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I used to live in downtown Kansas City, and while some may not think of it as a great place to walk everywhere, I could pretty much get everything except some groceries living there. My work was just a couple blocks away, I had a choice of several bars that I could see just out my window, it was great.
Now I don't mind paying more to live in a place where I can walk to most places and use my car only occasionally, that would be fine, but I don't want it to be outrageous.
From my view, the places that seem to be the least expensive are in the midwest, but not sure if anyone can suggest any good midwest cities that are walkable?
The catch is, I am looking for a townhouse or even a small house that has some what of a yard. That is the reason I don't live downtown now is because I have 2 dogs, and while I wouldn't mind just taking them out for a walk a couple times a day, my girlfriend insist they need at least some what of a yard to run around a bit (a 15 ft by 15 ft area would be enough probably)
So, anyone have any suggestions? Walkable city where it's possible to get a house/yard and not have to use the car to much. I'd prefer an area with light rail or some good form of transportation. Unfortunately it seems places like Boston that may have this just seem very expensive, but of course i'm used to low cost of living in the midwest.
We are a young couple in our 20s so definitely would want to have a lot of places to go, and we still are completing school, our combined income is $65k a year, which isn't to bad in the midwest, we could get a house around here for probably 200k and it'd be no big deal, we currently have zero debt too besides our utilities, we own our cars, etc. No major amounts on any credit cards, no student loans (we have been directly paying for school but that will change once we find a place). When looking i'm trying to take into consideration if the area pays more for our line of work then what we do now, so while it could be a bit more expensive, as long as the pay somewhat keeps up it'd be cool.
I appreciate any suggestions, links, whatever. Thank you.
EDIT: Just to add, KC isn't an option, there are no houses downtown/midtown/plaza (well not that we could afford mostly in those areas), tons of sprawl, light rail is 5-8 years away from being implemented.
Sprawl was able to take off in the U.S. because the mile is a large unit, unsuitable for walking but suitable for driving. If it was in kilometers, people would be aware of the true cost of their commutes. I can't believe some people are trying to live in exburbs now. That 60 mile one-way trip to work is close by? How about 100 km and climbing?
Sprawl was able to take off in the U.S. because the mile is a large unit, unsuitable for walking but suitable for driving. If it was in kilometers, people would be aware of the true cost of their commutes. I can't believe some people are trying to live in exburbs now. That 60 mile one-way trip to work is close by? How about 100 km and climbing?
I'm currently driving 45 miles to work 1 way. 5 days a week, for a job that I could do from home. Hope I find something else soon. Unfortunately sprawl has hit KC so bad many of the companies in the IT industry are in the burbs, in the middle no of where.
Cincinnati's northern Kentucky suburbs of Newport and Covington probably has what you are looking for. They are right across the river from downtown.
I would have never thought of those cities. Definitely put them down for consideration.
Also, while I'd like good public transportation, if an area is very walkable and a nice community with lots of things to do, I would still consider it even if lacked rail or anything else like that.
Minneapolis sprawls, but the City proper is perfectly walkable. 1/5 people in Mpls. do not own a car. There are some of the nation's highest rates of bike commuting here. The bus system is extensive and is augmented by a light rail line (soon to be two). For $200,000 your house would be small or in an area that is sketchy (for Mpls.). You could def. find a small yard within a couple miles of downtown and that is close to a good busline. We are more expensive the Kansas City, but the City is nowhere near the price of Boston or San Francisco.
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