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Thanks everyone for the feedback! Several suggestions that were already in my head (Portland, Denver, SLC) and a couple places I never would have thought of that seem interesting (upstate NY, Charlottesville, Provo). And I never thought there'd be anything in CA I could afford, so thanks so much for those suggestions, too. Now I just need to get out there and experience some of these places in person!
Northwest Arkansas checks most of your boxes except your major city being less than 2 hours away is Tulsa, not exactly major. KC is about 3 hours. Great outdoor activities without the cost of coastal or front range prices
Last edited by ColoradoOnMyMind; 10-27-2016 at 08:44 PM..
What about parts of Gresham, Beaverton or even Vancouver WA?
Does Gresham fit the requirement of low crime and good schools? It didn't when I lived in Portland metro, unless things have changed (or there is a good part of which I am unaware). Beaverton could be a match. I don't know what the schools are like in Vancouver. OP may also like Wilsonville or West Linn, or Lake Oswego if a condo would be OK.
OP, with the Portland area, be very aware of school districts, which can range from sub-par to excellent and do not always follow city boundaries. Washington has sales tax but no income tax; Oregon has income tax but no sales tax.
I looked into Portland quite a bit. I've never been in person, but just from research and reputation it seems like my ideal location. But according to what I've read my salary would put me in the 9% state tax bracket. Coming from a state with no income tax, this is a concern. So I'm thinking I'd have to look more at WA if I did end up in the PNW.
I looked into Portland quite a bit. I've never been in person, but just from research and reputation it seems like my ideal location. But according to what I've read my salary would put me in the 9% state tax bracket. Coming from a state with no income tax, this is a concern. So I'm thinking I'd have to look more at WA if I did end up in the PNW.
WA gets your money in other ways. OR has income tax, WA has sales tax. The actual tax burden is very similar in the two states.
Would not being a church going Christian, let alone not LDS, make things socially awkward in Salt Lake or Provo?
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