Where to move? LA vs. Boulder vs. Seattle vs. Boston vs. Portland vs. D.C. (live, salary)

[lkartje]

I'll be graduating from college this spring with a degree in elementary education and I'm looking to relocate. I haven't done a ton of traveling around the country (other than the midwest where I'm from) so I'm pretty lost about where I should move to.

The list of places that I've been looking into include:
California (LA/Santa Monica area)- my brother lives out there so I have visited.
Colorado (Denver/Boulder area)
Seattle
Boston
Portland
D.C./Maryland area

Since I'm going into teaching, I'm looking to move to an area with good schools that treat their teachers pretty well. I am also hoping to move to an area that has a younger population and will be a pretty easy transition for someone in their early 20s. I'm active and love the outdoors (water and mountains) so a place that fosters that and has a lot to do is a plus!

Any advice or direction about any of these places would be helpful!

[GatsbyGatz]

You won't afford Santa Monica on a teachers salary... in fact, Boston, D.C., Seattle, and Portland would be a tight stretch unless you can find roommates.

[theraven24]

Might want to consider moving in with your brother if you move to Los Angeles. Plus, I just wouldn't recommend LAUSD to any aspiring teacher, but then again that can depend on the school as well.