How do I find my best place to live?

December 12, 2006 8:12 AM

Help me figure out how find my perfect place to live: someplace temperate to warm, with a low cost of living and a growing population and economy

Variations on this question frequently get asked, here's mine: I'm a 30's professional planning to move from the Northeast to somewhere new. I'm trying to short-list several cities or metros based on the following:

1. low cost of living and inexpensive housing - saving and investing is a major focus for me now
2. expanding population and growing economy (over a 20-30 year time frame) - good place to buy property or invest in a small business, also important for my work life
3. temperate climate, on the warm side - love the ocean, but willing to try something different; will probably take up golf at some point; I enjoy hiking and being outside
4. city comforts - nice restaurants, music, theater, places to learn - walkable "New Urbanism" style areas a plus
5. few urban problems: crime, drugs, homelessness, overcrowding, congestion, traffic, long commutes
6. friendly place, easy to meet new people

Suggestions for places would be great - but even better some pointers to resources that could help me figure it out. The usual CNN/Money "Best Places" lists and "Find Your Spot" seem to miss the mark. In particular I would like to find some resources that attempt to predict which cities and locations may grow economically over the long-term.

posted by objdoc to Work & Money (35 answers total)

Phoenix area has all that you're looking for. Care for a trade as I'd love to move back to the Northeast?
posted by Sassyfras at 8:14 AM on December 12, 2006

Ah, that Sassyfras beat me to it.

Second Phoenix.
posted by nineRED at 8:25 AM on December 12, 2006

If you love the ocean, and are thinking along the lines o' Phoenix, consider Tucson. It'll put you 2 hours closer to the Sea of Cortez :) Economy's a bit slower and the crime's up, but if the ocean is a priority it'll save you the drive time.
posted by bhance at 8:29 AM on December 12, 2006

Charlotte, North Carolina sounds like it would fit your bill.

The main problem I see with your list is that #5 eliminates almost all of the places that fit the rest, especially the over-crowding and congestion limitation. The kind of places you are looking for grow more quickly than the infrastructure and those problems result. See, e.g. Austin (which would be a perfect fit otherwise.)
posted by dios at 8:32 AM on December 12, 2006

I asked a very similar question last year, might have some helpful answers for you.
posted by knave at 8:32 AM on December 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

Austin, Texas. But yeah, traffic, congestion, etc. are going to be a problem anywhere that fits the other criteria. What dios said.
posted by mattbucher at 8:34 AM on December 12, 2006

College Station, TX.

No, seriously. You can get a nice 1200-1300 sq ft ranch house for $115k, the town is BOOMING as the university expands, the real estate market hasn't gone soft, and it's got many of the amenities of a big city without the traffic, crime, congestion, or long commutes. The University provides a lot of culture; concerts, theatre, community continuing education, hot 21 year old sorority girls...

And if you really have that big city craving, Austin is about 1.5 hours from College Station, Houstin is 2 hours, Dallas/Ft. Worth is 3 hours, and San Antonio is 3 hours. Austin and San Antonio would also fit your list, by the way, 'cept I can't stand "big city" traffic anymore so I hesitated to point them out.

There's lots of 30something professionals and professors that work for the university or support services to meet. There's lots of jobs in the area because it's not on everyone's top list of places to move.
posted by SpecialK at 8:35 AM on December 12, 2006

Yeah, you pretty much described Phoenix. Or maybe Tempe. Phoenix isn't a "walkable" city, though. Automobile required. I just left Tempe for the NorthEast, and I don't regret it.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 8:37 AM on December 12, 2006

Denver--300 cloudless days a year and you still have seasons.
posted by Phred182 at 8:38 AM on December 12, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the input so far, Phoenix hadn't come on my radar screen and now it is on the list. Texas sounds interesting too.

More info: I'm a medical specialist so a large dense population area, especially a growing one, means more business opportunity for me. I know that it will mean traffic (and other urban problems) to some degree, but having lived in Brooklyn, I can say that there is traffic and then there is traffic.

For those who are trading the Southwest to move "back East", was that only for personal reasons?
posted by objdoc at 8:46 AM on December 12, 2006

I'm from Boulder, CO which is a great place to live, very high standard of living, etc, but it's gotten very expensive to buy property here. But a lot of the outlying areas of Boulder/Denver metro area have been getting rave reviews as affordable places to live in a great outdoor environment. Fort Collins was recently rated best place to live by some magazine, I forget which.
posted by np312 at 8:50 AM on December 12, 2006

Objdoc, we've got the two regional health facilities (College Station Medical Center, St. Joseph's Hospital) right here in town. The town's grown so fast that there aren't sufficient specialists in a lot of fields. I.e. there's only one psychiatrist for 100,000 people plus 40,000 college students, and she's not taking new patients. Depending on what your specialty is, smaller areas might be worth looking into.
posted by SpecialK at 8:58 AM on December 12, 2006

Ugh... I'm going to regret suggesting this but my hometown of Greenville, SC has just about everything you're looking for (although the beach is 4-5 hours away.)

It's a growing town, walkable and thriving downtown, growing cycling community, lots of trails, parks, etc. Very livable.

The ONLY drawback (and one of the main reasons I make my home in Chicago) is that it's very conservative. Home to Bob Jones University (insert batshitinsane tag here), it's the type of place where you can walk out of a bar on Main St. and trip over some Jesus Freak knelling on the sidewalk, praying that God will close down all the bars (this has happened to me.)

On second thought scratch that. Checkout Norfolk, VA. I lived near downtown (in a great neighborhood called Ghent) for about two years in 2001-2003. It's a great town, classic old eastern seaboard city (think cobble stone streets, lots of history) very walkable and Virginia Beach is only a 20 minute drive away. Surprisingly the town doesn't have all that Southern, confederate flag, redneck baggage you see elsewhere in the region. Norfolk is probably the east coast's best kept secret. 15 or 20 years ago it's the type of place where you wouldn't set foot after dark, now it's clean and reasonably safe for a city its size.
posted by wfrgms at 8:59 AM on December 12, 2006

Oh, and I'd want to move back east for two reasons -- seasons being one (I *miss* the smell of fall in the northeast) and that the summers in Phoenix are what everyone's NOT talking about. ;) It might be a dry heat, but it's still unbearable for those not acclimated.
posted by SpecialK at 9:00 AM on December 12, 2006

My brother thinks he found this all in the ocean cities close to Jacksonville, Florida.
posted by GaelFC at 9:04 AM on December 12, 2006

I wanna move back east to be closer to family and because I do miss the seasons - although driving in ice and snow aint so fun, but I do miss the feelings that accompany the seasons. Otherwise, Phoenix/AZ is perfect. Too bad my family won't move here.
posted by Sassyfras at 9:07 AM on December 12, 2006

If you're looking at Norfolk, then also look at Richmond, VA. We've got several historic neighborhoods that are fully gentrified, walkable "New Urban" communities (The Fan, Carytown, Church Hill) with restaurants, bars, art galleries and the like -- and a few more spots that are moving in that direction. Virginia Commonwealth University is rapidly developing "blighted" urban areas and fueling a tremendous amount of urban renewel, and MeadWestvaco and Phillip Morris are both building huge, multi-million dollar sites downtown. You can tell the city is growing by the number of new shopping malls and housing developments that are being built out in the suburbs, but there's still plenty of affordable real estate in the city itself.
posted by junkbox at 9:16 AM on December 12, 2006

Yeah, if you're in the medical profession, Florida is a good place to be looking at. Jacksonville is nice, Central Florida is a little bit more metro in feel.
posted by bclark at 9:16 AM on December 12, 2006

I'd go with Charlottesville, Va. University town, culture, decent weather, friendly folks.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:34 AM on December 12, 2006

Chile. :P
posted by Memo at 9:43 AM on December 12, 2006

Lafayette, Louisiana is what you're looking for. The local culture revolves around constant drinking and eating. And dancing. The land fades into malarial marsh on the way to the ocean, but we do have a pestilential swamp!

1. Cost - low
2. Population - booming
3. Climate - sultry
4. City comforts - available
5. Urban problems - confined
6. Easy to meet people - impossible to avoid
posted by atchafalaya at 9:47 AM on December 12, 2006

I'm not sure if you wanted to extend your search internationally. If you did then you might want to cast a glance towards parts of Southern Europe, Australia, South East Asia, China and Central and South America. There are places there that meet all your criteria.
posted by rongorongo at 9:48 AM on December 12, 2006

One place I've considered moving is Chattanooga, TN. It has a great small city atmosphere and seems very walkable. The temps there are a little on the warmer side and it can get pretty humid. Housing is pretty reasonable there, too.

And then there's Albuquerque. It has more of a progressive populace than Chattanooga, is still walkable if you get into the right neighborhood, and has plenty of medical centers. Housing is a bit higher than in the south, but still fairly reasonable.

Most of the qualities you're looking for are relative, depending on where you come from. "Northeast" is a pretty big place, and your point of view coming from Maine can be quite different than Philadelphia or D.C. Where do you live now?
posted by SteveInMaine at 10:53 AM on December 12, 2006

I live in Tucson and just wanted to say that it is very suburban and car-centric. Nobody walks except for the down-and-outs. Most major streets do not have sidewalks and pedestrians walk in the bike lane. I got the same impression from Phoenix, but I've only seen a small part of it.

That said - great weather and the sun is always shining
posted by TorontoSandy at 11:08 AM on December 12, 2006

Folks, seriously, it's gotta be Savannah, GA, the best little city in America.

Growing, but with a very rich tradition.
Friendlier than just about anywhere.
Obviously, great weather and beach.
Culture, with SCAD and other universities.
Close to Charleston, and only a few hours from Atlanta.

I live in Brooklyn, and wish I lived in Savannah.
posted by jtajta at 11:17 AM on December 12, 2006

who doesn't wish they live in Savannah?
posted by Sassyfras at 11:33 AM on December 12, 2006

Norfolk, VA.

Norfolk is essentially the downtown of the entire Hampton Roads (or "Tidewater") region of Southeastern Virginia, which includes Virginia Beach.

As with any large-ish metro area, there is a decent amount of traffic and congestion at certain times of day, but depending on how you structure your life you can avoid it. I live in the Ghent neighborhood and can walk to everything I need, including coffeeshops, restaurants, bookstores, independent movie house, theaters, and a decent-sized bar scene downtown. Plus in a 20-minute drive I can be at the beach. EVMS and the national headquarters of PETA (with an incredible dog park) are in my 'hood.

I moved here from DC about a year and a half ago and I love it. I have also lived on the west coast and I have to say that Norfolk satisfies all of my east coast leanings. It has seasons, but it's generally noticeably warmer even than DC.

On preview--I am saying almost exactly the same thing as wfrgms! ;)
posted by eileen at 12:23 PM on December 12, 2006

Port Orange or Ormond Beach, Florida. Meets your requirements, except for urban environment and learning, unless University of Central Florida and a community college fits the bill. As far as culture goes, we have a couple great theater companies, the London Symphony Orchestra comes to town every other year. There are plenty of great restaurants. Not a ton, but quite enough. People are very friendly. Lots of young people and old. Plenty of great golf courses. Yes, it's hotter than hell here, but you can't beat the winters. Population is growing like mad.
posted by LoriFLA at 2:29 PM on December 12, 2006

Hmm. I'm actually selling a house in Galveston. It's a great town, though not for everyone.

From your criteria:

1. low cost of living and inexpensive housing
-- yes, except for insurance in this post-Katrina age
2. expanding population and growing economy... ... good place to buy property...
-- yes, booming resort area ~ one hour from one of the largest cities in the US
3. temperate climate, on the warm side - love the ocean, but willing to try something different...
-- yes, but. Summers are hot and humid, of course, but today's highs were in the 70s. Of couse we have an ocean at your doorstep, or at least a few blocks away.
4. city comforts - nice restaurants, music, theater, places to learn - walkable "New Urbanism" style areas a plus
-- yes, we're part of the original "Old Urbanism". Walk downtown from the historic district, to the 1894 opera house, live theatre, restaurants, etc.
5. few urban problems: crime, drugs, homelessness, overcrowding, congestion, traffic, long commutes
yes and no. You say you are in a medical field. Perhaps you could work on the island at UTMB (and don't forget the medical school and proximity to the Houston medical complex). And crowding? Only on summer weekends...
6. friendly place, easy to meet new people
of course!

Why am I moving? We need to be closer to Houston for several personal reasons, also need a more disability-friendly house compared to our 2-story Victorian.
posted by Robert Angelo at 3:51 PM on December 12, 2006

SAVANNAH? Live there for a couple years like my friend did going to SCAD. The crime problem is huge (big swaths of neighborhoods where the local scum shoot out streetlights to hide crime), not to mention rude-as-hell even by southern standards service everwhere, and oh yeah, that city charm evaporates when you're strolling in the city squares while cockroaches run around your feet. Those bastards WILL eventually make it up your pant leg.
posted by AdamOddo at 4:06 PM on December 12, 2006

"temperate climate, on the warm side"

If you like it HOT than Phoenix, AZ does sound like a good place. I'm from the middle of California and I can't stand going down that way because I think it's *too* hot.

Definitely something to consider. Visit the area during the summer and winter and see how you like it.
posted by drstein at 6:46 PM on December 12, 2006

Lots of ideas are being thrown out here. I have to say if you want an outdoor lifestyle and can handle a little bit colder winters, Fort Collins, CO, or Boulder, CO, would be great choices. I moved to Fort Collins a year and a half ago and it's great! Oh and the winters are pretty mild really. It'll snow and then warm up to the 50s and melt everything within a day or two.

Both are snuggled up against the foothills, so you have easy access to the mountains. They both are big enough, and growing rapidly, for economic opportunity, without much congestion (Fort Collins has about 130,000 people). Both cities have some of the most extensive bike lane systems in the country, so much so that I rarely drive. People are friendly here; I lived in the northeast this summer and found most people to come across uptight and snobbish at first.

And yeah, Money magazine said that Fort Collins is the #1 most livable place in the country.

Lastly, visit Phoenix before considering moving there. I spent a week there last year and think it's a hellhole. Congestion and pollution like crazy, and far more crime than Brooklyn.
posted by qaam at 10:21 PM on December 12, 2006

New Orleans may score lower on point 5, but it's a LOT higher on points 3, 4, and 6, which is unusual because point 6 is usually inversely related to the other points. Take California, for example.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 9:22 AM on December 13, 2006

Seconding the Chattanooga, TN recommendation.

Also worth considering is Murfreesboro, TN. It's about 30 miles outside of Nashville, home to the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee and quite cheap to live here. Rapid growth with the addition of Nissan and some other large plants make the traffic a little annoying, but overall it's a very pleasant little town. If you have reservations about living in the south, the middle Tennessee area is just a tad more liberal than the rest of the state. YMMV.
posted by teleri025 at 1:48 PM on December 13, 2006

I'm sure you're not checking responses anymore but I wanted to defend Phoenix, just for the virtual record. I've been here about 14 months. Moved from Miami (which is the worst city in America IMHO) and I like it here. It's not perfect. Yes, it's hot in the summer but if you've ever stood still in a humid place while sweat drips down your legs, you'll welcome our dry heat. The winter here is so painfully beautiful you'll pinch yourself. And to qaam, who says our crime is worse than Brooklyn ... please cite stats. I grew up in Brooklyn in the '70s so while I know NYC is all smug because their murder rate is the lowest in years, let me say this: The criminals will be back.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 4:52 PM on December 6, 2007