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Which mild weather states - (warmer and less snow than MA) has less of "the world is flat" mentality, i.e., don't believe in science, stuck in old ways, etc. We relocated from coastal MA and now live in SC and would love to find the mentality of the northeast (place a premium on higher education, believe in science, have good health care, think public transit is a worthwhile investment, good services, good leadership and financial stability), in a more mild climate state. MA offers a great quality of life, but it's too expensive and too cold. This has nothing to do with politics as MA has a republican governor but is still what I consider a progressive and well run state.
Actually most of the northeast is expensive, and we're done with the gray, cold, snow and ice for 6 months of the year, so I guess that pretty much rules of CT, RI, NY and probably NJ, and leaves a pretty small group of states - PA, DE, MD, VA and NC as we would not consider living in FL or GA.
Please rank the states. We're finding it doesn't matter if you live in a more progressive area in a conservative state. The actions of the few affect the many.
States? Meh.. NC is a purple state. However, Durham County is 86% Blue. Wake County (Raleigh) is 75% Blue. Deep Deep blue surrounded by red. Sound familiar to the Northeast? (Not MA, VT which are rural and blue too)
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Area would be my vote. Good housing prices, very blue, great jobs, lots of Bostonians/New Yorkers too.
OP, we’ve been through this before. I’m coastal Massachusetts near the RI line. I’m growing zone 7A. Atlantic City is growing zone 7B. I recall you lived in Newburyport. I spent a decade in Portsmouth NH which is similar climate. It’s way more mild in the towns on Buzzards Bay and in the southernmost part of Rhode Island. Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown, Narragansett, and on to Watch Hill and the Connecticut eastern shore.
If you go inland a few miles, the winter is harsher. It is also often 10 degrees hotter in the summer.
I’ve worked a ton in Philly and the nearby suburbs. Philly gets more snow than my house. A bit west of there, Downingtown gets a lot more snow than me. If you’re crossing the coastal northeast off your list as too much snow, southeastern Pennsylvania is similar.
I don’t know enough about Delaware or Maryland to comment. My Maryland life experience is metro DC and you’re priced out.
OP, we’ve been through this before. I’m coastal Massachusetts near the RI line. I’m growing zone 7A. Atlantic City is growing zone 7B. I recall you lived in Newburyport. I spent a decade in Portsmouth NH which is similar climate. It’s way more mild in the towns on Buzzards Bay and in the southernmost part of Rhode Island. Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown, Narragansett, and on to Watch Hill and the Connecticut eastern shore.
If you go inland a few miles, the winter is harsher. It is also often 10 degrees hotter in the summer.
I’ve worked a ton in Philly and the nearby suburbs. Philly gets more snow than my house. A bit west of there, Downingtown gets a lot more snow than me. If you’re crossing the coastal northeast off your list as too much snow, southeastern Pennsylvania is similar.
I don’t know enough about Delaware or Maryland to comment. My Maryland life experience is metro DC and you’re priced out.
Thanks for reminding me about the weather. I assume NY (the areas we could afford) would be the same. The problem with MA, CT and RI (which I love, but know the least about CT) is the high COL and the taxes. CT and RI are pretty outrageous. MA although called "taxachusetts" is a bargain considering the QOL and that my husband's MA pension would not be taxed. However, housing is way out of reach for coastal MA as our budget is 450K. Same with CT and most of nice coastal RI but taxes do RI in.
I investigated VA metro DC area and have been told traffic is a nightmare, and as you said it's out anyway because prices are sky high (likely due to the good jobs and salaries of DC).
Due to all those variable, I am drawn to the mid-atlantic area - possibly MD @ Annapolis or other parts of VA.
It's hard to find the right mix of moderate climate, moderately progressive area, great healthcare and moderate COL all in one.
States? Meh.. NC is a purple state. However, Durham County is 86% Blue. Wake County (Raleigh) is 75% Blue. Deep Deep blue surrounded by red. Sound familiar to the Northeast? (Not MA, VT which are rural and blue too)
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Area would be my vote. Good housing prices, very blue, great jobs, lots of Bostonians/New Yorkers too.
Cary is very popular for Northerners.
Thanks for the suggestion. We've looked at Chapel Hill off an on for years as we have friends there, and it just hasn't clicked. Although that area is pretty progressive (some would call it liberal) and housing as you mentioned is reasonable, I find the state as a whole way too conservative, and am seeing in SC how the whole of the state affects QOL, even when living in a moderate "bubble" within the state.
Looking more for a state which on the whole is moderate, not just a region of the state.
What I've seen of MD I liked (the Annapolis area) but that was MANY years ago. Can't say the same about Baltimore, unfortunately. Not a place I would want to be spending any time in, but MD is close to DC which I love, I have not seen Montgomery County at all, which "sounds" like a fit, however, I have been told the COL is about the same as NOVA which is out of reach as our budget for a house is @ 450K and rent no higher than 2K for preferably a 2BR.
I know Annapolis has pretty high crime. I also think it has gotten very pricey. Looked at areas around it but was told by someone that that county is "rural and backwoods" and not what we are looking for. We are definitely not looking for "backwoods", and for rural I have to be careful saying that's out because West Newbury and Newbury, MA are considered rural and I could live there easily, only because Newburyport was a 10-15 drive away which transit to Boston, great shops and restaurants, festivals, etc. And Newbury and West Newbury are far from "backwoods". Sort of the best of both worlds. But I don't want to be in some isolated rural place where the drive to the grocery store/hospital/vet/services is 40 min away.
As far as states, from what I have experienced and where I have lived, my favorites have been MA, RI, MD, VA (and CA but we're limiting our search to the east coast due to proximity to family). I like the ME coast but only in the summer. Could never tolerate the winters. I like NH, PA, SC, GA and FL the least, and no next to nothing about NJ or CT other than costs (especially taxes) are way too high.
OP, you'd probably like Northern Virginia. Firstly its climate would be more to your liking than say Pennsylvania. Secondly, the state is run by moderate Democrats who, overall, value similar things to you. Overall, NOVA is affluent and perhaps a bit more expensive than you're looking for, but it will cost a penny to get most things on your wishlist. I do believe the area is more affordable than the "equivalents" in Maryland.
Maryland could be another good fit. Beyond the DC area, perhaps check out the suburbs of Baltimore or Annapolis?
In Pennsylvania, you may like the Philadelphia area, but the nicer suburbs tend to be more expensive, unless you are getting pretty far out. We do get some cold and snow, but it's not like MA. We have a true springtime, which I value. Also, you may not care to live in a state with a legislature such as ours. There surely is an animosity from the Republican legislature toward SE Pennsylvania.
Yeah NOVA and the Triangle would be my top two, especially if you are looking for a good investment. NOVA is slightly more red, but VA is slightly more blue overall.
Yeah NOVA and the Triangle would be my top two, especially if you are looking for a good investment. NOVA is slightly more red, but VA is slightly more blue overall.
Im not sure I would move to MD
Hi there. Can you explain further (or PM me)? I don't know much about MD except having been to Annapolis many years ago. It's near the bottom of the poll so it would appear you aren't the only one who feels this way. I know MD gets a bad rap for taxes, but I've run the tax calculators, and for a retiree in our situation, it's only slightly more expensive than VA. I think Baltimore drags it down a lot in the crime stats. But a well-run state is important to us, so maybe it's not?
Surprised to hear that NOVA is more red than the Triangle! We certainly don't want to live in a depressed area, and want an area that is growing but not exploding with growth, but since this is likely to be our last home we are not looking at it as an investment, although one never knows, right? Things happen and houses need to be sold so that is a valid consideration.
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