New Orleans vs. Savannah vs. Texas coast vs. Florida (Baton Rouge: insurance, low crime)

[MoreCowbell]

Hello guys! My husband will be graduating with his teaching degree next year and we are narrowing down our list of options so we'll have a list of "top contenders" to send resumes to.
We're doing a lot of research, especially here on City-Data, but any advice or opinions would be great!
We are looking at pretty much the whole state of Florida, New Orleans, Savannah, and the coast of Texas, especially Corpus Christi and possibly Houston. Any specific town recommendations are definitely appreciated!
We absolutely LOVE New Orleans, and it has been a part of several anniversaries, not to mention our honeymoon. Nola is on our name list for a little girl, just to let you know how we feel about the city. However, we're not sure if we would love it as much living there, especially raising our two elementary school-age children and with my husband teaching. It will be my turn to attend college (finally-yay!) so I will need a pretty good school an hour away or closer, and I will only be working part-time if at all so $$$ will be tight for awhile.

This is the wish list, and we realize we'll never get it all:
An hour away from a beach, possibly 1.5 hrs
Good schools
Low cost of living
Low crime
Good teaching opportunities
A funky place with character/culture/history OR a beach vibe
Good for kids: parks, museums, sports, theme parks/zoos if possible
Low racism/homophobia/religious zealotry
Pretty good weather, no major extremes of anything (preferably)
Good nature areas
A small city vibe with a more nature/artsy scene than a club/party scene
If not a major city we would like one at least 1.5 hrs away, and we would love to have a cruise terminal no more than 2 hrs away.

These are all just wishes though, and we're definitely willing to compromise in some areas. Thank you for all the help you can give, we REALLY appreciate it!

Also, for you New Orleans folk...what are the closest beaches and what are they like? Thanks!

[MetroBTR]

From what you said, I could picture you in Slidell maybe.
-population 25,500
-83% white
-13.5% black
-2.7% Latino
It's an easy drive to the Mississippi beaches, which are the best beaches that are convenient to the NOLA area. It's also an easy drive from the heart of New Orleans. The city just experienced the first murder in years, so it's a very safe community.

[hey teach]

Sounds like you a re looking for Utopia. Let me know when you find it, where it is located. I want to move there too.

[Micktooth]

Originally Posted by MoreCowbell

Hello guys! My husband will be graduating with his teaching degree next year and we are narrowing down our list of options so we'll have a list of "top contenders" to send resumes to.
We're doing a lot of research, especially here on City-Data, but any advice or opinions would be great!
We are looking at pretty much the whole state of Florida, New Orleans, Savannah, and the coast of Texas, especially Corpus Christi and possibly Houston. Any specific town recommendations are definitely appreciated!
We absolutely LOVE New Orleans, and it has been a part of several anniversaries, not to mention our honeymoon. Nola is on our name list for a little girl, just to let you know how we feel about the city. However, we're not sure if we would love it as much living there, especially raising our two elementary school-age children and with my husband teaching. It will be my turn to attend college (finally-yay!) so I will need a pretty good school an hour away or closer, and I will only be working part-time if at all so $$$ will be tight for awhile.

This is the wish list, and we realize we'll never get it all:
An hour away from a beach, possibly 1.5 hrs
Good schools
Low cost of living
Low crime
Good teaching opportunities
A funky place with character/culture/history OR a beach vibe
Good for kids: parks, museums, sports, theme parks/zoos if possible
Low racism/homophobia/religious zealotry
Pretty good weather, no major extremes of anything (preferably)
Good nature areas
A small city vibe with a more nature/artsy scene than a club/party scene
If not a major city we would like one at least 1.5 hrs away, and we would love to have a cruise terminal no more than 2 hrs away.

These are all just wishes though, and we're definitely willing to compromise in some areas. Thank you for all the help you can give, we REALLY appreciate it!

Also, for you New Orleans folk...what are the closest beaches and what are they like? Thanks!

Well if this really is your priority list, I don't think New Orleans is the answer.:
Beaches..the closest nicest beaches are in Alabama 150 miles east
Schools..for the best education, you will need to pay for private school
Crime..NOLA just named the murder capital of the country
Great zoo and museums but not the best parks over all
Major Racism,Homophobia (a vote just today in Baton Rouge), a lot of very religious people (Not necessarily a bad thing,just answering your query)
Weather..depends on what you define as good. If you love it hot and humid, this is it. Any of your areas are susceptible to hurricanes.
If I were you I'd stick to TX and FL

[hugsnpugs]

If your husband intends on teaching in New Orleans, he will probably give up teaching real quick and go join the circus (it's that bad)... It is expensive to live here post-k-rents are sky high and its really hard to afford to buy a house in the metro area, what with inflated asking prices and sky-high insurance rates. Crime in New Orleans proper is really high and there are few isolated neighborhoods-I used to live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city (Bayou St. John/City park), and I was always a block away from crime-ridden neighborhoods, and of course those folks would hang out in my street, sometimes on my frickin porch.... anyhoo. Schools for your child, as someone else said, you have to go parochial/private-there is no other choice until you get to high school and maybe only if your kid can get into Ben Franklin.

[Prytania]

Some of the RSD schools are ok, I know of a few people who did get in (younger 20s some 30 somethings). The pay is acceptable and they haven't run away.

[MetroBTR]

Are you limiting yourself to the city proper of New Orleans or are suburban communities an option. If so, I will do a little more research on some other communities around New Orleans that fit to your criteria.

[ayannaaaliyah]

Savannah.

[MoreCowbell]

We are pretty open to any suggestions. The ocean thing is pretty important but nothing is really a deal-breaker. Thank you guys so much so far!

[St.Claire]

We moved from the Gulf Coast to Savannah after Katrina - before we lived there, we lived Uptown and my husband lived in the Quarter. So we have a familiarity with both cities.

Savannah is much closer to the beach (about fifteen minutes - some people live at the beach and commute to town). As far as religion it is very similar to New Orleans. Very Catholic. It is a fairly conservative city, although much more open than the rest of Georgia. It is a fun, funky town. We love everything about it except the lack of decent restaurants! New Orleans spoils you for that!

The schools here are also similar to New Orleans. Some terrific elementary schools, then most people move their children to private or parochial schools after that. The one exception is the Savannah School of the Arts, which is one of the best high schools in the nation. It is an amazing school!

My children attend a charter Montessori school here, which is also fantastic. We live in a walkable neighborhood right in the middle of town. The flip side of that is that the housing is expensive for a safe neighborhood in town. For cheaper home prices you have to go out to the suburbs.

This is s high crime city unless you go out to the suburbs. There are great museums, walking paths, a gorgeous downtown that is half residential - our downtown is more similar to NOLA's Uptown that the CBD).

There are no zoos, but there are wildlife areas. The weather is insanely hot and humid over half the year. Mild winters and glorious autumn seasons though.

The state cut education funding this year so they are laying off teachers in the public system. I have no idea about the private schools though!

Honestly, other than the desire to be near the beach, the only place I have ever lived that has everything you listed is Asheville, North Carolina! You might check it out!