Best Places to Live in the US

[evergreen 0]

We are trying to decide where to move once my husband is able to get to the US. The places I would like to consider are:

Seattle, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Portland, Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

Austin, Texas

or California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah

We would like to move somewhere a little progressive/liberal, somewhere with a good sense of community, a good place for dogs, interesting stuff to do, cool people to meet, decent income opportunities, etc.

Please let me know if you live in any of these places! What are incomes like? Nurse incomes? Housing costs? Rental costs? The coolest, best thing about your town? Reasons to move there and live? Reasons not to move there and live? Public transportation?

THANKS!

Edited July 27, 2006 by evergreen

[Dina 0]

Well I think Southern California has the best weather. But housing is expensive. California is a mixed state, leaning towards liberal. Orange and San Diego counties are still pretty conservative though.

[CarolineM 0]

i've always thought Austin was cool. A VJ member that used to frequent the boards was fromthere...

awesome place.

[incanada1234 0]

Utah's out of the question if you're liberal. (though if your husband wants 16 more wives, it's the place for you!)

Edited July 27, 2006 by incanada1234

[raymaga 25]

We live in the Seattle, WA area and both my husband (originally from Wisconsin) and myself (originally from B.C., Canada) don't really like it much.

My husband moved here 9 years ago for a job (which he has since left) and got another good job with a City, so now we would find it hard to leave (his job has fantastic benefits, pay, retirement, etc.).

We find the people here quite unfriendly, housing is VERY expensive, the "nice" restaurants don't give you enough food and then charge you an arm and a leg for it, and it's either Winter, raining or unbearably hot.

I know this must sound extremely negative, but I am telling it like it is for us.

Hopefully, we'll retire somewhere warm (but not too warm) and be able to afford a good life.

[iceyspots 0]

Hope you find the area of your dreams

[anya-D 8]

Austin Texas is a cool place.. i visited there and i like it (ofcourse.. they have better asian market )

Scottsdale, AZ - very nice place to live.. very different though.. but sure VER nice.. you should try to visit the place and see if you like it.

[desert_fox 32]

We are trying to decide where to move once my husband is able to get to the US. The places I would like to consider are:

Seattle, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Portland, Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

Austin, Texas

or California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah

We would like to move somewhere a little progressive/liberal, somewhere with a good sense of community, a good place for dogs, interesting stuff to do, cool people to meet, decent income opportunities, etc.

Please let me know if you live in any of these places! What are incomes like? Nurse incomes? Housing costs? Rental costs? The coolest, best thing about your town? Reasons to move there and live? Reasons not to move there and live? Public transportation?

THANKS!

been to them all...grew up in Eugene (university town). Trouble with the NW is that it rains too much and the ground never dries out.

Washington....no state income tax

Oregon...no state sales tax

texas.....humid and hot although Austin is better than being close to the Texas gulf coast.

but for me.....I HATE COLD weather and snow.....will not even consider living in the stuff. I hate humid climates as much....I hate traffic....I hate taxes

That is why I live in the desert of So Nevada....but it does get hot here...I love it....109 means nothing to me.

[PrincessDot 0]

Everyone I know in Austin loves living there.

I'd visited California for years and just got back from San Diego. It's absolutely beautiful, but it's incredibly expensive to live there. I think of all those places you mentioned, Utah and Texas probably has the lowest cost of living. We like Dallas and have good jobs here, but if we had the chance to move to Austin, we would.

Edited July 27, 2006 by PrincessDot

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

Born raised and living in California and loving every minute of it. But iwould be hard pressed to suggest it on the basis of housing costs. But if you and or your spouse make good money then come on over!

Daniel

:energetic:

[Joey559 1]

Santa Fe, NM is very nice. My aunt lives in the mountains above, the Jimenez mountains, and it's breathtaking country. It's nice to be able to go to Santa Fe for the southwest feel then up into the mountains for hiking, skiing, waterfalls. I highly recommend Santa Fe. But it can be expensive and make sure you're moving into a nice area. White Rock is a very nice one.

With a fiance from the UK who lives literally next to the sea and with me being from the Great Lakes State it's not something that would work for us. We need to see water

Joey

[john_and_marlene 162]

I lived in Austin for 5 1/2 years (Univ. of Texas grad). I remember it being too hot and too expensive. It's not very liberal--even most of the Democrats are "Conservative Democrats" (That's what a Republican calls himself if he wants to be elected by Democrats)

[evergreen 0]

Okay. I know you guys are holding out on me. Somewhere there is the perfect town - full of liberals and former hippies - with farmer's markets and community gardens and libraries and a dog park. The housing costs are reasonable, the wages are decent (especially for nurses). Lots of international food. Tolerable weather. Lots of lakes, rivers ... maybe near the ocean? Traffic that won't make you drive off of a bridge. Maybe a big city close by ... but not too close?

Edited July 27, 2006 by evergreen

[Karen_L 1]

Okay. I know you guys are holding out on me. Somewhere there is the perfect town - full of liberals and former hippies - with farmer's markets and community gardens and libraries and a dog park. The housing costs are reasonable, the wages are decent (especially for nurses). Lots of international food. Tolerable weather. Lots of lakes, rivers ... maybe near the ocean? Traffic that won't make you drive off of a bridge. Maybe a big city close by ... but not too close?

New York has all these things, actually, except for the affordable housing and the 'no traffic' lol. Ever consider coming East?

[sowens 0]

My hubby wants to visit Eugene, OR. I think it would be a cool place to visit.