Help us find a new hometown! (transplants, condos, low crime)

[SouthernStar]

First a little background...my hubby and I are in our mid-twenties and born/raised in Florida. Before you hate me off the bat, please understand that we were natives who became victims of outsiders just like many of you.We are from what used to be a small town with an Indian name no one could pronounce We've watched as outsiders moved in and destroyed the charm/character/economy of what was once a quiet southern fishing community. I come from several generations of fishing guides, but in the last ten years the new $ has come in with their ridiculously huge boats and polluted the river beyond recognition. What used to be small bait shops along the river (where everyone knew everyone and you could actually buy on credit--not credit cards, but your word. Sort of like an IOU that was freely given and always repaid--and I'm only in my twenties and remember this, so you know it was a small town!). Now they tore all the bait shops down and built condos. So we can't go back. We're in TN right now, north of Nashville. DH is in the military and stationed here for shore duty. It seems TN is going the same route as Florida. When he gets out of the military, we are desperate to find a forever home in a small community. DH wants to move to MN preferrably (his family owns a dairy farm there), but he's open to other places. I would love to move to WY, MT, ND or SD. We haven't narrowed it down yet, we're still in the research phase.

We have two small children, and low crime/cost of living/ sense of community are very important to us. We also want land, at least five acres. I want to homestead, but DH wants to be a farmer like his family. I try to tell him that they've been working for generations to make a living like that, and it's not like you can just jump right in...he knows this, but it's his dream and he figures we're young so why not go for it instead of saying it's impossible and regretting it later.

So my question is, are there any small communities you would recommend with reasonably priced land (under 2K/acre for a smaller tract), a sense of community, and a safe place to raise our babies? A place that won't be overrun in the next 10-20 years? I will need a job, but I don't necessarily want to commute to a big city. I would rather be underemployed and happy than bogged down with a long commute (been there done that. In Jax, Fl where we were stationed one time it took me and hour and a half to commute 20 miles in the mornings, and two hours to travel the same distance home in the evenings). I will have a business degree, but don't anticipate that that will open many doors in smaller communities. DH has 10 years in the military, but he does search and rescue/flies in helos so that doesn't really translate to a job in the civilian world. But he's disciplined, intelligent, and works his bottom off.

Sorry I told ya my life story, but I am hoping that it will help you help me land in the right place!

Thanks in advance!

[Need_affordable_home]

My condolences for the unwanted changes in Florida. I am also getting out of Florida because of the insane prices. Have you looked into WV or OH? Inexpensive land and houses and small quiet towns.

[SouthernStar]

It seems like a lot of FL natives are leaving...and I understand this is a phenomenon happening all over the country. It's so sad.

I will check out those two states. My sister-in-law moved to WV a few years ago. We haven't been there yet, but where she lives doesn't seem like a place I want to be. I think it's in the northwest corner of the state. I never looked into Ohio, because I have always thought of it as another fast-growing state. But we have a lot of military friends from OH, and they all want to go back...so maybe it's worth checking into!

Thanks for the suggestions. The major hurdle with moving to a small town out of state seems to be that jobs are scarce in smaller communities and tend to go to the locals first. And I REALLY don't want to commute to a big city. I want to live far away from the big cities and go about my life pretending they don't exist! Does anyone know of smaller communities that are not exploding growth-wise but still have a decent job market?

[Need_affordable_home]

Jobs arent a problem for me as im self employeed with a home business. You can save all that trouble working from home. I would avoid NC and TN, those two states are fast growing, lots of transplants moving there. People are already starting to leave NC as its become expensive and congested. WV and OH dont seem to be having this problem.

[SouthernStar]

I am in TN right now! My husband is in the military, and we are stationed here for shore duty...counting down the days until we can actually choose where we want to live! You're right...most people in my neighborhood are from New York, California, or Florida! TN is definately not the oasis it used to be!

Of course working from home is an excellent way to avoid those pesky commuting problems! The problem is, as a new college graduate (almost!) I don't have the contacts or a specific set of skills conducive to working from home (business degree). I did negotiate a plan to work from home when I was a mortgage processor in FL. But I had worked for the company for a while, plus I was in management, so they worked with me rather than lose me. But I would say that's the exception and not the rule. Of course, I could always start my own business if I had any clue what I wanted to do. So far no epiphanies though!

[Need_affordable_home]

You can start your own home business like I will. Theres many possibilities. You could be a reseller, make a website and sell supplies, maybe an online cloth store or perhaps sell toys for children? Maybe offer services. What do you have alot of knowlege on? You can be a technician for that field. Be your own boss! You can even have more than 1 type of business! Dont spend big money buying a business, make or start your own, take your own unique ideas into play!

[christina0001]

My DH and I are relocating to MO (ideally between Kansas City and St. Joseph) next year; it's pretty cheap, the people there seem very nice and community oriented, and we saw plenty of farms out there. Maybe it will be a possibility for you.

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by SouthernStar

First a little background...my hubby and I are in our mid-twenties and born/raised in Florida. Before you hate me off the bat, please understand that we were natives who became victims of outsiders just like many of you.We are from what used to be a small town with an Indian name no one could pronounce We've watched as outsiders moved in and destroyed the charm/character/economy of what was once a quiet southern fishing community. I come from several generations of fishing guides, but in the last ten years the new $ has come in with their ridiculously huge boats and polluted the river beyond recognition. What used to be small bait shops along the river (where everyone knew everyone and you could actually buy on credit--not credit cards, but your word. Sort of like an IOU that was freely given and always repaid--and I'm only in my twenties and remember this, so you know it was a small town!). Now they tore all the bait shops down and built condos. So we can't go back. We're in TN right now, north of Nashville. DH is in the military and stationed here for shore duty. It seems TN is going the same route as Florida. When he gets out of the military, we are desperate to find a forever home in a small community. DH wants to move to MN preferrably (his family owns a dairy farm there), but he's open to other places. I would love to move to WY, MT, ND or SD. We haven't narrowed it down yet, we're still in the research phase.

We have two small children, and low crime/cost of living/ sense of community are very important to us. We also want land, at least five acres. I want to homestead, but DH wants to be a farmer like his family. I try to tell him that they've been working for generations to make a living like that, and it's not like you can just jump right in...he knows this, but it's his dream and he figures we're young so why not go for it instead of saying it's impossible and regretting it later.

So my question is, are there any small communities you would recommend with reasonably priced land (under 2K/acre for a smaller tract), a sense of community, and a safe place to raise our babies? A place that won't be overrun in the next 10-20 years? I will need a job, but I don't necessarily want to commute to a big city. I would rather be underemployed and happy than bogged down with a long commute (been there done that. In Jax, Fl where we were stationed one time it took me and hour and a half to commute 20 miles in the mornings, and two hours to travel the same distance home in the evenings). I will have a business degree, but don't anticipate that that will open many doors in smaller communities. DH has 10 years in the military, but he does search and rescue/flies in helos so that doesn't really translate to a job in the civilian world. But he's disciplined, intelligent, and works his bottom off.

Sorry I told ya my life story, but I am hoping that it will help you help me land in the right place!

Thanks in advance!

Mt. Airy, NC would be a good choice. It's an awesome little town, the hometown of Andy Griffith, and the model for "Mayberry". Many businesses there (Walley's Sevice Station, Blue Bird Diner, Floyd's Barber, ect) were around long before the show aired and are still in business today. Andy was very careful about how the show depicted the town and townspeople he knew when he lived there. We live about 1.5 hours away (the Charlotte area) and visit a couple of times a year. Very beautiful downtown, inexpensive, out-of-control growth is not an issue, great 4-season climate (not sure about the schools). But, like nearly any small town not in a metro area, the economy is limited. If you could work from home (as one poster said), or have a job lined up, I'd say go for it. Good luck in your search!!!