DFW vs Las Vegas vs Orange County (CA) vs Florida (living, cost)

[Danneskjold]

I'm 25, single, straight, white and male. I live alone and without pets, I carry little debt, my Jeep is a POS but it works and I own it, I'm a salesman, and I expect to earn $36- 40,000 this year. I don't care for "multiculturalism" or a city's artistry, I want to live somewhere that is more business-friendly than not, and I want to rent in a clean-cut part of town. I'll find a job before I move in January.

I've been to everywhere on my list except Dallas and Ft. Worth, though I have visited between The Woodlands and Galveston. And of Florida I remember only the Orlando area and St. Augustine Beach. I spent four days in California in January, mostly driving around Los Angeles and Orange County, with a stop in San Diego. I visited Texas and Florida too long ago to be able to make good judgements. With this in mind, I've researched cost of living, salary, and climate data of each place, I know what rentals go for. I don't want to live in an area at risk of flooding. Newport Beach and Huntington Beach areas were at the top of my list a few months ago 'til I discovered a lower cost of living in the south (than even in Denver).

So what say you? Any of you love your city or state? Do you Californians think that the cost of living is worth the life? Are hurricanes worth the risk in Florida? What do you know about these places that most people don't ask about and most data doesn't mention?




FWIW, the smog above Los Angeles wasn't bad and traffic was fine. And I drove a lot. I drove through sparse traffic on wide highways with drivers who drove too fast to get in my way; it was great!

[talkispoison]

I live in Dallas. What do you want to know?