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I would like to start off by saying that I think Jersey is a fine place to live. But... I'm a 28 year old male and I have never lived anywhere else. I would like to expand my horizons. I'm currently single and I'm about to lose my job do to the company going under. This seems like it would be a good time to start over in a new state.
I work in IT and I do server administration/infrastructure so a good job market for technical people would be preferable. I would like to live in a city as I have always lived in suburbia. Also, since I'm single I would like to live in a place with a thriving night life. I also enjoy enjoy fresh water fishing but I also like the beach so I would like to live on a coast.
Things I hate about New Jersey are the traffic, high cost of living, and the winters. Even though I rent the property taxes scare me. I don't think I could afford a mortgage and the 10K+ a year taxes. I would like to live some place warmer. Things I like about New Jersey are the recreational activities. In the winter I can ski and in the summer I can go to the beach. There is a alot of diversity here, which I like. I am 30 minutes away from NYC and all the culture it offers.
I would rent the first year in a new area but after that I would like to buy something. I have not been to many places outside of the NJ/NY Metro area but it looks like the following places have what I want:
North Carolina: NC appears to have a great job market. I know the fishing is great. The ocean is there though might be a few hour drive. I am not familiar with the NC metro areas. Will they offer the city feel I'm looking for or the night life?
Virginia/DC Metro Area: I've been to DC many times and I like it. It appears to have alot of what I'm looking for but also many of the same things I'm trying to get away from: excessive cost of living and traffic.
Atlanta: Also looks to have alot of what I want except the traffic looks crazy.
Texas: Don't know much about Texas but it always looked like a cool place. Maybe Austin? I would like more info about it.
San Francisco Bay area: Another place I have never been but looks like it would be awesome. I know it is expensive and traffic is awful but something tells me I would like it there.
Please tell me more about these places and also recommend others you think I might like. I will be visiting each place throughly before deciding to move there.
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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I wouldn't throw Virginia out the question if the DC area aint right for you. I would look at Richmond and Norfolk. The IT market is good in both cities. Norfolk is right next to the beach and Richmond is 1-2 hours from the beach. I'm sure both cities have a good nightlife. Rent isn't exactly cheap in these cities but it's a bargain compared to NoVA and espically NJ. Traffic isn't great in these cities but living in NoVA i would slap anyone who complained about Richmond traffic and have a big argument about Norfolk traffic. So i would say VA's Richmond and Norfolk would give you the best overall mix of what you are looking for.
I live in the DC area (Maryland)....you will not like it...it is being a replica of New Jersey. They say we are a mix of north and south, but we see none of the southern charm or friendliness here...maybe in the old timers but we have a lot of transplants who have changed everything.
If you want a city area (which I personally don't prefer)....you can try Atlanta, Tampa, Charlotte, Houston, or Dallas. Las Vegas is also a very nice area with wonderful weather, a lot of good restaurants and entertainment (a lot of is actually high end its not all about casinos anymore). The housing there is great....almost everyone hasa single family home, very few apartments, just like in every western city. Las Vegas has a fake beach at Mandalay Bay and isn't far from Southern California's coast.
Salt Lake City is a smaller city but has the offerings of a big city. Obviously there is good skiing or else the Winter Olympics wouldn't be held there. As for beaches....I'm not sure if people swim in the Great Salt Lake but I don't see why not, though I don't think there are like beach resorts on the salt lake though its very beautiful water there.
Personallly I want to leave the East Coast but I'll probably be in Baltimore for 4 more years for pharmacy school. After that I'm packing up, heading south or west and NEVER looking back. Anywhere in the nation is better than the East Coast in terms of the people, costs, way of life, social problems, etc. Honestly I would rather live in Cincinnati or Kansas City than in DC or Baltimore.
I'm from DC, have lived in both Raleigh and Atlanta, spent a good deal of time in Austin, and have visited San Francisco once before (and also coincidentally, am about to move to NYC after a quick month-long layover in New Jersey).
I think that unfortunately, you're going to have to make a trade off of sorts. North Carolina, Atlanta and Austin are cheaper areas, meaning that you will be more likely to be able to buy a property there than you would SF or DC. However, outside of a few pockets of urbanity (such as Atlanta's Midtown and Virginia Highlands, or the areas near UT in Austin), the cities of North Carolina, Atlanta and Austin are fairly sprawled out and suburban in nature. There's not quite that urban vitality that you find in high-density cities like San Francisco and DC. I think you basically have to decide whether you're willing to delay buying something for the benefit of living in a hopping urban area.
Personally, I think you should try out San Francisco just for a complete change while you're young and still can. It sounds like it's a place you're really interested in. You have your whole life to own a house in the suburbs whereas the older you get, especially if you have a family, the more and more reasons there are to not live in the city. Sure it'll be expensive and you won't be able to buy something as soon as you'd like, but I just think the experience would be worth it.
Last edited by dullnboring; 07-26-2007 at 05:34 PM..
I have a good friend in IT who relocated from PA to Atlanta 6 years ago or so and LOVES it. He is young (30) and single, and says there is so much to do. I visited once for a long weekend and had a blast. He transferred for a job; he says there are plenty of jobs in his field in Atlanta and the pay is good to very good when you consider the relatively low cost of living.
How is living in Savannah? Never been there, but I have been to Charleston SC and I wasn't impressed. My next trip is going to Savannah, would be interested in know how you like it.....
San Francisco Bay area, from San Francisco to San Jose to Oakland. No place better. Traffic is bad in parts, but nothing like what you're used to. Here in NoCal, people are friendlier and not as rude, especially when driving. Plenty of IT opporutnities here and plenty of opportunities to change careers if you wanted to do this. Women are friendlier and more approachable. Plenty of former NY/NJ residents have made this place home. It's expensive for a reason..because it offers a supreme quality of life, great weather, and endless opportunities for you to flourish, even if you want to reinvent yourself. Visit the place a few times.
DC? Same as NJ without the benefits of NY.
NC/Atlanta? Beneath the apparent glitz and attraction, it's still the South!
Texas? Beneath the apparent glitz and attraction, it's still Texas!
Same can also be said about here though. Beneath the apparent glitz and attraction, it's still "California Dreamin" - something to ponder.
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Re Savannah
