I'm looking for a cheap but charming Bohemian paradise to live in forever.
May 20, 2012 3:11 PM Subscribe
Where in the US should I move? A whole variety of criteria inside.
For a variety of reasons I think I need to leave my home town forever. I am a 50 year old single woman with a BA. Where in the US can I move that fits the following criteria?
* Strong job market. I have a background primarily in nonprofits, ranging from education to marketing, but I've done a lot of things and have administrative skills galore. I need to make between 30 and 40K a year.
* Artsy, interesting, liberal people. I'm not expecting some hitherto unknown Bohemian utopia (although if you know one, please spill!) but I don't think I'll be happy somewhere they've never seen a tattooed lady or equate socialism with devil worship. I like bookstores and museums, bars and funky coffee shops, farmers markets and Asian restaurants. I also like hiking and trees and I don't want to live in a huge city. I hold out some crazy, impossible hope that I might date again someday (I am hetero) so single guys in their 50s would be nice too.
* I like weather. I have no problem with snow or rain or wind. I have never lived in the desert or anywhere that there are not four distinct seasons and I'm not sure I want to start. But! This is probably the least important criteria.
AND (the clincher) * I can buy a reasonably decent house with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a large fenced yard within a mile or so of what passes for a downtown scene - for 110K or less.
I know this doesn't seem as if it should be anonymous but trust me, it does. There are people I know who read metafilter who would object strongly to me leaving. No crime is being committed but I am done being the caretaker for my entire extended dysfunctional family. I cannot take it anymore and I think it's time to go. I'm currently underemployed, bored and there will never be a better time.
For a variety of reasons I think I need to leave my home town forever. I am a 50 year old single woman with a BA. Where in the US can I move that fits the following criteria?
* Strong job market. I have a background primarily in nonprofits, ranging from education to marketing, but I've done a lot of things and have administrative skills galore. I need to make between 30 and 40K a year.
* Artsy, interesting, liberal people. I'm not expecting some hitherto unknown Bohemian utopia (although if you know one, please spill!) but I don't think I'll be happy somewhere they've never seen a tattooed lady or equate socialism with devil worship. I like bookstores and museums, bars and funky coffee shops, farmers markets and Asian restaurants. I also like hiking and trees and I don't want to live in a huge city. I hold out some crazy, impossible hope that I might date again someday (I am hetero) so single guys in their 50s would be nice too.
* I like weather. I have no problem with snow or rain or wind. I have never lived in the desert or anywhere that there are not four distinct seasons and I'm not sure I want to start. But! This is probably the least important criteria.
AND (the clincher) * I can buy a reasonably decent house with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a large fenced yard within a mile or so of what passes for a downtown scene - for 110K or less.
I know this doesn't seem as if it should be anonymous but trust me, it does. There are people I know who read metafilter who would object strongly to me leaving. No crime is being committed but I am done being the caretaker for my entire extended dysfunctional family. I cannot take it anymore and I think it's time to go. I'm currently underemployed, bored and there will never be a better time.
You want a midwestern university town. Ideally, a university town that doesn't have much industry outside the university if you want that kind of real estate scene. Universities have tons of administrative/nonprofit-type jobs. Their towns will have lots of restaurants, bookstores, artsy/bohemia types of folks. Think of places like Athens Ohio, Lawrence Kansas, Columbia Missouri, and Bloomington Indiana - not their larger counterparts, like Columbus Ohio, or Ann Arbor Michigan.
posted by amelioration at 3:29 PM on May 20, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by amelioration at 3:29 PM on May 20, 2012 [7 favorites]
Washington, DC
Housing requirement aside.
posted by phrontist at 3:39 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Housing requirement aside.
posted by phrontist at 3:39 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seconding midwestern university town. Madison, WI or Iowa City, IA both have hugely liberal reputations. I've lived in I.C. before and loved it. Housing is definitely affordable (as long as you're not renting near campus). Not sure about the job market, but the U of Iowa is there, as is a Procter and Gamble plant. It's also very close to Cedar Rapids, which has some decent industry, though it's lacking in cultural amenities. But being only 30 minutes from I.C., it doesn't really matter. People commute between the two all the time.
I live in Omaha now. It definitely has a liberal sector, but it's mostly just a midwestern city. There's a symphony and an opera as well as a couple of decent museums and good indie art scene. The job market is better than most places this size, as it is home to half a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
posted by wwartorff at 3:40 PM on May 20, 2012
I live in Omaha now. It definitely has a liberal sector, but it's mostly just a midwestern city. There's a symphony and an opera as well as a couple of decent museums and good indie art scene. The job market is better than most places this size, as it is home to half a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
posted by wwartorff at 3:40 PM on May 20, 2012
I'm gonna say Portland, Maine.
posted by nicwolff at 3:43 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 3:43 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Durham, NC (Asheville is super expensive, but I knew grad students who owned houses in Durham.)
posted by hydropsyche at 3:46 PM on May 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 3:46 PM on May 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
Maybe Columbus, Ohio!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:47 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:47 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
With those housing requirements, you'd be hard-pressed to find something in Austin -- Texas's go to University town. You might, however, find what you're looking for in Denton, being liberal-friendly (by Texas standards, anyway) cities that aren't huge.
If you weren't interested in huge cities, I'd spend some time waxing about the "funkier" scenes in Houston. They thrive. Far more liberal-friendly than Denton and some like-minded folks like it a lot better than Austin. And the job market and housing market are pretty amenable.
posted by GPF at 3:50 PM on May 20, 2012
If you weren't interested in huge cities, I'd spend some time waxing about the "funkier" scenes in Houston. They thrive. Far more liberal-friendly than Denton and some like-minded folks like it a lot better than Austin. And the job market and housing market are pretty amenable.
posted by GPF at 3:50 PM on May 20, 2012
Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University? Maybe Columbus Ohio?
posted by alms at 3:50 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by alms at 3:50 PM on May 20, 2012
Nicwolff's suggestion is a good one. I'm not sure if any place can meet your price/proximity to downtown/liberal combo, but Portland, ME is a close match. Once you get, say, 15 minutes outside the city your money can go a long way. Alternatively, a condo on the peninsula can be that cheap and you're only missing a yard.
posted by monkeymadness at 3:51 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by monkeymadness at 3:51 PM on May 20, 2012
Agree that Durham might be a good choice. I work in neighboring Chapel Hill, and the job market seems prettty decent here (compared to other places around the country). Meets your cultural criteria. I'm not sure if housing is quite that affordable, but it is worth looking into.
posted by jeoc at 3:55 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by jeoc at 3:55 PM on May 20, 2012
People have mentioned Madison, WI, and Bloomington, IN. I've lived in both.
- Bloomington has less expensive housing
- Madison has a lot more people and therefore more single men
- Bloomington is dominated by students -- they make up a much bigger percentage of the population, which means an even smaller social scene for people over 30
- Madison has more job opportunities
- Both places have a good supply of ethnic restaurants; in Bloomington most of them are conveniently concentrated in one area
- Both places are liberal, but conservative Christianity is a lot more visible in Bloomington
- Madison's surroundings are more liberal. Leave Bloomington and you're in a very red state.
- Bloomington is a little scruffier; Madison is more Land's End / Eddie Bauer
- If you like classical music, there are probably more arts events for you in Bloomington
- Madison has far better infrastructure for biking
- Winters are a lot less severe in Bloomington
posted by ceiba at 3:57 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
- Bloomington has less expensive housing
- Madison has a lot more people and therefore more single men
- Bloomington is dominated by students -- they make up a much bigger percentage of the population, which means an even smaller social scene for people over 30
- Madison has more job opportunities
- Both places have a good supply of ethnic restaurants; in Bloomington most of them are conveniently concentrated in one area
- Both places are liberal, but conservative Christianity is a lot more visible in Bloomington
- Madison's surroundings are more liberal. Leave Bloomington and you're in a very red state.
- Bloomington is a little scruffier; Madison is more Land's End / Eddie Bauer
- If you like classical music, there are probably more arts events for you in Bloomington
- Madison has far better infrastructure for biking
- Winters are a lot less severe in Bloomington
posted by ceiba at 3:57 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I need to make between 30 and 40K a year.... a reasonably decent house with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a large fenced yard within a mile or so of what passes for a downtown scene - for 110K or less.
Consider that you don't probably really need this salary and this housing price point. What you need is to be able to buy a house on the salary you can reasonably hope to earn with your qualifications. A situation that has both higher housing costs and higher salaries might work out fine.
I was tempted to mention Pittsburgh (and so I did) but a big yard within a mile of "a downtown scene" means you're looking for a small town. Big yards that close to downtowns of cities of any size are basically nonexistent (or extremely expensive).
posted by jon1270 at 3:58 PM on May 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
Consider that you don't probably really need this salary and this housing price point. What you need is to be able to buy a house on the salary you can reasonably hope to earn with your qualifications. A situation that has both higher housing costs and higher salaries might work out fine.
I was tempted to mention Pittsburgh (and so I did) but a big yard within a mile of "a downtown scene" means you're looking for a small town. Big yards that close to downtowns of cities of any size are basically nonexistent (or extremely expensive).
posted by jon1270 at 3:58 PM on May 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
Nthing Durham. It's really close to what you want. Read the other threads about Durham and you'll hear all about its positive qualities...
posted by gerryblog at 4:02 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by gerryblog at 4:02 PM on May 20, 2012
Check out Providence, RI and outside, nearby towns like Cranston, Warwick, and Johnston, which are within 10-15 minutes of downtown but significantly cheaper to live in. I'm not sure how the job market is for your field, but give it a look. Definitely meets the liberal and weather criteria.
posted by jorlyfish at 4:18 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jorlyfish at 4:18 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm a Purdue graduate. Lafayette IN is excruciatingly conservative by college town standards.
I was thinking Athens GA.
posted by COD at 4:41 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was thinking Athens GA.
posted by COD at 4:41 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you decide to go the "university town" route, another one to check out is Athens, GA. As a plus, it's only an hour and change from Atlanta, which will expand your dating and cultural opportunities immensely.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:42 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 4:42 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cambridge, MA, has all those things (well, I don't know about the single guys in their fifties), but it's pricey.
posted by namemeansgazelle at 4:48 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 4:48 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would agree with those mentioning midwestern college towns. You'll get real close to your housing target in places like Lawrence, KS (really neat little town - and very close to Kansas City), Iowa City, Columbia, MO. All three of these are mostly-liberal conclaves and nice leafy towns with character.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 5:04 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by Gerard Sorme at 5:04 PM on May 20, 2012
Cleveland Heights or University Heights, Ohio? If you can find work there, the housing stock is way underpriced and there is a lot going on in terms of the arts.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:11 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:11 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Depending on how large a place you're thinking, and what you consider a "downtown scene", you might consider St. Louis.
While you might have a little trouble finding a house with a big yard within a mile of THE downtown (there probably are some, just not a lot — definitely a lot of houses, not a lot of big yards). There are several places in or near the city that rival small-town downtowns that have houses a block or two away.
And of course, we have plenty of weather.
posted by brentajones at 5:12 PM on May 20, 2012
While you might have a little trouble finding a house with a big yard within a mile of THE downtown (there probably are some, just not a lot — definitely a lot of houses, not a lot of big yards). There are several places in or near the city that rival small-town downtowns that have houses a block or two away.
And of course, we have plenty of weather.
posted by brentajones at 5:12 PM on May 20, 2012
Why has no one mentioned Minneapolis/St. Paul? You've pretty much described this area.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:15 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:15 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
another one to check out is Athens, GA. As a plus, it's only an hour and change from Atlanta, which will expand your dating and cultural opportunities immensely.
Housing prices are ridiculously low in Atlanta right now if you wanted to be in a bigger city.
posted by bongo_x at 5:23 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Housing prices are ridiculously low in Atlanta right now if you wanted to be in a bigger city.
posted by bongo_x at 5:23 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Despite the horrible (yet deserved) press Virginia has gotten lately, maybe Charlottesville, VA?
posted by 4ster at 5:26 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by 4ster at 5:26 PM on May 20, 2012
Seconding Asheville, NC.
posted by entropyiswinning at 5:31 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by entropyiswinning at 5:31 PM on May 20, 2012
Housing in Charlottesville is pretty ridiculous though.No way the OP hits the housing target in Charlottesville.
posted by COD at 6:23 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by COD at 6:23 PM on May 20, 2012
I came here to second Columbia, MO. Great university community, more liberal than much of the surrounding state, very low cost-of-living and housing costs. Hot summers, cold winters, pleasant springs and autumns. The downtown is phenomenal - great, cosmopolitan dining options and good shopping and art galleries, one of the best independent movie theaters in the country (the RagTag Cinema), and close to the countryside with lots of hiking and biking options. Plus, the college campus is a registered botanical garden. The town hosts the True/False Film Festival every year!
(Full disclosure - I'm a Mizzou alum)
posted by honeybee413 at 6:55 PM on May 20, 2012
(Full disclosure - I'm a Mizzou alum)
posted by honeybee413 at 6:55 PM on May 20, 2012
Philadelphia is great and fits all of your requirements (with the possible exception of "don't want to live in a huge city"- it might be considered a huge city by someone who has lived somewhere smaller.)
There are lots of great residential neighborhoods in Philly that are quire affordable yet nearby downtown.
Philadelphia has the largest public park system in the US and there are TONS of beautiful places to hike, bike, jog, etc.
Four distinct seasons:each season is beautiful, in my opinion (summers are quite hot and humid though)
Also, Philadelphia has wonderful cultural diversity, if that matters to do- much more cultural diverse than Portland and Seattle (from what I've heard, though I know those are great cities too). It also has class diversity.
I would say a disadvantage of Philly to some is that it may feel "dangerous" (to some). I've grown up there and lived there a large portion of my adult life, and this doesn't bother me. Also, I've never had a problem with crime there.
If you decide on Philly, you should check out Mt. Airy or University City for bohemians galore! Mt. Airy is a tree-filled, liberal, diverse neighborhood with lots of people in their 50's. I think you'd like it!
(I'm feeling homesick...)
posted by bearette at 7:17 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
There are lots of great residential neighborhoods in Philly that are quire affordable yet nearby downtown.
Philadelphia has the largest public park system in the US and there are TONS of beautiful places to hike, bike, jog, etc.
Four distinct seasons:each season is beautiful, in my opinion (summers are quite hot and humid though)
Also, Philadelphia has wonderful cultural diversity, if that matters to do- much more cultural diverse than Portland and Seattle (from what I've heard, though I know those are great cities too). It also has class diversity.
I would say a disadvantage of Philly to some is that it may feel "dangerous" (to some). I've grown up there and lived there a large portion of my adult life, and this doesn't bother me. Also, I've never had a problem with crime there.
If you decide on Philly, you should check out Mt. Airy or University City for bohemians galore! Mt. Airy is a tree-filled, liberal, diverse neighborhood with lots of people in their 50's. I think you'd like it!
(I'm feeling homesick...)
posted by bearette at 7:17 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
About danger: it's not really, you just have to be aware of what's going on.
Also, lots of typos above, but I think folks can figure out what I was trying to say.
posted by bearette at 7:19 PM on May 20, 2012
Also, lots of typos above, but I think folks can figure out what I was trying to say.
posted by bearette at 7:19 PM on May 20, 2012
I've lived in both Madison and Providence, 2000-2002 and 2002-2003 respectively, and unless prices have absolutely tanked, they are both out. Back in 2000, when looking for a house in Madison around 100K we were looking at trailers. No exaggeration, trailers in a trailer park. Lucky for us, this was the beginning of mortgage shenanigans so we qualified for a mortgage much larger than we were coming from and could swing payments.
Providence's market is inflated due to its proximity to Boston. Compared to Boston it's a bargain but nothing in your price range unless you want to live in Pawtucket/Central Falls or in the woods- Foster/Gloucester- no school! (If you live there, you'll get this).
In my neck of the woods, I would say look at college towns like Geneseo, NY or Binghamton, NY. Ithaca is awesome but I think real estate will be the limiting factor. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking Burlington, VT may fit your criteria. Good luck and let us know where you end up. And coming from the Northeast and having done college in Vermont, I will say- Winters in Madison? No thanks.
posted by karlos at 7:31 PM on May 20, 2012
Providence's market is inflated due to its proximity to Boston. Compared to Boston it's a bargain but nothing in your price range unless you want to live in Pawtucket/Central Falls or in the woods- Foster/Gloucester- no school! (If you live there, you'll get this).
In my neck of the woods, I would say look at college towns like Geneseo, NY or Binghamton, NY. Ithaca is awesome but I think real estate will be the limiting factor. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking Burlington, VT may fit your criteria. Good luck and let us know where you end up. And coming from the Northeast and having done college in Vermont, I will say- Winters in Madison? No thanks.
posted by karlos at 7:31 PM on May 20, 2012
The expansion and rise of the UAB Medical Center has made Birmingham, Alabama a very desirable place again. Your salary expectations and home prices would fit nicely, and they get four very distinct seasons. WInter lasts from December 20th until about March 15th.
Birmingham was a steel town, and they know unions. There's a very liberal and bohemian population downtown and on Southside. The Birmingham metro area is made up of about forty smaller towns that have all grown together to produce a city, but they all have their own personalities.
Live music is huge, restaurants are plentiful, museums and science centers and concerts and special events abound, and they have one of the best Farmer's Markets in the country. It's centrally located - you can be in Atlanta in two hours, Nashville or New Orleans in four, or on the beach in Pensacola in three and a half.
Election time is coming soon, and you will see the last set of elected state officials swept out the door like garbage - even the hard core folks thought they went way too far. It's time for a progressive backlash, and that always brings lots of improvements.
Check it out. I know, I know, Alabama? Just check it out for yourself.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:58 PM on May 20, 2012
Birmingham was a steel town, and they know unions. There's a very liberal and bohemian population downtown and on Southside. The Birmingham metro area is made up of about forty smaller towns that have all grown together to produce a city, but they all have their own personalities.
Live music is huge, restaurants are plentiful, museums and science centers and concerts and special events abound, and they have one of the best Farmer's Markets in the country. It's centrally located - you can be in Atlanta in two hours, Nashville or New Orleans in four, or on the beach in Pensacola in three and a half.
Election time is coming soon, and you will see the last set of elected state officials swept out the door like garbage - even the hard core folks thought they went way too far. It's time for a progressive backlash, and that always brings lots of improvements.
Check it out. I know, I know, Alabama? Just check it out for yourself.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:58 PM on May 20, 2012
Burlington, VT
posted by k8t at 8:08 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 8:08 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Man, I know I'm biased, but... New Orleans!
Culture out the wazoo! Parks, museums, festivals year-round.
We have jobs, fairly plentiful. I know people who work retail and make 30k/year, so with your qualifications I'm sure you can do at least that well.
It is a biggish city, but it's pretty green, and if you leave the city there is lots of nature within 30 minutes.
People are wonderfully amazingly friendly. I've struck up conversations with plenty of people on the street, and this is common. Meeting people is easy in a billion ways.
Please at least take a look... this city is a really great place to live.
posted by Night_owl at 8:16 PM on May 20, 2012
Culture out the wazoo! Parks, museums, festivals year-round.
We have jobs, fairly plentiful. I know people who work retail and make 30k/year, so with your qualifications I'm sure you can do at least that well.
It is a biggish city, but it's pretty green, and if you leave the city there is lots of nature within 30 minutes.
People are wonderfully amazingly friendly. I've struck up conversations with plenty of people on the street, and this is common. Meeting people is easy in a billion ways.
Please at least take a look... this city is a really great place to live.
posted by Night_owl at 8:16 PM on May 20, 2012
How about someplace like Northampton, MA or Amherst, MA? Both very picturesque and small towny/college towns with a very liberal and artsy vibe. I'm not sure about single males in their 50s though...
Maybe Burlington, VT? Oh, and I've been to Athens, OH also. It's a very cute college town, so I think that's a great suggestion also.
posted by Sal and Richard at 9:20 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Maybe Burlington, VT? Oh, and I've been to Athens, OH also. It's a very cute college town, so I think that's a great suggestion also.
posted by Sal and Richard at 9:20 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'll chime in for Portland Ore. vs Portland, ME:
There are no jobs in Portland, Ore. at he moment. They're very difficult to come by if you do not have deep connections within the city. I've lived there my entire life up until this last winter, and it was getting difficult to find any sort of passable employment there. It is also getting increasingly expensive, especially if you want to consider buying a home in any desireabe part of the city. If we could have found a house for 110k, we would have stayed with our shit jobs in a heartbeat. That's nigh impossible in PDX. Houses in the areas you're describing would be in the $300-450K range. People need to stop moving there unless they have a couple buckets of cash, and are actually looking to start improving the overall economy and creating real jobs beyond starting a new coffee shop or restaurant. That said, if you can live off of $18k a year, have 3 roommates and like to bike in the rain, it's a great place to live. (end bitter Portlander exile rant...)
Portland, ME however, seems (marginally) better in the jobs department but wildly better in the housing (we're still renting however)...I still don't think you could get a livable house for $110K here, but you could get close, if you went a good 20 minute drive outside the city, in certain directions or got a fixer-upper. We've seen a couple fixer uppers in the $40-75k range, pretty close to town (not quite as close as you're hoping). Once we saw a house for 20k, and almost bought it, but you'd need to raze the place and start over on the foundation. One thing, is that most older (and cheaper) houses run off oil heat, which is a big, giant, invisible tax on getting a house here.
Maine's demographic skews away from young folk pretty dramatically. I don't have any firsthand experience, but I'm sure you're dating life would not suffer.
Uh, and we also have one of the best Ramen joins I've ever been to. We've got a couple of good Bahn Mi joints, and some okay Thai restaurants, but asian food is a bit lacking here, compared to other parts of the country.
Our farmers market is pretty fantastic too.
Finding a good cup of coffee is very difficult.
Portland, ME has it's problems, and Maine in general has a few more, but this is a nice place, with a fair amount of opportunity, and really cheap houses.
posted by furnace.heart at 5:12 AM on May 21, 2012
There are no jobs in Portland, Ore. at he moment. They're very difficult to come by if you do not have deep connections within the city. I've lived there my entire life up until this last winter, and it was getting difficult to find any sort of passable employment there. It is also getting increasingly expensive, especially if you want to consider buying a home in any desireabe part of the city. If we could have found a house for 110k, we would have stayed with our shit jobs in a heartbeat. That's nigh impossible in PDX. Houses in the areas you're describing would be in the $300-450K range. People need to stop moving there unless they have a couple buckets of cash, and are actually looking to start improving the overall economy and creating real jobs beyond starting a new coffee shop or restaurant. That said, if you can live off of $18k a year, have 3 roommates and like to bike in the rain, it's a great place to live. (end bitter Portlander exile rant...)
Portland, ME however, seems (marginally) better in the jobs department but wildly better in the housing (we're still renting however)...I still don't think you could get a livable house for $110K here, but you could get close, if you went a good 20 minute drive outside the city, in certain directions or got a fixer-upper. We've seen a couple fixer uppers in the $40-75k range, pretty close to town (not quite as close as you're hoping). Once we saw a house for 20k, and almost bought it, but you'd need to raze the place and start over on the foundation. One thing, is that most older (and cheaper) houses run off oil heat, which is a big, giant, invisible tax on getting a house here.
Maine's demographic skews away from young folk pretty dramatically. I don't have any firsthand experience, but I'm sure you're dating life would not suffer.
Uh, and we also have one of the best Ramen joins I've ever been to. We've got a couple of good Bahn Mi joints, and some okay Thai restaurants, but asian food is a bit lacking here, compared to other parts of the country.
Our farmers market is pretty fantastic too.
Finding a good cup of coffee is very difficult.
Portland, ME has it's problems, and Maine in general has a few more, but this is a nice place, with a fair amount of opportunity, and really cheap houses.
posted by furnace.heart at 5:12 AM on May 21, 2012
Northampton, MA is out unless you can settle for a condo. There are a couple for sale now under $100K in the downtown area and at least one in Laurel Park.
posted by Gringos Without Borders at 6:47 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by Gringos Without Borders at 6:47 AM on May 21, 2012
Adding another college town to the mix - Lincoln, Nebraska. Seems to fit just about all of your criteria.
posted by PussKillian at 7:21 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by PussKillian at 7:21 AM on May 21, 2012
Came in to say Durham as well. And a big fat NO to Asheville. No jobs, expensive housing.
posted by greta simone at 8:19 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by greta simone at 8:19 AM on May 21, 2012
Northampton (MA)'s Laurel Park has a bunch of single older people (plus couples, and families). It's a former Methodist camp community, all wooden cottages in various states of upkeep/charm. It's also the only affordable place within Northampton to have affordable, free-standing homes. However, no fenced-in yards allowed. MeMail me for more info, if you'd like. You can also try Easthampton, which is a quick ten-minute (or less) drive away from Northampton and is much cheaper. $110k is pretty unheard of, though...
posted by chowflap at 8:21 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by chowflap at 8:21 AM on May 21, 2012
I was thinking Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh area too. Lots of jobs, a good university and affordable housing.
I have friends who live in Pittsboro, which is out of the way and really affordable. A bit TOO far out of the way for me.
RDU is a good airport, easy to use, lots of flights.
I live in Atlanta, and while I took a bath, having bought our house in 2006, we have friends who have a 2 bed, 1 bath cottage, with a 1 bed, 1 bath rental unit down stairs for $80,000 in Marrietta, GA. They are walking distance to the square, which is as "Small Town" feeling as it wants to be. Also a great farmers market.
We aren't as liberal as Seattle or San Francisco (and I grind my teeth regularly because of it) but we're moreso than Nashville or Birmingham, so there's that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:26 AM on May 21, 2012
I have friends who live in Pittsboro, which is out of the way and really affordable. A bit TOO far out of the way for me.
RDU is a good airport, easy to use, lots of flights.
I live in Atlanta, and while I took a bath, having bought our house in 2006, we have friends who have a 2 bed, 1 bath cottage, with a 1 bed, 1 bath rental unit down stairs for $80,000 in Marrietta, GA. They are walking distance to the square, which is as "Small Town" feeling as it wants to be. Also a great farmers market.
We aren't as liberal as Seattle or San Francisco (and I grind my teeth regularly because of it) but we're moreso than Nashville or Birmingham, so there's that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:26 AM on May 21, 2012
Columbus, Ohio! Jobs market is pretty decent and Columbus the most progressive/open-minded city in Ohio (IMHO). Great parks and many thriving downtown neighborhoods like the Short North. Lots of very nice parks and within driving distance to Hocking Hills.
posted by halseyaa at 9:46 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by halseyaa at 9:46 AM on May 21, 2012
Milwaukee! A bunch have mentioned Madison, but the many times I've been there have never changed my impression of a bleak, depressing city. Milwaukee is really underrated. There's a lot of cultural and artsy stuff going on all the time, plus we have the lake. There is certainly no lack of bars, or funky coffee shops and interesting restaurants. And weather. It was 90 on Saturday, 57 today. Summer here is really great.
And you can certainly buy a house for 110k. In fact, a friend of mine just bought that exact house, for that exact price. And she paid way too much. You can get a foreclosure for half that.
posted by catatethebird at 9:51 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
And you can certainly buy a house for 110k. In fact, a friend of mine just bought that exact house, for that exact price. And she paid way too much. You can get a foreclosure for half that.
posted by catatethebird at 9:51 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Minneapolis: Cheap housing, friendly people, progressive politics, job market that's better than much of the rest of the country, great music scene and if you want weather, well they certainly have that!
posted by nubianinthedesert at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by nubianinthedesert at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
In the Midwestern college town realm, Kalamazoo, MI is a pretty good fit, though the job situation is probably the worst part of what you're asking for, though there are certain industries thriving there (education, pharmaceuticals, and Kellogg's is located in Battle Creek reasonable commuting distance away). Here it is on a "10 Best Cities for Cheapskates." Lots of huge, beautiful old houses in leafy neighborhoods, a charming, walkable downtown, a surprising amount of intellectual life because of WMU and K College, a lot of culture for such a small place (a lot of acts stop there between Detroit and Chicago), tons of varied outdoor opportunities year round. (Here's my answer about Kalamazoo the last time someone asked such a question.)
posted by jocelmeow at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jocelmeow at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Another vote for St. Louis. The Tower Grove and Shaw neighborhoods are fantastic, diverse, packed with good Asian restaurants and Food Truck Fridays in Tower Grove park. It's a five minute jaunt from a decent downtown, has great coffee shops and bars, and all around a kick ass place. You'll probably need to spend a bit more on house than $100K, but not much more.
posted by slogger at 11:41 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by slogger at 11:41 AM on May 21, 2012
It looks like a partial match at best, but I'll tell you where I live, Fort Worth, TX.
* Strong job market. I have a background primarily in nonprofits, ranging from education to marketing, but I've done a lot of things and have administrative skills galore. I need to make between 30 and 40K a year.
The Texas job market in general is pretty good (I think the unemployment rate just posted at 6.3%) and Fort Worth is reasonably good. There is enough benevolence money that money feeding non-profits is still flowing.
* Artsy, interesting, liberal people. I'm not expecting some hitherto unknown Bohemian utopia (although if you know one, please spill!) but I don't think I'll be happy somewhere they've never seen a tattooed lady or equate socialism with devil worship. I like bookstores and museums, bars and funky coffee shops, farmers markets and Asian restaurants. I also like hiking and trees and I don't want to live in a huge city. I hold out some crazy, impossible hope that I might date again someday (I am hetero) so single guys in their 50s would be nice too.
While Texas in general is a red state, and Fort Worth in particular leans that way, there are sections and subgroups within the city that are pretty blue. The Near Southside, a mile or two south of downtown, has several neighborhoods that satisfy your liberal requirement. There is a gay area (made somewhat infamous by the Rainbow Lounge incident. Things have gotten better for the gay community; the councilman for the southside is the first openly gay elected official in Texas. So there is that.
A little further south are the Fairmount and Ryan Plan neighborhoods, which are more diverse, kind of gentrified, but still affordable. Fairmount is the heart of the Near Southside and is a tight, but open to newcomers, kind of neighborhood. When I can sell my urban sprawl home further south I plan to move there. There are pockets in both Fairmount and Ryan Place that are very well fixed up and other areas that are still kind of run down, but the trend is upward.
* I like weather. I have no problem with snow or rain or wind. I have never lived in the desert or anywhere that there are not four distinct seasons and I'm not sure I want to start. But! This is probably the least important criteria.
This is the weakest point, I think. Where northern climes have Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, Fort Worth has Summer, Fall, Summer, and Hell. It may not seem possible, but you can get acclimated to Hell.
AND (the clincher) * I can buy a reasonably decent house with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a large fenced yard within a mile or so of what passes for a downtown scene - for 110K or less.
This might be one of the stronger points. In Ryan Place and Fairmount, most reasonably decent homes are going to be more than $110k and the yards won't be too large. But there are exceptions to both and you *might* be able to find what you are looking for. If you can squeeze a budget of even $150k for a house, it opens up many more options. But here's the best part: If you can get into a home in these neighborhoods, you are in an old-fashioned urban area with eclectic blue-state type people, nice restaurants, a true sense of community including several street fairs each year, parks, community gardens, and you're only maybe a couple miles from downtown. Oh, and I should mention, that's also the most bicycle friendly part of the city, with rideable streets, bike lanes, and mostly flat terrain. This is a cute house on a small lot. I know the area, not bad.
So for your major points, I think the first two are pretty close, the third point might not fit since we don't have much of a winter, and the fourth point is close, perhaps just a bit out of your range (but finding something in your range isn't totally out of the question).
posted by Doohickie at 1:11 PM on May 21, 2012
* Strong job market. I have a background primarily in nonprofits, ranging from education to marketing, but I've done a lot of things and have administrative skills galore. I need to make between 30 and 40K a year.
The Texas job market in general is pretty good (I think the unemployment rate just posted at 6.3%) and Fort Worth is reasonably good. There is enough benevolence money that money feeding non-profits is still flowing.
* Artsy, interesting, liberal people. I'm not expecting some hitherto unknown Bohemian utopia (although if you know one, please spill!) but I don't think I'll be happy somewhere they've never seen a tattooed lady or equate socialism with devil worship. I like bookstores and museums, bars and funky coffee shops, farmers markets and Asian restaurants. I also like hiking and trees and I don't want to live in a huge city. I hold out some crazy, impossible hope that I might date again someday (I am hetero) so single guys in their 50s would be nice too.
While Texas in general is a red state, and Fort Worth in particular leans that way, there are sections and subgroups within the city that are pretty blue. The Near Southside, a mile or two south of downtown, has several neighborhoods that satisfy your liberal requirement. There is a gay area (made somewhat infamous by the Rainbow Lounge incident. Things have gotten better for the gay community; the councilman for the southside is the first openly gay elected official in Texas. So there is that.
A little further south are the Fairmount and Ryan Plan neighborhoods, which are more diverse, kind of gentrified, but still affordable. Fairmount is the heart of the Near Southside and is a tight, but open to newcomers, kind of neighborhood. When I can sell my urban sprawl home further south I plan to move there. There are pockets in both Fairmount and Ryan Place that are very well fixed up and other areas that are still kind of run down, but the trend is upward.
* I like weather. I have no problem with snow or rain or wind. I have never lived in the desert or anywhere that there are not four distinct seasons and I'm not sure I want to start. But! This is probably the least important criteria.
This is the weakest point, I think. Where northern climes have Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, Fort Worth has Summer, Fall, Summer, and Hell. It may not seem possible, but you can get acclimated to Hell.
AND (the clincher) * I can buy a reasonably decent house with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a large fenced yard within a mile or so of what passes for a downtown scene - for 110K or less.
This might be one of the stronger points. In Ryan Place and Fairmount, most reasonably decent homes are going to be more than $110k and the yards won't be too large. But there are exceptions to both and you *might* be able to find what you are looking for. If you can squeeze a budget of even $150k for a house, it opens up many more options. But here's the best part: If you can get into a home in these neighborhoods, you are in an old-fashioned urban area with eclectic blue-state type people, nice restaurants, a true sense of community including several street fairs each year, parks, community gardens, and you're only maybe a couple miles from downtown. Oh, and I should mention, that's also the most bicycle friendly part of the city, with rideable streets, bike lanes, and mostly flat terrain. This is a cute house on a small lot. I know the area, not bad.
So for your major points, I think the first two are pretty close, the third point might not fit since we don't have much of a winter, and the fourth point is close, perhaps just a bit out of your range (but finding something in your range isn't totally out of the question).
posted by Doohickie at 1:11 PM on May 21, 2012
Thirding Minneapolis or St. Paul. We have lots of weather, affordable housing close to downtown(s), great cultural amenities, and a healthy nonprofit scene (or at least as healthy as that can be). Plenty of liberals, lots of local and state parks nearby, good Asian food, honestly I don't understand why you don't already live here.
posted by look busy at 8:24 PM on May 21, 2012
posted by look busy at 8:24 PM on May 21, 2012
furnace.heart: Finding a good cup of coffee [in Portland, ME] is very difficult.
Sure, if you don't like Bard, Arabica, The Speckled Ax, or one of the three locations of CBD, all on the peninsula within walking distance of each other. We're smaller than Portland 2.0 but are not hurting for independent shops, restaurants, cafes, craft breweries, nor fiercely proud residents.
What we could use are more bike paths.
posted by monkeymadness at 11:01 AM on May 22, 2012
Sure, if you don't like Bard, Arabica, The Speckled Ax, or one of the three locations of CBD, all on the peninsula within walking distance of each other. We're smaller than Portland 2.0 but are not hurting for independent shops, restaurants, cafes, craft breweries, nor fiercely proud residents.
What we could use are more bike paths.
posted by monkeymadness at 11:01 AM on May 22, 2012
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posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:26 PM on May 20, 2012 [2 favorites]