Where to move after graduation???! (low crime, job market, safe neighborhoods)

[renee12345]

I am completely new to this site, so I have no idea if I am posting in the right area/doing this correctly...
I am 21 years old, graduating college (Spring Hill in Mobile, AL) in May. I lived in a microscopic town an hour south of New Orleans my entire life until college, and have not traveled much at all. I have absolutely NO idea where to live/what to do when I graduate and I am petrified. I will be on a VERY tight budget and am looking for any and all advice on the best places for someone my age to live and work. (I am a marketing/management major.) Low crime (since I will probably be living alone,) and cheap housing are major priorities. I would rather not be completely across the country from my mother in Louisiana, but I'm not objecting to something further than Mobile. I am SO lost. ANY suggestions would be fantastic, THANKS!

[TexasBlonde]

Are you planning to buy or rent? What's your budget range? I can maybe help you, but it depends on a few factors (like what your housing plans are).

[jayp1188]

I'm not exactly sure how far from Louisiana you're willing to go, but Houston and Atlanta aren't too far away and are very affordable for big cities, and both cities have lots to offer, including many safe neighborhoods and decent job markets. If you're looking for smaller cities, Huntsville might be a good choice. It's safe, affordable, and I hear it's a great place to live and work. If you're willing to go further, Indianapolis, Columbus, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio are all nice cities that have many affordable options. Good luck!

[user376]

I would stay close to college, where people will be familiar with the school, you can network with alumni, and you will hopefully have some friends nearby. Just keep it simple and find a job close to friends/family.

[uptown_urbanist]

It doesn't really meet your requirements, but I'm going to throw it out there as an option to consider all the same: what about Washington DC? It's a quick plane ride to Louisiana, and while not a cheap city, it's also very accommodating for young new professionals. There's even dorm-like housing available at relatively affordable prices, like this place. (keep in mind the fact that salaries will fluctuate with location, too, so you may be able to afford more in a bigger city if your salary is also a higher) The influx of young people from around the country (and world) may make it easier to make friends, and the economy there is pretty good compared to many parts of the country. It would be a fun place to start a career. I think DC is an excellent place for young people just starting out, and with three airports within easy distance you can usually find affordable plane tickets, and the time to get back to Louisiana might equal whatever it would take to drive from some of the other places.

[Thomas R.]

I feel like I don't know enough about what you want to really recommend anything, but then again I only ever go by statistics.

Arkansas is just north of Louisiana and I'm originally from Northwest Arkansas. I've heard Fayetteville, Arkansas is a good college town and its crime rate looks around average. Its murder rate looks low. Bentonville looks below average for crime. Its grown a good deal since I lived there as a boy, but I think it's still fairly affordable.

Athens, Georgia does well on some economic lists and its violent crime rate doesn't look too bad. It might be further than you want.