Why do people insist the western states have a better quality of life? (middle-class, crime)
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Crime rates are most definitely NOT lower in the western US, on the whole property crime is worse than the eastern US.
It'll be interesting to see if the historic growth continues through this decade or not. One thing that was clear last census was it was metro west that grew. The rural west was stagnant, which to me indicates that scenery alone isn't enough to draw people to rural areas. For the small city / exurb realm, the eastern US has more options than the west, and that seems to be the new hot locations.
Regardless of where people live, I think it is good for people in the east to visit the west and vice versa. It's cool to see the variety across the US.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdawg8181
But heres the thing, some ppl love snow & winter. I for one hate the West. Bring me snow, humidity, rain, changing leaves, distinct seasons, all of it. I’m not interested in “dry weather”
We are close to as far west as you can get in Sammamish WA and we have snow (some) and 60" of rain annually, with nice fall leaf color, humidity September-June, jut not in summer when it's hot. I agree, not interested in dry weather.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,629 posts, read 81,333,263 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leastprime
In Seattle area,
Packing up the portable AC for the season. Today hi-71, lo-50.
Wife and I agreed that if weather is going to much colder, the down comforters are coming out of storage. We are already doubling the throws blankets.
I wouldn't be so quick to pack in the AC, because we always seem to get a few days in early September in the 80s. We are still using ours in the bedroom upstairs at night, without it gets to 76 and we like it at about 67 for sleeping.
Crime rates are most definitely NOT lower in the western US, on the whole property crime is worse than the eastern US.
It'll be interesting to see if the historic growth continues through this decade or not. One thing that was clear last census was it was metro west that grew. The rural west was stagnant, which to me indicates that scenery alone isn't enough to draw people to rural areas. For the small city / exurb realm, the eastern US has more options than the west, and that seems to be the new hot locations.
Regardless of where people live, I think it is good for people in the east to visit the west and vice versa. It's cool to see the variety across the US.
True in that people from one side should work to visit the other side. Every time I go out East I think about how *green* everything is. It’s like that much green isn’t even possible! It’s like a color on steroids.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemlock140
I wouldn't be so quick to pack in the AC, because we always seem to get a few days in early September in the 80s. We are still using ours in the bedroom upstairs at night, without it gets to 76 and we like it at about 67 for sleeping.
I’ll trade you. I can barely get my AC to get to 76, let alone 67.
I've lived on the east coast, down south and Midwest (ohio) but I have never truly ventured out west. As I try to figure out my next move...most people suggest western states. Why do they have a so called better quality of life? I'm convinced colorado is lovely. Scenic. Lots to do outdoors. Laid back. But not sure if it's worth the snow. You couldn't pay me to move to cali nor could I pay to live there! Asides california, what is it about the west??
Some Western states and cities like California, Seattle, etc definitely do NOT have a better quality of life, with major issues involving crime, homelessness, illegal immigration, and a ridiculous cost of living.
But the inland West though.....most of those cities don't have large ghettoes the way most Northeastern, Southern, and Midwestern cities do. The worst parts of Denver and Colorado Springs are nothing compared to the inner cities of Baltimore, Detroit, or Chicago. The West also doesn't have the Rust Belt history of deindustrialization and the social ills that comes with that. In general economic and job growth is higher in the West because those areas are being more quickly developed though this is also true in Sunbelt cities in the South and Texas.
I'm a lifer in NY and I agree here. Seasons are wonderful things. We have everything in this area you could possibly ask for.
Sure we don't have deserts or palm trees, but I don't care about that stuff and actually NYC does have palm trees lol ... there is a co that imports them and puts in around various spots in the city.
But, I love my life in the Northeast. So much to do. I hike. I go to the beach. I ski. I go to wineries. I enjoy the snow. I enjoy the warmth. There's mountains, wineries, surfing, boating, farms ... I don't feel like I am missing out on anything.
The west underwhelms me and the weather isn't varied enough, it's boring. Winter should feel like winter. I don't want any of that 50/60 degree crap in December. Give me snow, give me cold.
The northeast just does it for me in so many ways.
Of course, your opinion is just as valid as anyone else's. But I am highly curious. If you honestly think the bolded applies to the entire West, then just what on earth is your definition of "the West?"
I wouldn't be so quick to pack in the AC, because we always seem to get a few days in early September in the 80s. We are still using ours in the bedroom upstairs at night, without it gets to 76 and we like it at about 67 for sleeping.
Eh. It cools off to the 50s at night now in Seattle. Open up the windows and turn on a fan at night. No need for air conditioner. Open windows at night and close them during the day. Keeps the temperatures well regulated, unless you live in one of those modern glass box buildings with a flat roof.
Lifelong East Coaster who moved out West six years ago. Much of the country east of the Rockies looks boring to me now, flat, same trees, blah landscape. I'm in Northern California and every kind of plant grows here - from citrus to palm trees to live oaks and we have mountains and hills everywhere. There's a ton to do and many of the towns and suburbs have small downtowns with surprisingly good restaurants. No snow, which I like, but couple times a winter you can see snow on the mountain peaks. Can always drive to Tahoe if you miss it which I don't.
QoL has dropped in San Francisco itself. Was encouraged to see Venice Beach cleaned up down in SoCal, will take a ton of effort to clean up SF, especially with the atrocious far left city government.
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