I'm not necessarily asking which city is the most desirable. Of these 3 cities (with an open slot to other suggestions) where could I find the best neighborhood/area to rent? If you have suggestions for all 3, that's even more helpful. I'm not deciding between the cities. I'm narrowing it down and letting work decide for me in the end.
I currently live in Austin, TX. If you are familiar with ATX, the areas I like are *East Austin, North Loop, Hyde Park, SOCO, SOLA. If you are not familiar with ATX, I like neighborhoods that are older and grittier with hidden pockets of entertainment. I like areas with walkability, dive bars, coffee shops, public transportation, thrift stores, bike friendly...hipster. I usually hate the term, but I can't seem to avoid it. I am looking for a hipster neighborhood that has an eclectic mix of young professionals, young families, artists, and diverse locals. I'm not looking for a neighborhood that's too young or or too over run by college students- I'm taking the next step in my life.
I'm 26/f and I'm going to be finding "blue collar" work while working on my writing career on the side. I want to rent a studio/ 1 bedroom apt in the $500/mo range. I know that's cheap, but Austin is pretty expensive and I manage fine here. With that said, I know that I might not be able to live in the most popular and historic neighborhoods in any of these 3 cities. What are some less known neighborhoods (perhaps more on the outskirts) that would fit the bill? Would I be a able to find a neighborhood where entertainment and good scenery are both in walking distance? What about a quirky neighborhood that is inexpensive enough that I could have a place with a yard/porch and still be close to amenities ?
I know that crime rates and safety are a touchy subject when talking about these particular areas. Let me just say this; I'm not easily scared. (warning: tangent ahead) My favorite rental was within 30 feet of a train track and a cemetery. I shared a quad with a schizophrenic lady, her toothless heroin addict dad, a 16 y.o. pregnant couple, and a stripper. I loved the the hell out of that place!!! There was never a dull day. Any way... I would never live in a gated community. I like old neighborhoods that are safe from gentrification. I appreciate all facets of American culture, but at the same time, I don't want to be the odd one out either. I want to be somewhere where I will fit in....where all types come together, hold hands and sing kumbaya together (JK!) Finally, I don't want my dad to have a heart attack when he visits his little girl
. In otherwords, if there really are some areas that just scream "BAD NEWS", I won't judge you as being unadventurous or close-minded for pointing them out for me.
Thanks!
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