the hipper-than-thou. I moved here for college on a whim and, after ten years, find myself unable to give it up. The frequent rain (if you don't like rain, I don't recommend it after all) gives rise to the most beautiful, lush greenery I've ever seen. Most of the people are relatively easy-going. It has the disadvantage of not staying as lively at night as bigger cities, and of a bad several years for employment, but you can find music here and some amazing restaurants (I recommend Gino's.) Plenty of safe neighborhoods where I, a relatively frail young lady, don't feel threatened walking alone at night, and I don't get lost. The bus system is great, and in my experience it is more affordable than its bigger cousins. Sort of a small, friendly version of Seattle.
posted by rebirtha at 8:21 PM on November 1, 2005