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I am looking to relocate from central Pennsylvania in the next few months and am searching for an area that can offer the following:
1. Urban environment - I like a skyline and walkable areas/neighborhoods with restaurants, bars, etc.
2. Young and Active - I'm in my mid 20s and like to be outdoors and active. Prefer to be in an area that caters to an active lifestyle and has young professionals
3. Affordable - I don't want to live in a crazy expensive area. My apartment budget will be in the 1200/mo range
4. Laid back - Not looking for a "rat race" type city
5. HATE cold weather and snow. Looking for a warm(er) climate and would ideally like access to beaches (30 minutes or so)
I would say Raleigh or Atlanta. A lot of young professionals have flocked there for the good jobs and low COL. You could probably get a nice, not luxurious, one bedroom in either with your budget. You're a couple hours drive from the ocean and the Smoky Mountains. The Smokies aren't on the same level as the Rockies, though, and I would recommend Denver (would probably have to do a studio) or Salt Lake City to you if you were okay with cold weather. I wouldn't rule out places just because they get cold in winter if it meant your quality of life would be better the rest of the year. Your budget will make it difficult to be 30 minutes from the ocean. You cannot afford thriving coastal cities like NY, LA, SF, Seattle, Portland, and even Miami. You could live in the middle of nowhere by the coast, but then your access to good jobs would be severely impacted. Maybe check out Tampa. Living in Florida brings its share of issues, but apparently a lot of people love it.
Actually, you could maybe swing a studio in downtown Portland. I have heard Portland has its issues, though, in terms of the number and pay of available jobs not really supporting the cost of living. Oh well, no place is perfect. The outdoor recreation in the Pacific NW is world class.
I would say Raleigh or Atlanta. A lot of young professionals have flocked there for the good jobs and low COL. You could probably get a nice, not luxurious, one bedroom in either with your budget. You're a couple hours drive from the ocean and the Smoky Mountains. The Smokies aren't on the same level as the Rockies, though, and I would recommend Denver (would probably have to do a studio) or Salt Lake City to you if you were okay with cold weather. I wouldn't rule out places just because they get cold in winter if it meant your quality of life would be better the rest of the year. Your budget will make it difficult to be 30 minutes from the ocean. You cannot afford thriving coastal cities like NY, LA, SF, Seattle, Portland, and even Miami. You could live in the middle of nowhere by the coast, but then your access to good jobs would be severely impacted. Maybe check out Tampa. Living in Florida brings its share of issues, but apparently a lot of people love it.
I was going to suggest a growing place like Raleigh as well. The OP won't find affordable and within a 30 minute drive of the beach. Most places with warm weather and those attributes are pretty expensive. And many cities in the South are growing rapidly these days.
Appreciate the thoughts. Maybe I should expand on a few points.
It's not so much that I can only afford what I stated above, but rather I am looking for an area with a lower COL. I checked out San Diego and liked the vibe but could not bring myself to accept the high COL (taxes, property, etc.). I'll be looking to purchase property (up to mid-200s) after I settle into a new area and get a sense of the neighborhood(s) I like best. I have a degree and career in finance/accounting so finding a job somewhere should not be overly difficult.
I'd be open to water access in general as I like to be near the water for outdoors activities, whether that be the sand and ocean or lakes/rivers for kayaking and boating.
You're probably going to have to give up one of your requirements. Near a beach, warm, affordable(rent under $1200), walkable, nice skyline, active is a tough combination to find. If you could give up having a nice skyline (if I were you this would be my least important) Charleston fits the bill perfectly.
I was thinking ATL til I got to the very last phrase (30 min to beaches).
St Petersburg may work...I don't know it super well. Maybe Tampa though with traffic that pushes you a bit over 30 minutes from the beach. Jax is a very affordable coastal city with walkable neighborhoods within 30 min of the beach but it's several steps down in vibrancy from the aforementioned cities, and way down from the top tier.
I was thinking ATL til I got to the very last phrase (30 min to beaches).
St Petersburg may work...I don't know it super well. Maybe Tampa though with traffic that pushes you a bit over 30 minutes from the beach. Jax is a very affordable coastal city with walkable neighborhoods within 30 min of the beach but it's several steps down in vibrancy from the aforementioned cities, and way down from the top tier.
Jax and Downtown St Pete are both places that I've been looking into. They seem to fit the bill, and the no state income tax aspect of living in Florida is appealing. Do you have an idea of some of the similarities/differences of the two?
Jax and Downtown St Pete are both places that I've been looking into. They seem to fit the bill, and the no state income tax aspect of living in Florida is appealing. Do you have an idea of some of the similarities/differences of the two?
I am not as familiar with the COL in Jax but $1200 for an apartment in a decent area of St. Pete might be tought to find. I'm not sure Tampa and St. Pete have much to brag about for skylines, but as others have noted that should probably not be a make or break thing. I would also consider Tallahassee.
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