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Old 05-11-2009, 05:29 PM
 
69 posts, read 194,437 times
Reputation: 22

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Alright everyone. I've got a question for you. I had recently posted about moving out to NOVA asking for areas to consider. It turns out that there are now two possibilities. NOVA and Dayton, Ohio. Assume career progression in one place is just as good as the other. I am a gov't employee, so my COLA will be lower in the midwest. Other than that, where should I live and why?

Before someone says it, I've already got my own opinions, but I'd like to hear what people have to say - maybe I didn't think of something that someone here will...
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Old 05-11-2009, 05:33 PM
 
Location: Springfield
2,765 posts, read 8,325,339 times
Reputation: 1114
The traffic sucks down here, it's not worth the % adjustment on your payscale. Find yourself a nice Waterfront property in Ohio and live a relaxing life.
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Old 05-11-2009, 05:53 PM
 
446 posts, read 1,647,654 times
Reputation: 151
The weather here is better (less of a winter) if that matters.

Kids might have a more normal growing up in Dayton where they aren't in schools with a high population of non-English speakers. I only say that as a negative because the teacher has to spend more of his/her time with these kids while your kid sits there waiting.

We are closer to the beach here, again if that matters to you.

Either way, good luck to you!
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Old 05-11-2009, 05:59 PM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
15,142 posts, read 27,760,706 times
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It really depends on what kind of area you want to live in (amenities, views, weather, etc.) - no comparison between Dayton and here really. Yes, I've been to Dayton area.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:27 PM
 
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,718,665 times
Reputation: 41376
Quote:
Originally Posted by LMS7689 View Post
Alright everyone. I've got a question for you. I had recently posted about moving out to NOVA asking for areas to consider. It turns out that there are now two possibilities. NOVA and Dayton, Ohio. Assume career progression in one place is just as good as the other. I am a gov't employee, so my COLA will be lower in the midwest. Other than that, where should I live and why?

Before someone says it, I've already got my own opinions, but I'd like to hear what people have to say - maybe I didn't think of something that someone here will...
From personal experience COLA doesnt cover much. We got a COLA bump when me moved from Hampton, VA to NoVA 5 yrs ago and it didnt help much.

If you get get a good job, the midwest is a steal.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:48 PM
 
69 posts, read 194,437 times
Reputation: 22
Wow.

Dayton: 2.5
NOVA: 0.5

I think Flamingo13's answer was "it depends" so I didn't include that one in the score. CaseyMac was a split decision, although the point about school is important since we are expecting our first.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:51 PM
 
3,650 posts, read 9,498,811 times
Reputation: 3812
Go to Ohio - the cost of living is skyhigh here and the traffic is horrible.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:53 PM
 
Location: Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, PA
32,616 posts, read 77,579,178 times
Reputation: 19101
I know people are going to think "what a surprise coming from the jerk" when I say this, but if your career growth potential was the same in either area I'd opt for Dayton, Ohio. Your dollar will stretch much further in Southwestern Ohio than it would in Northern Virginia; for example, while you might be stuck renting here even ten years from now due to the high cost-of-living, out there you will very likely be able to afford a nice single-family home for what the price of a dumpy 1-BR condo in Arlington would be in a short amount of time. We all know that NoVA offers proximity to Washington, DC, a truly wonderful city in its own right as our nation's capital with plenty to see and do, but Cincinnati is also a place I really came to like, and you'd be about the same travel distance from Dayton to Cincinnati as most parts of NoVA to DC when you consider how much worse the traffic congestion is here than in SW OH.

I know a lot of people think "Ohio? Ew!" but I never got that negative aura when I've been there. I happen to think NoVA is a great place in its own right, but if I could take the option of living in a less-crowded, less-expensive, and slower-paced area for only a marginal salary cut I'd take it, even if it meant you'd be in an area with a less attractive landscape (SW OH is relatively flat near Dayton) and a less "happening" city (Cincy is by no means DC but still has a lot to offer).


A pic I took of Cincinnati's skyline back in 2007.
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:01 PM
 
69 posts, read 194,437 times
Reputation: 22
ScranBarre: Thanks for the opinions. Spouse is from Cincy, I grew up in Dayton so we're familiar with the area. I agree, Cincy is a great town, if you know your way around.
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:02 PM
 
69 posts, read 194,437 times
Reputation: 22
Dayton: 4.5
NOVA: 0.5

I think Flamingo13's answer was "it depends" so I didn't include that one in the score. CaseyMac was a split decision, although the point about school is important since we are expecting our first.
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