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So I am in the middle of trying to figure out a move as I need change. I have lived in and around Lake Michigan for the last 32 years. Currently live in Chicago in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I work from home and need a really good internet connection, I need an almost constant connection for work at around no less then 10MBps. The city needs to be under US tax law for work. Keeping this job for the reasons above. Moving in June after I graduate with my Masters.
I am an avid rock climber and outdoors person. The current 7 hour drive to climb outdoors needs to end.
But with this being said, finding a low crime area that 70K a year can afford is hard to find. I eliminated CA, VT and Boulder, CO because they are to expensive. I'm not tied to a city size as I have lived in everything from 589 farm town to Chicago. Planning on renting for the first couple of years to make sure I want to stay.
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Last edited by cklimp; 02-08-2012 at 11:35 PM..
Reason: Changing title
I spent 30+ years in southeast Georgia, the last year on unemployment. Got a job offer here and jumped on it.
Been here 9 months and love it. The scenery is to die for and there's plenty to do outside. The rain is exaggerated a bit. Sure it's gray in the winter but the summers make up for it.
Does city size matter, because I can think of some places near the Adirondacks and the Catskills that have below average to average overall COL in Upstate NY.
Also, what are you looking for in a community? Places like Oneonta, Utica, Glens Falls, Ballston Spa, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Binghamton and Plattsburgh come to mind and each either has a low crime rate or areas with a low crime rate along with being affordable. Syracuse is about an hour and a half to both mountain ranges. Perhaps places like Pittsfield MA, the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton areas of PA could work too.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 02-09-2012 at 07:37 AM..
Does city size matter, because I can think of some places near the Adirondacks and the Catskills that have below average to average overall COL in Upstate NY.
Also, what are you looking for in a community? Places like Oneonta, Utica, Glens Falls, Ballston Spa, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Binghamton and Plattsburgh come to mind and each either has a low crime rate or areas with a low crime rate along with being affordable. Syracuse is about an hour and a half to both mountain ranges. Perhaps places like Pittsfield MA, the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton areas of PA could work too.
First city that came to mind was Seattle, but if Boulder is too expensive then Seattle may be an issue.
Otherwise two other places I would take a look at are Manchester, NH and Portland, ME. Both are within driving distance of excellent rock climbing (Mt. Washington Valley, Acadia Park) Very low crime and large enough to offer you options for Internet connection I would imagine.
Personally I love Portland, ME and would focus on there, but Manchester also fits your criteria quite well. To a lesser extent as well you could look into Western Massachusetts, specifically a place like Northampton (http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/N...Massachusetts/)
Does city size matter, because I can think of some places near the Adirondacks and the Catskills that have below average to average overall COL in Upstate NY.
Also, what are you looking for in a community? Places like Oneonta, Utica, Glens Falls, Ballston Spa, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Binghamton and Plattsburgh come to mind and each either has a low crime rate or areas with a low crime rate along with being affordable. Syracuse is about an hour and a half to both mountain ranges. Perhaps places like Pittsfield MA, the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton areas of PA could work too.
In regards to Pittsfield, you are right by the Berkshires. Albany, Schenectady and Troy are also close to the Berkshires, as well as the previously mentioned mountain chains.
Both PA metros are close to the Poconos, as is Binghamton. All three are pretty close to the Catskills as well.
So, in the Northeast, look at areas/cities/towns in Western MA, most of PA and Upstate NY about an hour north of NYC and up. Areas in NH and ME may work as well.
The Phoenix area is way affordable for your income, houses are cheap, taxes are low, and there are mountain preserves throughout the city and tons of climbing around the county and state.
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