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What would you choose and why? Born and raised newyorker looking to move within the next year. Looking at either massachusetts or maine area vs southern california area! Both have pros and cons!
Some of this depends upon your endurance level. Maine and Vermont, known for their magnificent autumn colors, can be brutally unforgiving in the winter months. Summers in Maine, from what I have been told, can bring mosquitos and black flies that you may find more than just a nuisance.
You don't specify the ages or interests of the kids (or if you have children yet), but if skiing or winter sports top your list of priorities then New England states would seem a good fit.
Southern California's climate would be an obvious advantage, particularly for people who like to be -or work in jobs - outside. California, though, has its share of problems, too. Problems that somehow seem to get worse instead of better.
I wouldn't choose any of those areas. It all depends on what you want. When my family and I moved from a major metro area, we choose a state with a low population, and a much lower cost of living. We moved from Jacksonville, FL, a city with over a million residents, to Helena, MT, a town with 25,000. Property taxes are much lower, the schools are light years better, and our quality of life has improved dramatically. I went from spending 3 hours a day commuting, to spending 30 mins.
In Jacksonville, we had very little disposable income. On the same income, we can now afford recreational activities that we were never able to afford before.
Again, it goes back to what is the most important to you.
I don't know anything about Mass or Maine, but California has great weather. Warm year round, hardly rains in southern California, no shoveling snow, no wearing heavy coats and 5 layers, no wearing snow boots every day. Also, if you like diversity, go there. You'll see people of all ethnicities, foods of all ethnicities are there.
I wouldn't choose any of those areas. It all depends on what you want. When my family and I moved from a major metro area, we choose a state with a low population, and a much lower cost of living. We moved from Jacksonville, FL, a city with over a million residents, to Helena, MT, a town with 25,000. Property taxes are much lower, the schools are light years better, and our quality of life has improved dramatically. I went from spending 3 hours a day commuting, to spending 30 mins.
In Jacksonville, we had very little disposable income. On the same income, we can now afford recreational activities that we were never able to afford before.
Again, it goes back to what is the most important to you.
My sentiments exactly! However, I like Billings better than Helena.
I have lived and/or spent time on both coasts. No, thank you. I plan to stay away from the coasts!
I lived in So Cal for years but moved when I got married as I would never raise a family ther e. We just visited recently and I am so glad I stuck to my guns. So Cal has changed a LOT and really not for the better. Yes the weather is awesome, but it's a tough culture for raising kids. Either you are middle class and live in a 600k shack in a ghetto school district, or you are wealthy and have to contend with your kids dealing with the pressure of going to school with kids of very wealthy privilege and all the trappings that come with that. Demographically So Cal has changed dramatically too, it's mostly Hispanic and Asian in the non-uber wealthy areas.People who have lived here for years and lucked out buying a house in a decent area when it was affordable I am sure would disagree, but moving here cold turkey from across the country would be culture shock.
just a general first hand experience kind of stereotype-- in our family(CA vs FL):
the West coast kids turn off the lights as they leave the room, and recycle.
East Coast ones, notso much. And guess which ones follow politics....?
I like that about the West coast.
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