3 years of LA is enough, where to go next??? (how much, tech jobs)

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by st3350

...

Does this exist? help!

How about the suburbs of LA?

[millions of other people can't be wrong]

[radiolibre99]

The solution is easy. If you can afford CA then move to a suburb way out of LA. The surrounding areas around LA are even better than the city in my opinion; from Burbank to Pasadena all the way down to the OC and back the other way to Santa Barbara.

If you want out of CA go to Austin, TX, hands down the only the other place I'd want to be in outside of CA.

[st3350]

Ok, let me try to get the discussion back on track...I don't hate LA, and I wasn't one that came out here without a plan.
I actually really like LA, my only complaint is that the people can be superficial and relationships are mostly temporary.
I want to set roots somewhere now, LA has grown my career and am ready to settle down.
I'm looking for an area that welcomes newcomers and is warm and friendly. LA has a lot of pros, but friendly isn't one of them.
I can afford LA COL, but not to enough to own a home. I realize that I could probably do that in LA suburbs but there's a downfall of commute time doubling or tripling. That's why I have scratched that idea.
Again, back to the same point that I can't lay roots here.

I came out for a job, it's a great job, I just wanted some advice as to where other LA people have traveled and thought they'd like to live if they did not live in LA. Or places they are familiar with that could offer what I'm looking for.
All suggestions so far have been really great, thanks everyone for your input.

[yby1]

I have a couple of friends that moved to Nashville and love it.

[RudyOD]

I say good starting points are:

with mild climates + data jobs:
Seattle
Portland
San Diego (though homes are not that much cheaper there)
Denver (except winter - but far from how it would be, in say, Minnesota)
Bonus: Portland, SD and Denver all have great microbrew cultures , and it's not too difficult making friends over beers x)

warm personalities + data jobs (+humidity):
Austin
Atlanta
Raleigh, N.C.

warm personalities + mild climate: Key West, Florida

I can't think of a city that has nice people + mild climate + data jobs. lol. I guess Portland is as close as it gets. Though I did find the people in Denver quite friendly and open

Of all those I've mentioned, personally, I would only consider living in the West Coast and Denver/Boulder, CO.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by st3350

Ok, let me try to get the discussion back on track...I don't hate LA, and I wasn't one that came out here without a plan.
I actually really like LA, my only complaint is that the people can be superficial and relationships are mostly temporary.
I want to set roots somewhere now, LA has grown my career and am ready to settle down.
I'm looking for an area that welcomes newcomers and is warm and friendly. LA has a lot of pros, but friendly isn't one of them.
I can afford LA COL, but not to enough to own a home. I realize that I could probably do that in LA suburbs but there's a downfall of commute time doubling or tripling. That's why I have scratched that idea.
Again, back to the same point that I can't lay roots here.

I came out for a job, it's a great job, I just wanted some advice as to where other LA people have traveled and thought they'd like to live if they did not live in LA. Or places they are familiar with that could offer what I'm looking for.
All suggestions so far have been really great, thanks everyone for your input.

I agree that LA can be a bummer as far as people. That aspect has led me to want to leave too, so I know how you feel. It's such a perfect city with the most amazing vibrant atmosphere and creative culture the nation has to offer. Not even NYC can touch it. With that, I say LA is by far the best city in the nation.

But yes, the downside is that it brings with it A LOT of disingenuous, dishonest, and insular people. In cities like NYC and DC I can kind of see people behaving that way because many are pedigreed and have loads of experience so their cockiness stems from accomplishments, but in LA, the average midwestern transplants with no degree, no major job, no nothing can storm in here and strut like he owns the place in any of the bars in Hollywood and the West Side. I've seen it, I know what you mean.

But perhaps, like many transplants with LA dreams, you stuck around WAY too long in the nice areas of the city and never ventured into the many other less pretentious areas? So like every single article written by a transplant out there online, you only perceive West LA, Sherman Oaks or whatever "nice" area as "LA".

I have met some of the friendliest most genuine people out in the Valley, Pasadena and even in Central and DTLA. And granted yes, most of them were not trying to pursue careers in the industry but were/are civil servants for the city, architects, professors, college kids, volunteers, artists and designers. They had no ulterior motives and were hungry to meet genuine people, so we clicked. A lot were also native Californians and I do have to say the native Californian (that was not born with a silver spoon) is probably the most laid back, down to Earth person in the country. I mean just chilled with no pretensions of making you seem inferior, in fact they strive out of their way to make sure everyone feels equal.

So that is why I was encouraging you to seek out the greater LA area instead. Other than that I agree that Denver might be a good fit, Austin, Atlanta and even to some extent inner loop Houston.

[thelopez2]

Originally Posted by st3350

I actually really like LA
I want to set roots somewhere now, LA has grown my career and am ready to settle down.
I'm looking for an area that welcomes newcomers and is warm and friendly.
LA has a lot of pros,
I can afford LA COL, but not to enough to own a home. I realize that I could probably do that in LA suburbs but there's a downfall of commute time doubling or tripling. That's why I have scratched that idea.
Again, back to the same point that I can't lay roots here.

When you say LA, are you living in DTLA or another part? LA is big, flat, and diverse. Are there certain area that you liked, places that you frequent things you want to find at the new location. If you really like the area of Western and Venice and considered that LA, the suggestion might be totally different as if you said you like places like Santa Monica Pier.

To compare the housing COL too, what area do you want to buy that you can't due to the other effect on the quality of life. I'm sure you could buy in brentwood, but you might not want to change you diet to strictly Top Ramen. Or you can't afford to own in Santa Monica because you don't want to spend $800,000. What type of place do you want to lay your roots down, high density condo, small single family lots, big acreage with a farm? To say you just want a place like LA with it's weather and a job is too general in my opinion since you could probably get a job anywhere.

[st3350]

That's absolutely not true- I'm from Toledo, Ohio. There are zero jobs there. I didn't say i wanted a place just like LA. If you read my original post, I'm looking for a diverse town with job oppurtunities, friendly people and am trying to avoid harsh winter weather. I'm trying to find a place that's a mixture of midwestern values and personalities but also has it's own culture and opportunity like LA.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by lrmsd

I was also going to suggest pdx, for sure, with the grey skies/rain caveat. and also maybe the data job caveat-not sure about the current pdx job market, always rumored to be saturated and low paying....Anyway, good call!

Also, Denver is practically the mid west, culture wise. [I lived in boulder area for a few years-it has a lot of midwestern influence; half the state is plains and it borders kansas. Many folks living in denver and boulder/front range, came from these parts of the state and identify with the midwest. Fort Collins [college town an hour from denver, 30 min. from Boulder] feels like a midwest college town, but with the twist of great biking and microbrew culture, plus access to mountains and skiing. Winters along the front range are fairly mild, actually. IN the mountains is a different story. CO, in my view, is a nice combo of down to earth, pragmatic (midwest) with western innovation/open to the new mindset (west).

I think Denver is a great suggestion. While not as large as LA, Denver still has a lot of big city amenities and a young, educated workforce. Cost of living is also cheaper. Of course, Phoenix may be a good option as well, along with Dallas. Austin is nice too.

[state101]

Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte