RFT: "Young Smarties "Choosing" Rust Belt Over Sun Belt" (St. Louis: house, college)

[aragx6]

Young Smarties "Choosing" Rust Belt Over Sun Belt - St. Louis News - Daily RFT

Interesting to see some facts surrounding a trend I think we've all seen a lot of.

[BoomBoxing]

I believe it. I graduated college in May 2008 and had my sights set on Washington DC. I managed to find a great job here and have since come to really appreciate living here. I may have to move someday but damn I would miss STL really bad. I'd especially miss having my own house in the city itself with a backyard for my dog and being able to afford so much.

But more to the point of that article, I would be more inclined to move to another rust belt (or other northern) city than any city in the sunbelt. They just feel so strile and uninteresting to me. I'm glad it's not just me.

[DespicableMe]

I think the major factor is the global economy here. The average starting wages are pretty low as it is and the cost of living on the coasts isn't any cheaper. Add to that, other than Florida, the state tax is pretty much higher than the mid west. Also there really aren;t too many job offers for a college grad to choose from.

An average guy out of college is already heavily in debt and he would want to live on the cheap until he either gets a better salary or more choices.

[moorlander]

I graduated from Baylor in 2004 and had a pretty good job lined up in Dallas. I ended up getting an offer in St. Louis I couldn't pass up and haven't regretted it once.

[aragx6]

I spent most of my teens dreaming of running away to somewhere "better" but in recent years I've really dedicated myself to being a Midwesterner. I LOVE this part of the country, and the only thing that could make me happier now would be to be in St. Louis instead of KC!

[MUTGR]

On a somewhat related note, I heard on KMOX driving in to work this morning about how housing prices are continuing to decline the most in sub belt states and other formerly hot areas.

I think the current recession has changed many peoples outlooks about a lot of things. You tend to prioritize a little more.

[flynavyj]

I think in a lot of ways the housing market boomed in those states and even more unsustainable levels than it did here and that's a large reason you see the bust as bad as it did. One of my co-workers has family that followed him and his wife from California to the Midwest. They apparently learned that they could sell the home their home for a tad over 1 million dollars (considering they'd been there for almost 40 years, and paid $40,000 for it) it was a no brainer...apparently the same house is currently worth about 400k.

For myself, I do somewhat envy sunbelt areas. Year round outdoor activities and pleasant temperatures really have some benefits, but at the same time i can't stand much of California, have never been a big fan of Florida, and the summers get hella hot in the Southwest. So i guess i'm stuck here in Missouri.

I did enjoy kansas city a little more than St. Louis still. maybe aragx6 and I should trade jobs and locations.

[aragx6]

If you could plop a gorgeous, dense, interesting city into the sun belt I might consider it (though the notion that you can be outside all year round is kind of off base -- most folks I know down there sit in their air conditioned house, car or office all summer) but there are no cities in that chunk of the country I find particularly pleasing.

I liked Dallas more than I thought I would, but I still found it lacking that gritty edge that I so love about the midwest and east coast and it's just so so so spread out. You really can't even describe it's spread-out-ness. It's to a level I don't think I could have ever believed.

[flynavyj]

i guess much of my outdoor joy involves being on a motorcycle and whizzing through the country. What i loved about Kansas was that their roads were in such good condition when compared to Missouri. What i love about Missouri is that their roads are much more twisty and beautiful than Kansas. All in all, i still love the way the roads twist through the countryside going Southwest from St. Louis towards mid Missouri.

As for being outdors, I enjoy taking the dog out for walks, bike rides, softball in the summer/fall, sand volleyball, going for a jog...none of which are nearly as enjoyable when it's 15°F outside.....it really needs to warm up some, im getting depressed. lol.

[BoomBoxing]

^Supposed to be in the 40's this weekend. I was wondering when we'd get our "winter break". Although I am no fan of winter, I couldn't imagine living in a place without a fall or spring - they are so worth having to trudge through winter.

Although I haven't been on my bike much, I find I really enjoy the winter walks with my dog. It helps that he loves the snow and cold but what's really nice is feeling like we have the whole park to ourselves. Just layer up and enjoy.