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Also, I received a nice DM about an area recommendation, I could not reply due to an error saying I hit my 1 post limit, and it would be lifted 01-01-1970 ? is this normal for a new account? I cannot DM at all currently.
The I-40 corridor between Nashville and Knoxville is a great suggestion. Stick closer to Nashville for those cheaper nonstop flights back to SLC if the OP needs that. Cookeville would be my suggestion, very family friendly place and a great area in which to raise a family. Knoxville is a good option, too, but the school situation is very hit or miss, and more draconian in limiting school choice depending on where one lives.
Cookeville sounds great. Are you aware of any similar cities within TN or another state. I'm interested in that smaller college town atmosphere, I feel like they usually have more going for it relative to the size and but is still affordable on the outskirts.
I've always heard alabama to be the "deep south" so just figured that would be too culturally different than the utah I was raised in. I would not mind hearing about areas recommended though.
Are there any town around Birmingham you would recommend, or other college towns within the state that would fit my criteria?
Thanks
Alabama is considered the "Deep South", but whether that's a positive or negative is a matter of perception. Also, the Deep South is a big place with many different facets and is far from monolithic. I know many transplants from all different parts of the country who have moved to Alabama and love it.
Birmingham has a bunch of very nice family-friendly suburbs with well-regarded school districts and a high quality of life. Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Pelham, even Chelsea if you wanted to be further out.
Alabama is considered the "Deep South", but whether that's a positive or negative is a matter of perception. Also, the Deep South is a big place with many different facets and is far from monolithic. I know many transplants from all different parts of the country who have moved to Alabama and love it.
Birmingham has a bunch of very nice family-friendly suburbs with well-regarded school districts and a high quality of life. Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Pelham, even Chelsea if you wanted to be further out.
I don't want to discount Birmingham, but if the OP wants to consider Alabama, I think he'd find Huntsville to be a better fit.
Also, I received a nice DM about an area recommendation, I could not reply due to an error saying I hit my 1 post limit, and it would be lifted 01-01-1970 ? is this normal for a new account? I cannot DM at all currently.
OP, you will be able to send DMs once you've been here a few days and have about ten posts under your belt.
On a personal note, I'd suggest you look at Indiana and Michigan as possible locations to raise your family. Some cities in NW IN, such as Valparaiso (pop. ~ 35,000) and Chesterton (pop. ~ 14,500), have good school systems and plenty of choices for shopping and dining. From these communities you can easily travel to Chicago: a little over an hour by car (depending on traffic, of course); by riding the daily commuter bus; or by taking the South Shore commuter train. Nice to have a choice to go to the big city now and then. For local scenery, there's the beautiful Indiana Dunes National Park on the south shore of Lake Michigan, and lots to do outdoors. Very nice housing is well within your stated budget. Diversity is not a problem here.
SW MI (well, most of MI for that matter) is lovely, with beautiful scenery and lots of cities which would be great places to raise a family.
Once you are able to send DMs, I'd be happy to discuss some details with you via private message.
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Edmond as a suburb of Oklahoma City would be great. It's growing fast, so more and more dental patients. It has Arcadia Lake. That lake is in a somewhat hilly and wooded area. In Edmond, it should be easy to find a very nice 2000 sq. ft. house for around $250,000, not this 400-500k. Edmond's livability score is 88. Compare that to Cookeville at only 70. Edmond's schools are rated good. Edmond is home to Central State University with nearly 17,000 students, so it's a college town. Crime is low. The citi-data crime index is only 146.2. Compare that with Cookeville, which is 275.5.
Target, Costco, Whole Foods and various chain restaurants, etc., are within 20-30 minutes, along with two large, nice enclosed malls that are not doing bad. Other things to do nearby, such as the zoo, casino, and Frontier City amusement park.
Last edited by StillwaterTownie; 05-19-2022 at 12:03 AM..
That'x why I suggested a smaller town 20-30 miles out.
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