Help us relocate!
October 16, 2018 4:54 PM Subscribe
My husband and I would like to relocate from Canada to the US. Please assume that there are no visa issues to contend with. Could you suggest some cities we might like working and living in?
Mr Chick is employed remotely and is infinitely relocatable. I will be looking for a director/vp level role in operations, marketing, acquisitions, product management or project management, at a startup to mid-size company, <500 people, preferably on an aggressive growth/change curve.
What we like: warm but not scorching hot weather, minimal winters compared to Canada, moderate humidity, topography (i.e. Houston is a no), good food, liberal or at least liberal enclaves, hip neighborhoods (art/music/shops/coffee), cities undergoing change/growth. We don't have kids.
In addition to visas, you can assume we're (probably?) good on real estate costs anywhere other than Silicon Valley and Manhattan.
So far we've shortlisted San Diego and Austin, but I'm sure there are other spots that are worth thinking about. Many thanks!
Mr Chick is employed remotely and is infinitely relocatable. I will be looking for a director/vp level role in operations, marketing, acquisitions, product management or project management, at a startup to mid-size company, <500 people, preferably on an aggressive growth/change curve.
What we like: warm but not scorching hot weather, minimal winters compared to Canada, moderate humidity, topography (i.e. Houston is a no), good food, liberal or at least liberal enclaves, hip neighborhoods (art/music/shops/coffee), cities undergoing change/growth. We don't have kids.
In addition to visas, you can assume we're (probably?) good on real estate costs anywhere other than Silicon Valley and Manhattan.
So far we've shortlisted San Diego and Austin, but I'm sure there are other spots that are worth thinking about. Many thanks!
Best answer: Consider joining us in Asheville, North Carolina :)
Progressive, interesting town amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. More than a small town, but not a big city, population around 80,000.
posted by elf27 at 5:20 PM on October 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Progressive, interesting town amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. More than a small town, but not a big city, population around 80,000.
posted by elf27 at 5:20 PM on October 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Portland, OR? Sounds like a natural fit.
posted by heavenknows at 5:50 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by heavenknows at 5:50 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I was in Nashville this past April and the humidity felt thick enough to cut.
posted by brujita at 5:59 PM on October 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 5:59 PM on October 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: With the greatest respect, if you don't do humidity, the entire South up to and including Texas is absolutely out of the question for you. Summers in Austin are excruciating.
Have you considered Hawaii? It has a climate that's 10 degrees (F) hotter than Austin's, but it is arid so it feels way better and the temperature is very consistent year round. I know nothing about the job market outside of Honolulu though and you very likely don't want to live in Honolulu.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:08 PM on October 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Have you considered Hawaii? It has a climate that's 10 degrees (F) hotter than Austin's, but it is arid so it feels way better and the temperature is very consistent year round. I know nothing about the job market outside of Honolulu though and you very likely don't want to live in Honolulu.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:08 PM on October 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Los Angeles real estate costs are (while not quite Silicon Valley/Manhattan) high, but otherwise it hits all of your points [very liberal, tons of great food, lots of good neighborhoods, etc]
Having lived in both, the weather in LA is much closer to what you want than Austin, which is a wonderful city overall but crazy hot and humid in summer (many days over 40C with super high humidity). And with climate change it's only going to get worse.
LA does get its share of hot days, but its dry and not nearly as bad as Texas or other parts of the South. And if you live near the ocean at all it's not even that hot (the further inland you go, the hotter it gets... once you get all the way to places like Palm Springs its pretty ridiculous).
posted by thefoxgod at 6:25 PM on October 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
Having lived in both, the weather in LA is much closer to what you want than Austin, which is a wonderful city overall but crazy hot and humid in summer (many days over 40C with super high humidity). And with climate change it's only going to get worse.
LA does get its share of hot days, but its dry and not nearly as bad as Texas or other parts of the South. And if you live near the ocean at all it's not even that hot (the further inland you go, the hotter it gets... once you get all the way to places like Palm Springs its pretty ridiculous).
posted by thefoxgod at 6:25 PM on October 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
I love Austin but the summers are scorching hot for weeks on end.
posted by Smearcase at 6:42 PM on October 16, 2018
posted by Smearcase at 6:42 PM on October 16, 2018
Canada is a big place. Where are you considering relocating from? The Maritimes to New England is less of a change than say Manitoba to Georgia.
posted by leaper at 6:44 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by leaper at 6:44 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
In Colorado:
The Denver / Boulder metro area.
Ft. Collins.
We have topography and then some!
posted by nickggully at 7:11 PM on October 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Denver / Boulder metro area.
Ft. Collins.
We have topography and then some!
posted by nickggully at 7:11 PM on October 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
I live in Portland and love it so much and am delighted that it sounds like you folks would love it too based on what you’re looking for. It’s growing fast but not so fast like San Francisco or Seattle where even wealthy folks can’t find housing. (It’s expensive but there are still developing neighborhoods and Vancouver, WA is part of the metro area and affordable and growing too.)
We have beautiful defined seasons here but super mild winters (at least to me, who grew up in northern MI) and thankfully low humidity. It’s north enough that you get more light in the evening than a place like Austin, though it rains in the winter and can get dark.
Plenty of jobs you’d be interested in and qualified for. A lot of sporting goods companies; smaller ones like Keen Footwear and big ones like Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear.
Outside of what you’re looking for, but possibly still important to you: I moved here because it is one of the friendliest places that isn’t in a conservative state. Seriously, people are genuinely nice and making friends wasn’t as crushingly hard as I expected. I found community quickly in areas that mattered to me (fat, queer, dog loving, geeky) and the amount of outdoor activities and beautiful parks is outrageous. Oh, and plenty of Metafilter meetups since Cortex lives here :) I haven’t gone to one yet because I’ve found so many other things to do but I love knowing there are mefites around!
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 8:37 PM on October 16, 2018
We have beautiful defined seasons here but super mild winters (at least to me, who grew up in northern MI) and thankfully low humidity. It’s north enough that you get more light in the evening than a place like Austin, though it rains in the winter and can get dark.
Plenty of jobs you’d be interested in and qualified for. A lot of sporting goods companies; smaller ones like Keen Footwear and big ones like Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear.
Outside of what you’re looking for, but possibly still important to you: I moved here because it is one of the friendliest places that isn’t in a conservative state. Seriously, people are genuinely nice and making friends wasn’t as crushingly hard as I expected. I found community quickly in areas that mattered to me (fat, queer, dog loving, geeky) and the amount of outdoor activities and beautiful parks is outrageous. Oh, and plenty of Metafilter meetups since Cortex lives here :) I haven’t gone to one yet because I’ve found so many other things to do but I love knowing there are mefites around!
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 8:37 PM on October 16, 2018
Come to Minnesota. It's a lot like Canada except with Trump instead of Trudeau.
(On second thought, never mind...)
posted by Cris E at 9:50 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
(On second thought, never mind...)
posted by Cris E at 9:50 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
North Carolina's research triangle, aka raleigh/durham/chapel hill area..
posted by elgee at 10:45 PM on October 16, 2018
posted by elgee at 10:45 PM on October 16, 2018
LA or SoCal more generally.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:07 AM on October 17, 2018
posted by persona au gratin at 12:07 AM on October 17, 2018
My first thought on reading your wish list was that highly desirable jobs like what you describe are hard to get, and you will likely end up where the job is, rather than the place with an ideal social scene. OTOH, the unemployment rate is at an historic low so it's a good time to be looking.
I did amuse myself mulling over which cities that I am familiar with have "topography." The leading contender is Pittsburgh, PA. The city proper is hemmed in by the famous three rivers. The surrounding area is made up of rocky hills divided by deep valleys. Pittsburgh has a pretty good history in cultural things, and a tech scene enlivened, at least to some degree, by Carnegie Melon University. It's also the place where i had the best gyro of my life so far, so there's that.
Being an east coaster, I feel obliged to suggest which east coast city might be best. It probably has to be south of Boston (too cold) and north of DC (too hot). That leaves New York, Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Any of these might work, as would other places in the connecting metroplex. NYC is the most prosperous at the moment. Wilmington is a small city and rather in the shadow of Philly. Philly has it's problems, but again, much of the economic opportunity is outside the city proper.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:50 AM on October 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
I did amuse myself mulling over which cities that I am familiar with have "topography." The leading contender is Pittsburgh, PA. The city proper is hemmed in by the famous three rivers. The surrounding area is made up of rocky hills divided by deep valleys. Pittsburgh has a pretty good history in cultural things, and a tech scene enlivened, at least to some degree, by Carnegie Melon University. It's also the place where i had the best gyro of my life so far, so there's that.
Being an east coaster, I feel obliged to suggest which east coast city might be best. It probably has to be south of Boston (too cold) and north of DC (too hot). That leaves New York, Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Any of these might work, as would other places in the connecting metroplex. NYC is the most prosperous at the moment. Wilmington is a small city and rather in the shadow of Philly. Philly has it's problems, but again, much of the economic opportunity is outside the city proper.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:50 AM on October 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
Topography, relatively mild summers and winters (at least as far as places with seasons go), good food, and rad neighborhoods on the rise? It definitely sounds like Pittsburgh would tick all of your boxes.
posted by helloimjennsco at 8:32 AM on October 17, 2018
posted by helloimjennsco at 8:32 AM on October 17, 2018
Upstate New York, perhaps? Much as I love New York City, our summers get hella humid. But it's about 10 degrees farenheit cooler north of the city, and you've got "topography" in spadefuls, what with the Catskill Mountains, the Shawnagunk mountains, the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes...
You've got a couple options in terms of "cities undergoing change/growth" that I can think of:
* Kingston, New York. That's kind of a "gateway to the Catskills" in the minds of many; about 2 or 3 hours from New York City on one hand, but close by the Catskills, and right on the Hudson River. And in terms of growth and liberal enclaves: It's kind of a "first stop" for people moving out of Brooklyn. Many settle there, some go on to smaller Hudson Valley cities.
* Rochester, New York. It may be a little threadbare in terms of economy (the big industry closed a couple decades back), but there are signs it's bouncing back, and it has its own airport. It's by one of the Great Lakes on one side and near the Finger Lakes on the other.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on October 17, 2018
You've got a couple options in terms of "cities undergoing change/growth" that I can think of:
* Kingston, New York. That's kind of a "gateway to the Catskills" in the minds of many; about 2 or 3 hours from New York City on one hand, but close by the Catskills, and right on the Hudson River. And in terms of growth and liberal enclaves: It's kind of a "first stop" for people moving out of Brooklyn. Many settle there, some go on to smaller Hudson Valley cities.
* Rochester, New York. It may be a little threadbare in terms of economy (the big industry closed a couple decades back), but there are signs it's bouncing back, and it has its own airport. It's by one of the Great Lakes on one side and near the Finger Lakes on the other.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on October 17, 2018
I personally think if "moderate humidity" is one of your criteria, pretty much the entire Eastern US is out with the possible exception of northern New England. And it's not that northern New England isn't humid, it's just cool enough that the humidity is more bearable.
Northern New England, however, may not have moderate winters compared to Canada, depending on where in Canada you are coming from. Allowing for that, I do quite like Burlington, Vermont and Portland, Maine, and they seem like they'd check most of your other boxes.
* Kingston, New York. That's kind of a "gateway to the Catskills" in the minds of many; about 2 or 3 hours from New York City on one hand, but close by the Catskills, and right on the Hudson River. And in terms of growth and liberal enclaves: It's kind of a "first stop" for people moving out of Brooklyn. Many settle there, some go on to smaller Hudson Valley cities.
I'd like to point out that while I like Kingston, it's probably about as small as a place can be while still qualifying as a city. I'm also not sure that there would be the kind of jobs you want there, unless you are willing to commute down to the northern NYC suburbs, which would be a real trek. I know some folks who have relocated there from Brooklyn and pretty much all of them do remote and/or contract work.
posted by breakin' the law at 9:35 AM on October 17, 2018
Northern New England, however, may not have moderate winters compared to Canada, depending on where in Canada you are coming from. Allowing for that, I do quite like Burlington, Vermont and Portland, Maine, and they seem like they'd check most of your other boxes.
* Kingston, New York. That's kind of a "gateway to the Catskills" in the minds of many; about 2 or 3 hours from New York City on one hand, but close by the Catskills, and right on the Hudson River. And in terms of growth and liberal enclaves: It's kind of a "first stop" for people moving out of Brooklyn. Many settle there, some go on to smaller Hudson Valley cities.
I'd like to point out that while I like Kingston, it's probably about as small as a place can be while still qualifying as a city. I'm also not sure that there would be the kind of jobs you want there, unless you are willing to commute down to the northern NYC suburbs, which would be a real trek. I know some folks who have relocated there from Brooklyn and pretty much all of them do remote and/or contract work.
posted by breakin' the law at 9:35 AM on October 17, 2018
To clarify:
I'd like to point out that while I like Kingston, it's probably about as small as a place can be while still qualifying as a city. I'm also not sure that there would be the kind of jobs you want there, unless you are willing to commute down to the northern NYC suburbs, which would be a real trek. I know some folks who have relocated there from Brooklyn and pretty much all of them do remote and/or contract work.
I admit that I was responding more to the line about Mr. Chick being able to work remotely when thinking of Kingston. However, I also was thinking of Kingston being a potential "home base" as it's within drive-able commuting distance, at least to my mind, of several other places (Poughkeepsie, New Paltz, etc.) that may have suitable employment but may not be a pretty place to actually live. Your mileage may vary, though (I also grant I don't think anything of a half-hour drive since my current commute is a one-hour subway ride and so a half hour drive sounds way more pleasant).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:42 AM on October 17, 2018
I'd like to point out that while I like Kingston, it's probably about as small as a place can be while still qualifying as a city. I'm also not sure that there would be the kind of jobs you want there, unless you are willing to commute down to the northern NYC suburbs, which would be a real trek. I know some folks who have relocated there from Brooklyn and pretty much all of them do remote and/or contract work.
I admit that I was responding more to the line about Mr. Chick being able to work remotely when thinking of Kingston. However, I also was thinking of Kingston being a potential "home base" as it's within drive-able commuting distance, at least to my mind, of several other places (Poughkeepsie, New Paltz, etc.) that may have suitable employment but may not be a pretty place to actually live. Your mileage may vary, though (I also grant I don't think anything of a half-hour drive since my current commute is a one-hour subway ride and so a half hour drive sounds way more pleasant).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:42 AM on October 17, 2018
Richmond, Virginia?
We've got nice old bones (fairly walkable/bikeable in most neighborhoods), a fairly temperate climate, an amazing restaurant scene, and a lot of growth. You're close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to DC.
posted by Vhanudux at 11:10 AM on October 17, 2018
We've got nice old bones (fairly walkable/bikeable in most neighborhoods), a fairly temperate climate, an amazing restaurant scene, and a lot of growth. You're close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to DC.
posted by Vhanudux at 11:10 AM on October 17, 2018
Other than you finding a job there, I think Reno ticks most of your boxes. Now hear me out on the weather: it's a dry heat, I swear it.
posted by freezer cake at 12:01 PM on October 17, 2018
posted by freezer cake at 12:01 PM on October 17, 2018
Buffalo. You want Buffalo.
We are pretty much Canada-lite, and have pretty much everything you want.
posted by RhysPenbras at 12:20 PM on October 17, 2018
We are pretty much Canada-lite, and have pretty much everything you want.
posted by RhysPenbras at 12:20 PM on October 17, 2018
Have you spent any time in San Diego? How do you feel about history and culture? San Diego is mostly new (once you get out of the coastal center) and feels very different from most of the Canadian or East Coast cities I've visited. It's also a desert relying on precarious water. People live there and Love it, so these downsides may not matter to you. But for me it would be too much of a culture clash.
I'd instead think about mid-California coast or north of there. Still beautiful with topography, but also cooler (on many fronts).
posted by ldthomps at 12:47 PM on October 17, 2018
I'd instead think about mid-California coast or north of there. Still beautiful with topography, but also cooler (on many fronts).
posted by ldthomps at 12:47 PM on October 17, 2018
I can't sit here and let people recommend the East Coast if moderate humidity is a requirement. We just had a horrifically humid summer, which went weeks longer than usual. In fact, it just transitioned to proper fall weather this past week. You absolutely do not want to live in Kingston, as much as the Catskill Mountains and the Taconics and the upper Hudson Valley are truly gorgeous. The summers are brutal and the winters can be just as cold as where you're living now (ok maybe not quite as cold, but dang it seems like it). Same goes for Buffalo or Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.
So you want the West. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:49 PM on October 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
So you want the West. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:49 PM on October 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
What we like: warm but not scorching hot weather, minimal winters compared to Canada
I feel like nobody read this part. Minnisota? Rochester? Kingston? Buffalo? Sweet Jesus no.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:21 AM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I feel like nobody read this part. Minnisota? Rochester? Kingston? Buffalo? Sweet Jesus no.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:21 AM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I feel like nobody read this part. Minnisota? Rochester? Kingston? Buffalo? Sweet Jesus no.
It's not nearly as bad as Weather Channel makes it seem.
posted by RhysPenbras at 11:05 AM on October 18, 2018
It's not nearly as bad as Weather Channel makes it seem.
posted by RhysPenbras at 11:05 AM on October 18, 2018
You're getting conflicting answers because "moderate humidity" and "minimal winters compared to Canada" mean vastly different things to different people. Where in Canada are you currently living / what kind of climate are you benchmarking against? For example, I'm betting that someone from Edmonton has a different idea of "moderate humidity" than someone from Vancouver.
I grew up partly in Newfoundland, partly in Wilmington, DE (Mid-Atlantic East Coast). I'm now living in northern California and I kind of hate the weather, full disclosure. I think of the Mid-Atlantic as "moderate humidity" because everywhere west of the Rockies is "low to ludicrously low humidity". I didn't realize until I moved to California that it could be 80F at noon and a *chilly* 65F at 8PM because the air doesn't hold any warmth as soon as the sun goes down. That's my own home-climate bias; yours may be different, I don't have any experience with mainland Canadian weather.
posted by serelliya at 8:43 PM on October 18, 2018
I grew up partly in Newfoundland, partly in Wilmington, DE (Mid-Atlantic East Coast). I'm now living in northern California and I kind of hate the weather, full disclosure. I think of the Mid-Atlantic as "moderate humidity" because everywhere west of the Rockies is "low to ludicrously low humidity". I didn't realize until I moved to California that it could be 80F at noon and a *chilly* 65F at 8PM because the air doesn't hold any warmth as soon as the sun goes down. That's my own home-climate bias; yours may be different, I don't have any experience with mainland Canadian weather.
posted by serelliya at 8:43 PM on October 18, 2018
The Pacific Northwest. Seattle area, Portland. We have topography enough to make your eyes water (with joy) — big mountains, water, islands, rivers, lakes, deserts, rain forests, prairies, all within a few hours drive of each other. Winters are wet but otherwise not extreme. Humidity is moderate, summers only have a few hot weeks. If you’ve been to Vancouver, you’ve had a taste of Seattle.
posted by lhauser at 1:02 PM on October 20, 2018
posted by lhauser at 1:02 PM on October 20, 2018
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If Austin isn't too hot and humid for you, much of the noncoastal south would suit you. Atlanta, Charlotte,
Raleigh/Durham, Nashville, Asheville... Except for towns at altitude like Asheville, they'll all be more humid than Austin, but also *dramatically* less-hot in summer.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:15 PM on October 16, 2018 [4 favorites]