[bbates]

Hi,

I am a single mother with three children ages, 13, 16, and 18; looking to relocate if necessary for salary and environment purposes. I have a pretty decent job, as I work for the Philadelphia Police Department in Forensics. But I am looking for more security (life time benefits upon retirement etc.) as the City of Philadelphia has been cutting back on overtime, various programs, and layoffs if need be. I have posted my resume on USAJOBS.com. Where on the East Coast would it be beneificial to raise a family as far as schools, neighborhoods, activities, and opportunities, where the cost of living is low?

[brasscitybluenwhite]

The best place that I've ever been to for kids was Atlanta. (Decatur). I say that I lived in waterbury all my life, but honestly I lived a couple of other places. The entire Atlanta area has its own subculture, and its great for children's age. When I was down there, everyone followed the same script, whether u were born there or not. For the sake of a teen, you gotta think about how they're gonna get around if ur single. (my mom is single too). In ATL we had the MARTA, it ran threw like 8 counties, so if the kids had to go anywhere, they could be independent and catch the MARTA.

They had something like 8 malls, white waters, go cart places...it was hottt. Neighborhoods weren't bad at all across the metro, but I think the violence got worse since I was down there (moved in 2001; look it up though, cuz i'm not positive).


The other place that I lived was Suffolk, VA; which is in the Hampton Roads area. That place wasn't bad, but as far as a kid being independent, it can't even compare to ATL. Not only did the area have CRAPPY public transportation, but everything closed at like 10:00 (as i remember). ATL was focused on the kids (16-20). For example, if u were a 16 year old wit a 10-year old chevy sittin on 16's, u were the coolest kidd in the parking lot on friday night. But in VA, everything was centered around older people (21-25). The neighborhoods in Hampton Roads were good the farther you got from Norfolk, and as I remember, the area was priced decent for the military families living in the area (but I was young and stupid when I lived there, so I could be wrong).

The city where I was born, live at in the summers when I'm not schoolin, and my pride and joy; Waterbury, CT, can't really compare to the ATL flow neither. As a college student, I would say that the success of a student depends on the parent(s) and the environment they come from. But frankly, Waterbury kids don't test well compared to other towns in CT. The neighborhoods are more diverse than the other cities that I talked about though. There are many activities for kids, but not many job opportunities. Your profession is pretty specific though, so you might be able to get a job wherever you go.


One thing i'ma say on a final note though, as the son of a single mother, I think the children would benefit more from an urban environment. And thats from personal experience.

Let me know if you have any ?'s

[KH02]

I would look at the places PP pointed out, as CT's cost of living wouldn't be easy on a single mother with three children and only one income...

[happycamper5]

Mars !

[Wherewillitland]

Where on the East Coast would it be beneificial to raise a family as far as schools, neighborhoods, activities, and opportunities, where the cost of living is low?

Ill give you a list of possible places

Syracuse New York
vibrant college town, near the adirondacks

Portland, Maine

Boston/suburban Boston

The triad area of North Carolina

Northern virginia

Hudson valley towns like New Paltz that arent too far away from NYC and train acessible.

[KH02]

Boston area is not a LOW cost of living...

[bmwguydc]

Northern Virginia does not have a low cost of living, either. Lower cost of living in Virginia is the Richmond-Tidewater area, or rural Southwest Virginia by the Tennessee border. Charlottesville is not too bad, at least by NOVA-DC standards, but aside from the University and a few businesses, it's hardly a cosmopolitan area.

[brasscitybluenwhite]

Richmond is no where near the tidewater area

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by bbates

Where on the East Coast would it be beneificial to raise a family as far as schools, neighborhoods, activities, and opportunities, where the cost of living is low?

If you want one of the top 5 highest cost of living states, welcome to Connecticut! lol.

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by Wherewillitland

Where on the East Coast would it be beneificial to raise a family as far as schools, neighborhoods, activities, and opportunities, where the cost of living is low?

Ill give you a list of possible places

Syracuse New York
vibrant college town, near the adirondacks

Portland, Maine

Boston/suburban Boston

The triad area of North Carolina

Northern virginia

Hudson valley towns like New Paltz that arent too far away from NYC and train acessible.

Boston is - I believe - THE THIRD - most expensive city in the U.S. to live.