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I am trying to move out of the D.C. area...I am desperate to get away from the rat race and find a slower pace of life. I am looking particularly to live in the mountains, but don't want to be too way out there. However, I am having trouble finding a place that is a small city, not too rural, with a low crime rate! I have looked extensively in the South in Georgia, TN, Alabama, Florida, SC, and I have yet to find a town that doesn't have a high crime rate. All of the major cities in TN, GA, such as even Dahlonega, have a city data crime rate of 300 or higher. Too high for me.
The other thing, though, is that I am trying to find a cheap place to live. I want to get away from high priced, too high powered places.
I have been dreaming of moving to the west for a long time. However, the parts of Colorado such as Denver, Boulder, etc are too high powered for what I'm looking for and it seems the more rural places of Colorado are hurting for jobs, etc and have high crime. Same with Oregon. In terms of Washington State, the rain is a problem. Eastern WA seems to have a pretty high crime rate in general as well?
Idaho and MT seem a bit scary for the same reason.
New Mexico and Arizona are hard for me to figure out because most areas there have quite high crime rates.
The Midwest is a possibility, but for some reason I am drawn to the mountains.
I really am looking for a change of lifestyle..just don't want to be too remote.
Can someone suggest some places to live that are safe, with good economic stability, and possibly in the mountains? Thank you very much.
Portland OR and Burlington VT might be worth a look. Both near mountains, both have decent economies, but don't know what crime is like in either, though it's probably lower than DC. Housing will be cheaper than DC I'd also wager, especially after you leave the cities themselves and go to nearby areas.
Portland OR and Burlington VT might be worth a look. Both near mountains, both have decent economies, but don't know what crime is like in either, though it's probably lower than DC. Housing will be cheaper than DC I'd also wager, especially after you leave the cities themselves and go to nearby areas.
Really, Portland, I don't think that is "off the beaten path" in pretty much any way, shape, or form.
If you can financially swing it, check out the Ojai, CA area. Ojai is an arty, laid back enclave. The surrounding areas like Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View are more affordable. You can just drive down the hill to work in Ventura, the County seat.
I always thought Maryville, Tennessee seemed like it would be a nice little town to live in, in East Tennessee, close to Knoxville and the Smokey Mountains. I think there's about 25,000 people living there. I'm sure it's very safe town. It might be just the kind of place you're looking for.
A sleeper may be Plattsburgh NY. It is a small city of 21,000(32,000 if you include the town of Plattsburgh) across Lake Champlain from Burlington VT that is minutes from the Adirondacks. It also has its own municipal lakeside beach and is about an hour south of Montreal. It actually has had growth in manufacturing due to the area's partnership with Quebec based companies in the area and even the local Chamber of Commerce calls it "Montreal's US suburb". North Country Chamber-Home
If you want mountains, economically stable, laidback and lower crime yet with attractive amenities you really ought to look at the Asheville-Hendersonville-Brevard area in Western NC.
I am trying to move out of the D.C. area...I am desperate to get away from the rat race and find a slower pace of life. I am looking particularly to live in the mountains, but don't want to be too way out there. However, I am having trouble finding a place that is a small city, not too rural, with a low crime rate! I have looked extensively in the South in Georgia, TN, Alabama, Florida, SC, and I have yet to find a town that doesn't have a high crime rate. All of the major cities in TN, GA, such as even Dahlonega, have a city data crime rate of 300 or higher. Too high for me.
The other thing, though, is that I am trying to find a cheap place to live. I want to get away from high priced, too high powered places.
I have been dreaming of moving to the west for a long time. However, the parts of Colorado such as Denver, Boulder, etc are too high powered for what I'm looking for and it seems the more rural places of Colorado are hurting for jobs, etc and have high crime. Same with Oregon. In terms of Washington State, the rain is a problem. Eastern WA seems to have a pretty high crime rate in general as well?
Idaho and MT seem a bit scary for the same reason.
New Mexico and Arizona are hard for me to figure out because most areas there have quite high crime rates.
The Midwest is a possibility, but for some reason I am drawn to the mountains.
I really am looking for a change of lifestyle..just don't want to be too remote.
Can someone suggest some places to live that are safe, with good economic stability, and possibly in the mountains? Thank you very much.
I'm from New Mexico. I agree. Crime sucks here, though people are nice (kind of a paradox). However, not all parts of Arizona are bad. Take a look at Prescott. The weather's great there with 4 distinct seasons. It's small, but has everything you need. Many people that move from east to southwest find the people and weather to be quite friendly... maybe because it's much slower here.
I'm from New Mexico. I agree. Crime sucks here, though people are nice (kind of a paradox). However, not all parts of Arizona are bad. Take a look at Prescott. The weather's great there with 4 distinct seasons. It's small, but has everything you need. Many people that move from east to southwest find the people and weather to be quite friendly... maybe because it's much slower here.
I have been to Prescott and I agree that its a good choice for the OP.
I was gonna say Prescott, too. Prescott Valley? Bisbee? Jerome? All in Arizona.
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