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I am a USC currently living in Australia for work. I hate it out here and want to move back to the US ASAP with my pregnant wife. I have no idea what state we should go to so I was looking for some advice and was hoping you could suggest some states to look into and specific cities. We have some needs/wants that I have outlined below to help you with my search:
* Cost of Living: We're not that wealthy so an area that has a lower to mid-range CoL is what we're am looking for. I am looking for a spacious property and my wife and I are expecting twins.
* Crime: Low crime if possible obviously. No really high crime cities (e.g. Detroit, Baltimore) but we can tolerate anything else.
* Hobbies: I am a HUGE sports fan. I love football and baseball the most but also enjoy NHL, NBA, MLS and, of course, college sports (crazy college sports fan). I am also a keen golfer and would like the state/city we move to to have a lovely plush golf course that is affordable. My wife likes jogging in the evening so a safe city park/area to jog is a plus.
* Weather: NO SNOW. Hate the snow, so a state that has no snow - or only a few days of the year - is a must. We love the heat (humidity over dry heat) and like to spend out free time relaxing in the garden reading, conversing or listening to music so a humid heat climate is what we want weatherwise.
* Other: We're conservative politically. Not absurdly so, probably more moderate than anything, and we're irreligious - my wife was brought up a Christian but doesn't really go to church anymore. We don't want to go somewhere where we will be ostracised for our religious, or lack of, religious beliefs. A city near other big cities is a positive and we don't want to be too far away from the beach or a nice spot, like a lake, to enjoy relaxing by.
Given all of your criteria I would recommend the Atlanta area. The cost of living is on the low side for a major city, crime is lower in many of it's suburbs, it's a good sports town with the NFL, MLB, NBA, a new MLS team arriving and Georgia Tech athletics, has plenty of affordable golfing opportunity, the climate you're after with basically no snow and a temperate climate with humidity, fairly conservative in general (like old school Democratic) and despite it's Southern location not overtly religious due to all of the transplants from all over the US/World. Check out the suburbs of Roswell, Alpharetta, Duluth, Sandy Spring and Marietta.
Maybe Columbus? Low CoL, reasonably low crime, NHL team in town and a basketball and two football and baseball teams about 2 hrs away (in Cincinnati and Cleveland), and Ohio State sports just nearby, which are a huge deal there and are fun to watch. It's also close to other big cities as I mentioned, and Lake Erie. And the political climate is moderate and open enough that you and your wife could get along fine. It sounds like it fits well.
Dallas and Houston come to mind, as they fit most, if not all of the criteria. Phoenix may also work as well. Sleepers may be Oklahoma City and Nashville.
I am a USC currently living in Australia for work. I hate it out here and want to move back to the US ASAP with my pregnant wife. I have no idea what state we should go to so I was looking for some advice and was hoping you could suggest some states to look into and specific cities. We have some needs/wants that I have outlined below to help you with my search:
* Cost of Living: We're not that wealthy so an area that has a lower to mid-range CoL is what we're am looking for. I am looking for a spacious property and my wife and I are expecting twins.
* Crime: Low crime if possible obviously. No really high crime cities (e.g. Detroit, Baltimore) but we can tolerate anything else.
* Hobbies: I am a HUGE sports fan. I love football and baseball the most but also enjoy NHL, NBA, MLS and, of course, college sports (crazy college sports fan). I am also a keen golfer and would like the state/city we move to to have a lovely plush golf course that is affordable. My wife likes jogging in the evening so a safe city park/area to jog is a plus.
* Weather: NO SNOW. Hate the snow, so a state that has no snow - or only a few days of the year - is a must. We love the heat (humidity over dry heat) and like to spend out free time relaxing in the garden reading, conversing or listening to music so a humid heat climate is what we want weatherwise.
* Other: We're conservative politically. Not absurdly so, probably more moderate than anything, and we're irreligious - my wife was brought up a Christian but doesn't really go to church anymore. We don't want to go somewhere where we will be ostracised for our religious, or lack of, religious beliefs. A city near other big cities is a positive and we don't want to be too far away from the beach or a nice spot, like a lake, to enjoy relaxing by.
Any ideas where we should plan on moving?
Thanks,
John and Carla
Phoenix, Phoenix, Phoenix ... that place ticks all of the boxes.
I'd also look at the Texas cities (Dallas and/or Houston) for other options.
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