Help my Newlywed Husband and I think of moving options... (crime, houses)

[michloveslos]

My husband and I just got married about 5 months ago.

We would like to relocate in the next two + years.

We live in Maryland, although he is from Virginia (I was born and raised in Maryland)

We would like to move somewhere with reasonable opportunities for a young African American couple.

We are smart, hard working (good looking ha ha ha), solidly middle class, he works in credentialling in healthcare, and I work in multimedia.

Don't flame me, but we are Jehovah's witnessess, and so, would like to move somewhere near a kingdom hall (if any of you even know what that is).

We'd like to move somewhere with a potential for career growth, somewhere bigger than where we currently live, (Population 11,000), with access to shops, malls, culture, art (we love art and music), and perhaps a university so I can finish my bachelors, and he can perhaps finish his associates degree.

We'd like to move somewhere pretty, and we want to get out of the MD-DC-VA area.

We aren't really outdoorsy type people, but would move somewhere like that if the price was right and hire someone to care for our lawn (ha).

Any leads, suggestions.

[christina0001]

My husband and I are also trying to figure out where we want to relocate to.
First of all, check out the gov't website on salaries for states and certain metro areas:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
This will tell you where you and your husband will be well-paid. Of course, take into consideration cost of living for each place; for example you might earn a great salary in New York City but the cost of living will cancel it out. Homefair.com will help you figure out cost of living, plus has boatloads of other information (like crime stats).
http://www.homefair.com/homefair/ser...rtner=homefair
And be sure to check out projected job growth for areas you are considering:
http://www.projectionscentral.com/projections.asp (broken link)

This is the process my husband and I have mostly used. (Don't forget to use this website's city search feature for more info as well!) We've narrowed it down to 2 places with high salary for our fields, low cost of living, etc....we are a little familiar with each place and plan on visiting each place for about a week before the end of the year, and then we will make a choice. Being that you both love culture, and that education is important to you both, I would encourage you to stick near a metro area. I would imagine most metro areas have at least 1 Kingdom Hall as well. Best of luck! Two years is plenty of time to figure it out. Start keeping a notebook and jot down ideas and thoughts you have during this process.

[michloveslos]

HEY THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELPFUL LEADS!!! We will be checking them out.

[Mike from back east]

Thank you christina0001 for adding good info to the board. Your method to find a place is much like the one we used.

We retired and couldn't wait to get out of that awful DC-MD-VA area. Our full story is at:
Why Choose Colorado Springs?

I've posted some tips about basic tools for finding a place at:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/other...here-move.html

Info on a Housing Affordability Index is at:
Affordability Index - Housing

Hope you have a ball finding a great place to live.

[christina0001]

Sadly, I have been consumed with relocation for almost 2 years, and we don't plan on moving for another 6-12 months yet. So I have an Internet Favorites folder chock full of useful links.

Mich, keep us posted!

[mhogan10010]

Come to Brooklyn. I ride by the Watchtower every day to work.

[210]

Look into San Antonio.

[winnie]

Walden, NY in Orange County. They have a couple different Jehova witness groups.

There are a lot of jobs here, lots of colleges. Nice houses and lots of stuff to do. People come from CT and NJ to come shopping here.

If you are middle class and ambitions, this area can get you off to a good start.

And plenty of healthcare organizations in this area, as well as downstate to NYC, 60-90 minutes away.

[210]

Consider: Fair Oaks Ranch.

Fair Oaks Ranch is a town 22 miles northwest of San Antonio.

It has two 18 hole golf courses and many amenities for its residents.



Fair Oaks Ranch has easy access to San Antonio and Boerne via I-10.

Close to Six Flags, The Shops at La Cantera (Nordstorm, Tiffany's), The Rim (Bass Pro Shops), Regal Hills (IKEA) in San Antonio (1604 at I-10) and small town store front shopping in Boerne.

Housing cost is low, for example:

http://www.newhomes.com/nhimages/tx/bexar/b.newport.1792.jpg (broken link)

4 bedroom - 3.5 bath - 3,435 Square Feet for $248,900.

[210]

22 miles from downtown San Antonio.