ready to move (Denver: transplants, crime rates, neighborhoods)

[ready2move2012]

ok you guys i'm new to this and hoping someone can help me to finally figure out where i want to live...i'm orginally from new orleans and now i live in houston (i hate...sorry) but i'm looking forward to move to either seattle, denver, pittsburgh, atlanta, boston, charlotte, chicago, minneapolis or cincinnati has anyone every lived or visited any of these places please help me out...i need cost of living, crime rates, schooling, job opps (i'm a medical assistant now) activities (nieces & nephews will visit every summer) and anything anyone can think of please and thank you!!!!!

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Wow, you are asking a lot of broad questions. You are also considering cities and parts of the country that are vastly different from each other. I suggest that you spend time looking through the many, many posts on the Denver forum about things like cost of living, jobs, schools, activities, etc. There have also been many discussions about what the people are like in Denver, comparing Denver with the east coast, etc. etc. etc. etc. It's all here.

[JrzDefector]

I actually considered Pittsburgh before I moved to Denver. It was a very pleasant city to visit with a rich cultural life (many activities for children). However, the winters are more brutal than Denver's, and I didn't want to deal with that. Ultimately, I like Denver's combo hippy-cowboy vibe and the fact that the outdoors, dogs, organic food, music and books are all very important here.

[KatInTheHat]

Of the cities you've listed, I've lived in Boston and Chicago. Both have lots to do in all seasons, if you don't mind snow and colder weather. Both are great for people of all ages (not sure how old you are.) I moved to Boston in my mid 20s, and I found it difficult to meet people who weren't transplants. The locals have this us vs. them mentality. (And, I grew up in Connecticut!) When I moved to Chicago in my mid 30s, I had NO trouble meeting people -- locals and nonlocals -- right off the bat.

Boston is a huge college town; Chicago has lots of schools, too. Cost of living is high in both places, but if you live with a roommate or roommates, it's very doable. You probably wouldn't have a problem landing a job in either city -- both have lots of hospitals.

Both cities have their share of crime. I've had a bicycle stolen while I lived in each city. One was stolen from my car (Boston). The other was stolen right off the street in Chicago (they cut the lock!). But, I've never had my apts. broken into.

I hope that helps.

[Mike from back east]

The ONLY way to get all those stats on all those cities is to get a copy of "Cities Ranked and Rated" by Bert Sperling. Check the local library for a copy, it's the book we used to pick COLO SPGS.

We have tons of existing threads on transplants from other cities, what people like about Denver, what people don't like about Denver, the schools, eateries, neighborhoods, transit, weather, driving, photo tours, etc. Use our search tool to find those threads, they contain a WEALTH of info from real people.

Otherwise, all of the cities listed are fine places, with good and bad parts, etc.

Sorry, but I just have to close this thread, there isn't enough space on this forum to go into all that detail on all those cities.