Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We were specifically looking to move to the Clayton area long term because it has one of the best school districts in the country. I think older houses there cost in the $1mm - $1.5mm range while newer houses cost $2mm+. While we would like to live in a newer house, I'm not sure we'll be able to afford it on a ~600k salary. We know St. Louis very well since we currently live here (not in Clayton, but in St. Louis City).
We don't know much about Pittsburgh. It seems that there are some very highly ranked elementary schools in the area and we have friends that have strongly vouched for the public school system there. Areas that feed into the North Allegheny School District seem to have nice new, spacious houses for well under $1mm. Fox Chapel seems to be significantly more expensive and the schools seem to have a lot less diversity. However, a big part of the charm of Clayton for us is the walkability. My wife could walk to work. We could walk our child to work. Our kids' friends would all be in a walkable distance. Long term I hope to work close by so that my commute is very short or hopefully walkable. I don't know if it's possible to recreate this experience in Pittsburgh. I don't want to spend a signficant portion of my time commuting to and from work. In addition, I think compensation for the specific field I'm targeting to go to in medicine might pay $50-$100k less in Pittsburgh compared to St. Louis (but it's hard to get data on this so i would need additional information to get some more perspective).
I guess the bar is a little higher for all of the cities outside of St. Louis because we know the city so well and we don't know any of the other cities that well.
not sure if joking or humble brag? I assume you'll have to pay back medical loans, but 600k is a good living.
Yeah, certainly the PNW is the greenest part of the West, by far, but even it's not as saturated with dense vegetation as Back East:
It's this in a place like Washington State, versus this in Maryland.
Just a pretty distinctively different look and feel.
Take a look at the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. It’s the lushest and greenest part of the continental US that I’ve seen. Hoh Rainforest for example is one of the largest rainforests in the US and is very dense in vegetation.
Take a look at the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. It’s the lushest and greenest part of the continental US that I’ve seen. Hoh Rainforest for example is one of the largest rainforests in the US and is very dense in vegetation.
Very cool! Those areas certainly qualify as lush.
Even if it's a different look/feel than the East Coast, I still do think the PNW comes off very enchanting and beautiful in a very unique way.
Those forests alone make me want to explore the region much more.
Little late to the party, but here are some areas in the North Shore (that I'm familiar with) that really pop, in reference to my previous post. Unfortunately, all are in summer, so I don't think it does the colors justice.. But it shows that green, well manicured feel that can be found in droves:
Little late to the party, but here are some areas in the North Shore (that I'm familiar with) that really pop, in reference to my previous post. Unfortunately, all are in summer, so I don't think it does the colors justice.. But it shows that green, well manicured feel that can be found in droves
Gorgeous neighborhoods and landscape, for sure. Lushness definitely isn't lacking in those parts.
Milwaukee's east side has mile after mile after mile of beautiful neighborhoods like these. Green, leafy and beautiful. Some streets overlook Lake Michigan. Not sure why some think green and leafy only applies to certain cities.
Milwaukee's east side has mile after mile after mile of beautiful neighborhoods like these. Green, leafy and beautiful. Some streets overlook Lake Michigan. Not sure why some think green and leafy only applies to certain cities.
A ton of similarities, especially in Shorewood and Whitefish Bay.
Now, compare the leafiness/lushness to comparable Boston area suburbs (where this all started). I, for one, find the Boston suburbs the most "unique" and desirable of the bunch. But, I'd point out, from a fertile/lushness perspective, it's not comparable to some of the other areas noted. It's something I probably recognize now more than ever, living back in the midwest and visiting Massachusetts with regularity.
I, for one, find the Boston suburbs the most "unique" and desirable of the bunch.
I wouldn't agree personally regarding "most" uniqueness and desirability; I think all of these cities have equally unique and desirable areas, but that's of course going to be subjective to each individual.
But regarding lushness: I think where New England excels the most is leafiness. Boston's suburbs are the most consistently forested of the bunch. Plenty of green of course, but interestingly I just don't see as much of a "grand" landscaping and gardening culture as you more commonly find in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and South, even in wealthy areas. At least not to as much of a degree.
My sense is that it has to do with more of a nature "purist" mindset that seems to be much more common in New England than the rest of the US, but I could be wrong.
I wouldn't agree personally regarding "most" uniqueness and desirability; I think all of these cities have equally unique and desirable areas, but that's of course going to be subjective to each individual.
But regarding lushness: I think where New England excels the most is leafiness. Boston's suburbs are the most consistently forested of the bunch. Plenty of green of course, but interestingly I just don't see as much of a "grand" landscaping and gardening culture as you more commonly find in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and South, even in wealthy areas. At least not to as much of a degree.
My sense is that it has to do with more of a nature "purist" mindset that seems to be much more common in New England than the rest of the US, but I could be wrong.
Oh, I don’t think theres any debating the uniqueness. Good or bad, Northeast suburbs standout compared to many other regional suburban areas. You’re not going to find Newburyport or Manchester by the Sea or Marblehead anywhere less the PNW. And even then, you have the cliffs with consistent homes perched on top, town commons and the old churches and the colonial architecture, the landmarks and historical references. Some even built in a traditional railroad format. Where else do you find that? Look at the pictures I posted in a previous comment, and the streetviews above. In many cases, You know exactly where you are when you see those. I don’t think that’s the case for most other metro regions in the US outside of the northeast.
Now, as far as desirability - You’re right, incredibly subjective.. And I’m not suggesting someone in Clayton has any desire to live in Hingham. But objectively, when you look at this on paper: Proximity to a large city, ocean, mountains, education (which goes deep into the dozens and dozens of district options), local economy, even public transportation. I think the Boston area is a standout on the list. Philadelphia(ns) have made their case, too. But when I look at the rest of the list, I just don’t see any other area presenting the toolset. It doesn’t mean someones life or their family is going to be better off because they live in Wellesley over Villanova over Clayton. And there are always going to be people who don’t want ocean access, or don’t care about the regional education as long as their village or town is suitable.
Now, I can only compare what I know, and my personal experiences. But to me, the Boston suburbs and general region has run laps around the other metros I’ve lived in, save San Francisco. Largely for the reasons described above, which led to all of the things we got to see and do, and the network we built while we lived in MA (and grew up there). Doesn’t mean there don’t exist very obvious cons, that have been pointed out. Cost of living, traffic, NIMBYism.
As far as the rest, completely agree. There is a libertarian, live and let live pattern in Massachusetts and much of New England. Frankly, I think you see it even in Westchester county through upstate NY. Far less uniformity than what you find in many other parts of the country. It’s a deliberate “natural” environment that people go to great lengths to preserve.
Last edited by mwj119; 01-31-2023 at 01:01 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
