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Old 06-24-2020, 10:33 AM
 
4 posts, read 2,803 times
Reputation: 15

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My husband will be retiring in about 5 years. I will still be working either in education or as an attorney in the place we relocate. We will have a young child (under 12 years of age) relocating with us. We currently live in Maryland. My husband wants to move because Maryland is a bad state to retire in (taxes), cost of living is high here, and he wants warmer weather. Ideally we are looking for the following (in no particular order):

1. Good schools - Public if possible. We are not opposed to private schools but would definitely prefer public education.
2. Location close to extracurriculars for my child (example: sports, music, etc)
3. Within an hour of jobs for me (teaching music at public schools or as an attorney).
4. Decent cost of living - We will be living off a pension and whatever income I can bring in.
5. Not overly congested.
6. Housing - Homes between $200-300K
7. Safe and clean
8. Better climate - We really enjoy being outside.
9. Relatively close to good healthcare.


I know we might not find an area that meets all these points but am hoping to target a couple of areas that are close. Thanks in advance!
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Old 06-24-2020, 12:38 PM
 
13,355 posts, read 39,968,931 times
Reputation: 10790
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caslardec View Post
My husband will be retiring in about 5 years. I will still be working either in education or as an attorney in the place we relocate. We will have a young child (under 12 years of age) relocating with us. We currently live in Maryland. My husband wants to move because Maryland is a bad state to retire in (taxes), cost of living is high here, and he wants warmer weather. Ideally we are looking for the following (in no particular order):

1. Good schools - Public if possible. We are not opposed to private schools but would definitely prefer public education.
2. Location close to extracurriculars for my child (example: sports, music, etc)
3. Within an hour of jobs for me (teaching music at public schools or as an attorney).
4. Decent cost of living - We will be living off a pension and whatever income I can bring in.
5. Not overly congested.
6. Housing - Homes between $200-300K
7. Safe and clean
8. Better climate - We really enjoy being outside.
9. Relatively close to good healthcare.


I know we might not find an area that meets all these points but am hoping to target a couple of areas that are close. Thanks in advance!
Definitely check out Cookeville. It meets all of your criteria very nicely:

1. Excellent schools with the International Baccalaureate Program at both the middle and high school levels. And since the entire county is one school system with open enrollment, you can live anywhere in the county and send your child to any school you want as long as there's room and you provide your own transportation.

2. Lots of extracurricular activities in Cookeville, and it's very family friendly: children's theatre, children's library, children's museum, oodles of youth sports and other activities.

3. It's easier to find teaching jobs in some fields more than others, but by and large it's not difficult to get a job in Putnam County Schools. I go to church with a family who moved here last year from Illinois in a similar situation as you: father was retired, the mother was a teacher, one child still at home, preferred Tennessee's more favorable weather and tax structure. The mother got a teaching job right away.

4. Very reasonable cost of living, certainly better than in Maryland and in larger cities. Property taxes are low here. See #6 forhousing costs.

5. Cookeville is a town of 35,000 in a county of 80,000, and we're an hour from the nearest big city (Nashville). It seems that traffic is congested pretty much only in school zones, particularly for those of us who have lived in cities with legitimate traffic problems.

6. Lots of very, very nice housing in your price range. I'll post samples below.

7. Very safe, very clean, very beautiful area. Cookeville is experiencing a population and economic boom which has resulted in a wonderfully preserved downtown, attractive neighborhoods, bike trails, greenways, and things most towns this size don't have like a professional symphony, 200+ restaurants, galleries, museums, Shakespeare in the Park, a performing arts center, etc.

8. The climate is wonderful, and the countryside around Cookeville is beautiful with over 100 waterfalls, a dozen state parks, and 1200 miles of lake shoreline within 40 minutes of town.

9. The hospital in Cookeville is the hub for the 14-county region and is excellent. It's also partnered with Vanderbilt Medical Center out of Nashville which is one of the best hospitals in the country.

I moved to the area 7 years ago from Knoxville, and it was the best move I've ever made. Another perk: gigabit internet is available not just in the city, but even way out in the boondocks. I'm 20 miles outside of town in the middle of nowhere, 8 miles from the nearest gas station, yet I have gigabit internet at my little country farm.

Here are samples of homes in your price range that have recently sold in Cookeville to give you an idea what's available around here.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...63656537_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...41991322_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...0257290_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...41989092_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...81310424_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...1315502_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6...1990966_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...52145361_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...0081029_zpid/?
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...52145811_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...1987701_zpid/?
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Old 06-24-2020, 07:45 PM
 
4 posts, read 2,803 times
Reputation: 15
Smile Thank you!

Thank you so so much for your reply! This helps so much!
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Old 06-25-2020, 06:49 AM
 
585 posts, read 635,398 times
Reputation: 1614
Your requests sound like Maryville might fit your bill.
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Old 06-25-2020, 08:07 AM
 
Location: Huntsville Area
1,948 posts, read 1,518,235 times
Reputation: 2998
I agree about Cookeville for a well rounded place to live. Or, Johnson City up close to the VA state line. Or, Maryville if you want to be in a bigger town (Knoxville) Or, Cleveland if you're a hiker/outdoorsman.
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Old 06-25-2020, 08:43 AM
 
Location: Knoxville
4,704 posts, read 25,303,508 times
Reputation: 6131
Any advice you get today could change a lot in 5 years.
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Old 06-26-2020, 09:59 AM
 
Location: TN/NC
35,081 posts, read 31,313,313 times
Reputation: 47551
There was a poster that used to frequent these boards who was also from Maryland. He really liked Johnson City, but decided on Maryville largely for the proximity to UT Medical Center. I've seen a lot of conditions that should be treatable in an area of ~500k (Tri-Cities) get bounced to Knoxville or further afield.
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Old 06-27-2020, 06:57 PM
 
Location: Mount Airy, Maryland
16,279 posts, read 10,418,527 times
Reputation: 27599
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serious Conversation View Post
There was a poster that used to frequent these boards who was also from Maryland. He really liked Johnson City, but decided on Maryville largely for the proximity to UT Medical Center. I've seen a lot of conditions that should be treatable in an area of ~500k (Tri-Cities) get bounced to Knoxville or further afield.
I'm still around. OP I have some thoughts I'll send to you via PM
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