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I'm considering relocating for various reasons. Based on my criteria, what cities do you think would make sense?
The good news is that I can work from anywhere. The bad news is that this work pays somewhat less than what I'd make in a high cost tech hotspot. (However, the difference isn't enough for working on site in the high cost tech hotspot to make any sense.) This situation is leading me to consider cities other than the usual suspects.
Absolute requirements:
1. Reasonably affordable housing in a safe neighborhood with NO ROOMMATES. Given my worst case budget, this implies rent for a studio being no more than about $1000 per month. In areas with high taxes or where other expenses are unusually high, this would have to be even lower.
2. Relative openness to newcomers and outsiders. (I'd likely be moving somewhere where I have few if any contacts.)
Preferences, in descending order of importance:
3. Feasibility of keeping my car. It's paid off, so the only potential issues are non-existent parking or astronomical car insurance.
4. Tolerance of different viewpoints, including moderate right-wing political views.
5. Tolerance of individuality and non-conformity.
6. Ability to have an adequate social life despite not drinking and not doing drugs. (Yes, this has been an issue in the past.)
7. Ability to meet other singles. (This is NOT code for having a reputation for attractive women. In my experience, when a city has a reputation for unattractive women, it's completely undeserved. Whether it's possible to meet the other singles who are out there is the actual concern.)
8. A decent selection of cultural and live music events.
9. Interesting, eclectic neighborhoods.
Nice to have, but ultimately optional:
10. Walkable neighborhoods.
11. Within a few hours' drive of relatives and current social connections in either Chicago and southeastern Pennsylvania. Both would be even better.
Compromises I'm willing to make:
- Mediocre weather.
- Suburban areas near cities which offer what I'm looking for.
Unconcerned with:
- Economy.
- Prestige.
- Cool.
- Trendy. (Actually I dislike most current trends, so a place that's a few years behind the times could actually work for me.)
If you are unconcerned with trendyness and on a budget, I'd consider St. Louis, which is really a hidden gem. Having spent some time in all these cities, I have an urban lifestyle here that would cost something like >$1 million in NYC or SF but costs me less than 5% of that in a very nice urban walkable neighborhood in St. Louis.
In a lot of ways, it also feels really good to contribute to the transformation and restoration of a city rather than being just another newcomer to a place that is already established and overwhelmed with commercialism. The locals will also be infinitely happier that you are moving to their area.
It also is very close to Chicago and PA. They are finishing up the high speed rail between St. Louis and Chicago in the next year. (although to be honest, the 1 hour flight to chicago only costs $80 so I just fly these days for a weekend trip if I want) Its a little farther to PA but flights are very cheap out of St. Louis and we have direct flights to Philly.
Other options I'd seriously consider are Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Along with the great suggestions above, perhaps Upstate NY cities like Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse; Toledo and Akron OH and maybe select cities/suburbs in Metro Detroit.
I second taking a look at Baltimore. Low COL, some very nice, intersting, walkable neighborhoods. PLenty of cultural amenties and night life (and what's not there is an hour away in DC), tolerant of different lifestyles, and close to Pennsylvania. Only caveat might be car insurance, which I suspect --but don't know -- might be a bit expensive in the city. And no, the city is not all a ghetto hell hole like The Wire or Homicide suggests.
In a lot of ways, it also feels really good to contribute to the transformation and restoration of a city rather than being just another newcomer to a place that is already established and overwhelmed with commercialism. The locals will also be infinitely happier that you are moving to their area.
I failed to mention this originally, but this is also important to me. Sometimes it seems like everyone is cramming into the same few cities, while perfectly good cities with a lot of potential continue to depopulate. Besides, what's so great about being in cities which are already "overwhelmed with commercialism"?
The good news is that from everything I've seen and heard from traveling the so-called "Rust Belt" over the last few months, this is starting to change in some cities.
I was in St. Louis once for a wedding and was impressed with the city. And it's surprising how easy it is to get to Philly by flying. IIRC, a major airline has St. Louis and Philly as hubs. Actually, St. Louis vaguely reminded me of Philly for some reason.
@ckhthankgod - Looking over the links, I'm surprised how cheap those apartments are for a real city.
Your suggestions are interesting because most of them actually didn't even cross my mind. Although Toledo seems to have a fair amount to offer in its own right, is only an hour from both Detroit and Ann Arbor, and still is dirt cheap.
@_Buster and @citylove101 - Just wondering, how does Baltimore compare to Philly for overall cost of living?
Actually, I found a useful site for determining average auto insurance rates: Compare rates by ZIP code | CarInsurance.com Insurance in Baltimore is high, but not that much worse than most of the places I'm considering.
Some of the apartments I listed range from Downtown apartments to outer city/first ring suburban apartments. So, you can find what you want in a variety of neighborhoods around here.
I'm seriously considering Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although I'd consider Metro Detroit as well, including the city itself, if work required me to be on-site there most days.
Any comments on how it fits with the criteria noted above? I'm especially curious about #4 above. It seems that while Ann Arbor is highly liberal, it's the kind of liberalism I actually don't mind. It seems to be more of a live and let live attitude than anything. Is this accurate or a misread?
Well if you are willing to waive the Chicago/PA rule Las Vegas or Tucson. But you got to air it to the east.
Both are Blue but with a Libertarian streak..particularly Las Vegas. Distance workers have become a big thing in this part of the US. All over the weather but Las Vegas provides some other exceptional opportunities.
A couple of places not mentioned in the discussion...Iowa City and Dubuque IA. Iowa City is the classical college town. Dubuque is just cool. Another is Madison WI. College town famously liberal but actually pretty laid back.
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