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1) Jobs. I live in a scenic area in northeast TN and have a good job now, but you can't really enjoy the scenery if you're struggling if you're unemployed or making $10/hr. IMO, this comes first for working people.
2) Reasonable access to nature. Being from TN, we have fairly quick access to many forms of outdoor recreation. I lived in Indianapolis for three years and it sucked on this front.
3) Shopping/dining/suburban amenities. I have no desire to live in a very large metro (think Atlanta or bigger) at all. Where I am now is too small. There is no Costco for two hours. My town has 50,000 people and one viable gym that is consistently more crowded than any of the gyms I went to in Indianapolis because it is the only game in town. Very little in the way of upscale shopping. Grocery selection is limited and expensive. Local farmer's markets pale compared to Indiana and Michigan.
While Amazon meets a lot of the needs, I still go out of the area fairly often to shop.
4) Politically moderate to conservative. I'm pretty conservative but not too religious. I don't like tiny towns where everything is based on church. I have friends on the left but could never live right in core Seattle for instance.
My most important requirements for moving to a location:
1. Mountains, hills, scenery, and beautiful landscapes are a must. Thankfully America is blessed to have plenty of it.
2. Cleanliness. Communities that respect the land surroundings with little to no pollution.
3. Be able to experience all 4 seasons. I prefer mild summers and and winter.
4. Little to no crime.
1. Salary and cost of living. If you are going to struggle no amount of scenery is going to make life better and availability of restaurants and other activities is meaningless if you can't afford to do any of it. I say this after having lived in scenic areas of Montana like a pauper. Nothing makes that bearable.
2. Population must be between 25k and around 100k. I hate the gossip in small town and living in a fishbowl but also,don't like big cities.
3. Good work environment. If you are miserable at work no place will be pleasant to love in.
4. Good people. No pretentious people, political extremists, or other unsavory characteristics. That can also make living somewhere unbearable.
5. Climate is a priority in that I do like a cold place, however, I would be curious if I could live in a warm place if the first four are met. The first two are absolutely the most important to me, not in any order.
What is most important to you? What do you look for? Any make or break factors?
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These are our top factors:
1. Climate (for us that means 4 distinct seasons, no more subtropical temps and high humidity, no more hurricanes!!!!, clean air)
2. Scenery/Landscape ... nature, trees, rolling hills, fall leaves
3. Outdoor recreation ... fresh water easily accessible, please no poisonous snakes!
4. Political climate with conservative leanings (but politics isn't our life, we aren't ugly about it. We stay busy doing our thing, and we're easy to get along with) ... we are devout Christians, my husband is a pastor.
5. Homeschool friendly state ... I've been a homeschooler for 16 years
6. Community pride ... cleanliness, well manicured, gentrified, small town, neighborly
7. Family friendly ... quiet, smallish town, likeminded people who just want to raise their families without drama/chaos/fear, not overrun with casinos and bars/party atmosphere, quality library, well maintained parks, nature trails, and fun activities for families
8. Good climate and soil for growing a garden (I miss that!)
9. High quality food availability ... Aldi's or Trader Joe's, Publix, Whole Foods, fantastic farmers market. Good restaurants... a very good Chinese restaurant is a must.
10. Good job opportunities
11. Low crime, no crazy drug epidemic
12. Affordability ... Hawaii and California are not an option
***Some parts of Michigan (my home state) have all of the above!
OP, I think that you and I must be twins separated at birth!
Seriously, though, I agree with all of the above and have found it, like you said, in a wonderful small town in Michigan. Couldn't be happier and we're here to stay. Added perk: No more than an hour from anyone in either my or my husband's immediate family. Perfect!
1) Housing Costs - this is probably the most important to me. I don't want to spend thousands a month to live in a sardine can. I also don't want to have to make a high salary to afford a single family house, either.
2) Traffic/Commute - I currently have a commute of only 20 minutes, and it's pretty great. I know people who work in NYC and have to hop on multiple trains, and it takes over an hour to get to work. That sounds awful. I like doing errands and getting around with ease.
3) Politics - when I consider states I would live in, none of them are really far to the left or right. If I were to move, I would look for a place that isn't a deep blue or red state. I also don't want to live in a state that tries to micromanage your life, either.
4) Climate - I like the four seasons (particularly fall), and I know I would not want to live in a place that is hot year round.
5) Architecture/Housing Stock - I generally like older, more established neighborhoods, where homes aren't built right on top of each other. I wouldn't want to live in a cookie cutter development where I walk outside and see everyone else's backyard.
I'm sure there are other factors I think about but these 5 jump out at me the most.
What is most important to you? What do you look for? Any make or break factors?
-----------
These are our top factors:
1. Climate (for us that means 4 distinct seasons, no more subtropical temps and high humidity, no more hurricanes!!!!, clean air)
2. Scenery/Landscape ... nature, trees, rolling hills, fall leaves
3. Outdoor recreation ... fresh water easily accessible, please no poisonous snakes!
4. Political climate with conservative leanings (but politics isn't our life, we aren't ugly about it. We stay busy doing our thing, and we're easy to get along with) ... we are devout Christians, my husband is a pastor.
5. Homeschool friendly state ... I've been a homeschooler for 16 years
6. Community pride ... cleanliness, well manicured, gentrified, small town, neighborly
7. Family friendly ... quiet, smallish town, likeminded people who just want to raise their families without drama/chaos/fear, not overrun with casinos and bars/party atmosphere, quality library, well maintained parks, nature trails, and fun activities for families
8. Good climate and soil for growing a garden (I miss that!)
9. High quality food availability ... Aldi's or Trader Joe's, Publix, Whole Foods, fantastic farmers market. Good restaurants... a very good Chinese restaurant is a must.
10. Good job opportunities
11. Low crime, no crazy drug epidemic
12. Affordability ... Hawaii and California are not an option
***Some parts of Michigan (my home state) have all of the above!
I would also rank climate as my #1 factor, but I completely disagree with you about what constitutes a good climate. I wouldn't move to Michigan for all the marbles because of the winters. All of your other criteria point to Florida, but alas, the weather is good here, so you wouldn't like it.
Climate #1. I'm spoiled after living here for nearly 30 years, it's great to be able to wear lightweight clothing all year long and be outside. We don't have A/C and don't need it. I wilt in high temperatures and especially humidity, can't even visit it without feeling miserable. I love visiting cold weather, we go to the mountains of Maine or Tahoe nearly every February for a week, but visiting and living in it for months are entirely two different things. If all the other qualities of the city and area are awesome I could do 4 seasons with a winter, but southern heat and humidity are untenable regardless of the city.
Topography #2. Hills, mountains, canyons, rivers, oceans, give me something besides flat.
Urbanity/Vibrancy #3. Even if it's a smaller city it needs to have some dense, built-up and fun neighborhoods/areas to explore. Arts, sports, festivals, great restaurants and pubs and decent transit to access it- gotta have it all with safe residential areas within. Surburban cities without a lively city center and mostly defined by sterile stripmalls and a bunch of big box centers with boring tracts surrounding with people only moving about in their cars are out!
Economy #4. We are on the retirement track in 3-4 years, but with good, high paying professional jobs we both intend to transition into new, or evolved careers and a city that is dying/shrinking isn't going to allow that or otherwise have the kind of energy, interesting and talented people that we would like to be living and partaking in.
Moderate politically/culturally #5. Face it, we are going to be living in the city so we are fine with left leaning, but come from a moderate- live and let live place that really works fine. Don't need the extremes on either side though. Bible Belt or BLM are not us.
At this point we are loving where we live, can easily afford it and have no plans for moving, but we keep our options open. There are more than a few fine places that would tick our boxes enough to consider, and maybe even love it more than here. Never say never.
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