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Basically I live in Illinois and I want to get out, probably to either Kentucky, Ohio, or West Virginia. I likely won't be able to move until 2025 so I have plenty of time to find a new place to call home. What are some places I should start looking at with my preferences?
Absolute must:
Without heavy traffic
Clean town (low crime, doesn't seem run-down)
Generally low taxes
Constitutional carry
No red flag law
Either a small city or small town close to a large city (an hour or less)
Outdoor recreation (all I need is a lake and a nice park)
Republican majority (not into politics, I just found people that vote right to be more friendly and down-to-earth than people that vote left)
Fast internet without data caps
Cheap housing available (preferably $100K or less, could go up to $125K if absolutely needed)
Optional:
Amenities in the area such as Costco, Bass Pro Shops, Micro Center, and Duluth Trading Co
Summers on the milder side
Winters with a good bit of snow
College or pro sports in the area
Hilly terrain
If you aren't set on those states, have you considered Oklahoma in the central to eastern part of the states where there's more hilly terrain and somewhat less hot in summers? It's really cheap and has little chance of not being Republican anytime soon. They have very low state and local taxes as the state essentially feeds on the trough of federal dollars coming in and there's quite little density so there's quite little traffic.
In WV, I’d say to look in the Northern Panhandle due to having places like Wheeling and Weirton, but it is close enough to Pittsburgh or affordable parts of the Eastern Panhandle, which has commuter rail and is close enough to DC. So say the OP finds a place in Follansbee or Wellsburg in the Northern Panhandle(and Brooke County), that is less than an hour from Pittsburgh and it fits most of the other criteria.
Places in OH like Columbiana or Wellsville are also about an hour from Pittsburgh as well.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 11-23-2022 at 10:22 AM..
In WV, I’d say to look in the Northern Panhandle due to having places like Wheeling and Weirton, but it is close enough to Pittsburgh or affordable parts of the Eastern Panhandle, which has commuter rail and is close enough to DC. So say the OP finds a place in Follansbee or Wellsburg in the Northern Panhandle(and Brooke County), that is less than an hour from Pittsburgh and it fits most of the other criteria.
Places in OH like Columbiana or Wellsville are also about an hour from Pittsburgh as well.
In the general area (+/-50 miles). Doesn't have to be in heart of city or right around.
If you aren't set on those states, have you considered Oklahoma in the central to eastern part of the states where there's more hilly terrain and somewhat less hot in summers? It's really cheap and has little chance of not being Republican anytime soon. They have very low state and local taxes as the state essentially feeds on the trough of federal dollars coming in and there's quite little density so there's quite little traffic.
Isn't Oklahoma really dangerous though?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc
The Lexington or Frankfort, Kentucky areas come to mind.
Also, as Massachoicetts pointed out, Morgantown, West Virginia is another good option.
As for Ohio, I'd say possibly the Cincinnati metro area or towns to the east of there in Ohio--maybe Chillicothe or Washington Courthouse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc
The Lexington or Frankfort, Kentucky areas come to mind.
Also, as Massachoicetts pointed out, Morgantown, West Virginia is another good option.
As for Ohio, I'd say possibly the Cincinnati metro area or towns to the east of there in Ohio--maybe Chillicothe or Washington Courthouse.
Thank you guys for the suggestions, starting looking at Morgantown and the northern panhandle. Property taxes in the Lexington and Cincinnati areas look to be too high for my taste.
There are plenty of safe areas in Oklahoma, but I don't think anywhere in the state would meet your preference for mild summers and lots of snow in the winter. Summers are pretty intensely hot (with occasional exceptions) throughout the state, even where the topography is more rugged.
Thank you guys for the suggestions, starting looking at Morgantown and the northern panhandle. Property taxes in the Lexington and Cincinnati areas look to be too high for my taste.
Oklahoma's a large state and you said small city / town close to a larger one, so you can pick out the ones that are safer since crime is generally pretty localized.
The main issue with Oklahoma is going to be summer heat where there is some variation and it's not anywhere the hottest especially when considering humidity, it's also far from the mildest. However, I think with a list of things as wide as yours, there may be adjusting the degree to which a place has one quality or another and you did put the summer bit as optional. I think Oklahoma is more likely to stay red, low tax, relatively low density, and cheaper housing for quite a while.
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