Is the alot of jobs in the Cookeville and surrounding towns? (house, transfer to)

[oceandreamer27]

I want out of California and my sister-in-law wants out of upstate NY!! But we have families we need to be sure we can raise and want to be sure that there is not a problem with our husbands getting jobs! Like in the cleaning business and running an a/c and heating company....for example.
Also would like to know if there is a lot to do as a family for not a lot of money. Like in upstate we use to go walk by the river and climb rocks and hills out by the water. Go dollar store shopping. Stuff like that.

Thank you for any input you can give!!

[hvsteve1]

I'm sure you will get some answers from those who live there, but, my sister and her husband moved south from New England a few years ago. I'm sure wages (and cost of living) in NE are somewhat like those in California and upstate NY (depending on how far upstate). They first moved to the Hilton Head area and were dismayed at how little they were able to earn in comparison to what they had been getting up north. They decided HH was a little pricey for those low wages (I guess if you have to work, you can't afford to live there) and built a house in S. Carolina. He got a transfer to his employer's location where they are now living, but, as he had requested the move, had to take a pay cut as the company pays even less in SC. In other word, yes, even though housing, taxes and other costs are less in Tennessee, your forty or fifty thousand dollar a year job may turn into much lower pay, making it just as hard to pay the bills.