Ask HN: I'm in a position to move to anywhere in the USA, where should I go?
48 comments
Put your big belongings in storage, pack a car and spend the next few months shopping around. Visit cities and places you think you'd like, get an Airbnb for a month or 2. I did this when COVID first hit (am still doing it) and love it.
I was coming from NYC, so I've been able to actually lessen my rent, even through Airbnb.
I loved Portland, San Diego, Austin and Boulder.
I was coming from NYC, so I've been able to actually lessen my rent, even through Airbnb.
I loved Portland, San Diego, Austin and Boulder.
I did the same exact thing (in many of the same cities as well). It was a blast.
I agree this is the best way to try out a new place to live. Need to stay at least one month, but ideally 2-3, to really get a feel for a place.
We made it around the entire country over the course of the pandemic (and eloped while we were at it), but ultimately stopped due to the work involved in finding a high quality rental at a reasonable price.
Airbnb fees are high, so even after negotiating (which is a must), it is still an expensive monthly rent. But I will admit I was staying in highly desirable areas, and you are paying a premium for the flexibility.
Ultimately my favorite spots were Boulder, Chicago, and Burlington Vermont (during ski season).
I agree this is the best way to try out a new place to live. Need to stay at least one month, but ideally 2-3, to really get a feel for a place.
We made it around the entire country over the course of the pandemic (and eloped while we were at it), but ultimately stopped due to the work involved in finding a high quality rental at a reasonable price.
Airbnb fees are high, so even after negotiating (which is a must), it is still an expensive monthly rent. But I will admit I was staying in highly desirable areas, and you are paying a premium for the flexibility.
Ultimately my favorite spots were Boulder, Chicago, and Burlington Vermont (during ski season).
The likelihood that someone tells you a place to move and they're right about it for you us low. You can work remote, utilize that fully and become location independent for a while. Move around. Stay in a place a few months, get out and try to meet local people, leave if it doesn't suit you and go somewhere else til you've found it.
You want rain and mild weather, the pacific northwest west of the cascade mountains fits the bill. Affordability and within a 90 minute drive to a metropolitan area are not going to happen there.
Closer to the ocean mediates temperature extremes. Also there's more to do. Mountains are nice too, but winters are colder. Maybe consider along the coast south of you all the way to the keys (or the Mexico border, coastal Texas is nice) or the rocky mountains.
Don't discount conservative states, towns and areas if you're not that type of person. A lot of the time the natural landscape is preserved and life is more peaceful. If you're OK with your neighbors going to church Sundays, there's an entire beautiful, low cost country to explore.
You want rain and mild weather, the pacific northwest west of the cascade mountains fits the bill. Affordability and within a 90 minute drive to a metropolitan area are not going to happen there.
Closer to the ocean mediates temperature extremes. Also there's more to do. Mountains are nice too, but winters are colder. Maybe consider along the coast south of you all the way to the keys (or the Mexico border, coastal Texas is nice) or the rocky mountains.
Don't discount conservative states, towns and areas if you're not that type of person. A lot of the time the natural landscape is preserved and life is more peaceful. If you're OK with your neighbors going to church Sundays, there's an entire beautiful, low cost country to explore.
Definitely not discounting conservative areas, just most conservative areas also happen to be far too warm for my tastes
Almost anywhere you go outside of a city is like that. They might not dominate state politics but locally that's how it will be.
There's also the rural Midwest, if you like frigid winter. I don't, but I hear the upper peninsula of Michigan is nice.
There's also the rural Midwest, if you like frigid winter. I don't, but I hear the upper peninsula of Michigan is nice.
This may not be the kind of approach you are wanting, but: Do you have to move? Can you give it more time? The list is written like the move is quite a perceptual burden, and this is not to mention the actual incoming implementation-level pain.
I'd at least want to know how long you have to make the decision, since the known factors you've listed A) are definitely known to you and B) aren't making enough difference to you, which often leaves blocks in the C) zone of emotions or other fuzzy perceptions which generally need time to clear. When those are resolved they usually provide a feeling more akin to specific encouragement or even something like permission / luck / definite answers / etc.
Just some thoughts, hope it works out well no matter where you end up.
I'd at least want to know how long you have to make the decision, since the known factors you've listed A) are definitely known to you and B) aren't making enough difference to you, which often leaves blocks in the C) zone of emotions or other fuzzy perceptions which generally need time to clear. When those are resolved they usually provide a feeling more akin to specific encouragement or even something like permission / luck / definite answers / etc.
Just some thoughts, hope it works out well no matter where you end up.
Thanks for the input. I do have to move. The absolute latest I have is until June 15th, though I was really hoping to move sometime in late April/early May.
If you’re into the pharma business you should consider Boston, San Diego or sf. There’s some other areas, but you have to be able to switch jobs without moving unless you’re a renter. If your politics doesn’t require the us, look into Vancouver or Toronto. Yanks file taxes each year so there’s little issue in Canada. Dealing with logical regs would be more hassle without a local nexus, but many places have one.
A lot comes down to your comfort in the various areas of the us. No need going somewhere you’ll be uncomfortable with.
A lot comes down to your comfort in the various areas of the us. No need going somewhere you’ll be uncomfortable with.
Rhode Island might be a good fit. It’s still commutable to Boston in a pinch (Commuter Rail runs pretty far into the Providence suburbs) and one of the more affordable Boston exurbs.
San Diego is definitely not affordable. Housing is catching up with Bay Area.
I moved from Central Virginia (Grew up in Fredericksburg, spent 7 years living around Roanoke) to San Diego. I love it here. I know how humid DC summers feel and it's different out west. The sun feels nice on your skin, but the air doesn't get as sticky. Windows open feels refreshing most of the time. It doesn't totally meet your requirements but give it a look :)
I lived for a while in Chattanooga and really really liked it! It’s a bit of an up and coming city but with a 10 drive you are already in the midst of nature, mountains, rivers, etc. When I lived there there was a creek right behind my apartment and waking up to the sunrise, the sounds of birds and the creek is something I still miss a lot!
Chattanooga has a very chill culture, good food, tech meetups (I was there when the pandemic started so I went not got the attend one before the world stopped :( ), tons of outdoors activities, tons of rains and plants and water! (I really miss that creek!)
Had to move for work reasons but I’d love to live there again!
Oh, and the internet is by a local company (not xfinity or some other national crap) and it’s one of the fastest and most affordable services I’ve used!
Anyways, just my 2 cents. Good luck!
Chattanooga has a very chill culture, good food, tech meetups (I was there when the pandemic started so I went not got the attend one before the world stopped :( ), tons of outdoors activities, tons of rains and plants and water! (I really miss that creek!)
Had to move for work reasons but I’d love to live there again!
Oh, and the internet is by a local company (not xfinity or some other national crap) and it’s one of the fastest and most affordable services I’ve used!
Anyways, just my 2 cents. Good luck!
Isn’t it very hot in the summers there?
I'm originally from the Caribbean so I don't think I'm the best judge of that :-) I kind of enjoyed summers there. Everything was green and lush!
Someone else posted here on HN in the last year or so; she lived in the Pacific NW and had built a database-based - web site that lets one enter constraints and find hints that help answer your question. Alas, I can't find the link at the moment.
Neat! Please do let me know if you stumble across it.
Your criteria are not possible, especially the one about hot summers.
NYC, for example, has equally hot summers to Atlanta, just a few weeks shorter.
Most Northern places that meet your weather, distance, and opportunity criteria are going to fail other criteria, primarily affordability.
Also most of those cooler places are hemorrhaging population.
I would suggest you give up on cool summers because all the affordable, growing cities are in the South and have ubiquitous air conditioning. Then look at the Research Triangle, Atlanta, Nashville, and Tampa Bay metro areas.
Nothing near cities is affordable right now though.
NYC, for example, has equally hot summers to Atlanta, just a few weeks shorter.
Most Northern places that meet your weather, distance, and opportunity criteria are going to fail other criteria, primarily affordability.
Also most of those cooler places are hemorrhaging population.
I would suggest you give up on cool summers because all the affordable, growing cities are in the South and have ubiquitous air conditioning. Then look at the Research Triangle, Atlanta, Nashville, and Tampa Bay metro areas.
Nothing near cities is affordable right now though.
What do you like to do outside of work? Do you like to be be near mountains? Near water? Do you like a bars and concerts? Do you like cycling? Climbing? Is there a community for your hobby in the place where you are going to go?
Those activities are also the way you make friends and expand your social circle, which is going to be a big hard thing to do after the move.
As other they are saying, take mini month-long vacation to try out different places, given that you have the opportunity of doing that.
Those activities are also the way you make friends and expand your social circle, which is going to be a big hard thing to do after the move.
As other they are saying, take mini month-long vacation to try out different places, given that you have the opportunity of doing that.
Given these constraints I might consider the area just outside the suburbs of NYC. It gets very affordable in (say) Northeastern Pennsylvania or upstate New York. If you need to find a non remote job, the big job markets of Northern New Jersey or Westchester.
What other considerations do you have though? What sort of lifestyle do you want? Country living? A town? A small city?
What other considerations do you have though? What sort of lifestyle do you want? Country living? A town? A small city?
I'm not too picky on lifestyle, wherever I end up I'll likely spend most of my time indoors. My perfect location would be a large town/small city but again, not too concerned either way.
Maybe look at Hackettstown, NJ. It’s a college town in the NYC exurbs, but it’s at the tail end of a commuter rail line that can get you to NYC (with one transfer either to another train, subway, or ferry).
New Hampshire fits all your criteria.
1. Relatively affordable especially outside tourist areas
2. 90min of Boston, a big tech hub
3. No extreme heat, decent rainfall, tons of outdoor activities and nature. Ocean, Mountains, Forests
4. Not too far from DC
5. No income tax
As you probably know, South Carolina or North Carolina also fit all those criteria but might be too hot.
As you probably know, South Carolina or North Carolina also fit all those criteria but might be too hot.
I had the same opportunity. I picked Boston, MA. It's a pretty good city, but I likely wouldn't choose it again if I went back 5 years. I'd likely choose NYC. Either way, I don't know how to make an informed choice here, picking a city to live has always been unclear to me.
Corvalis, Or, cost less than the big city, and has a good broadband including fiber options...
Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like an okay place, I'll add it to my list.
Stay away from liberal states. Usually high taxes and crimes. Many (but not all) of these however are good weather too. Not sure about your income and whether obscene income tax is a concern - but there are good states with no state income tax.
You're going to have to compromise on something. Climate wise you described Seattle but housing there is insane. Take out climate and you have Charlotte North Carolina. If you can compromise on the rainfall you should check out Pueblo Colorado
You can try somewhere near Olympia or Spokane, WA. Both have better housing prices but proximity to major cities with decent employment opportunities.
Just a headsup that Olympia and Spokane have VERY different weather systems. East and west of the Cascades is a huge divide. One side gets hundreds of cloudy days per year with roughly 40in of rain, the other gets a lot more snow, more sunny days but only roughly 10in of rain. Most likely when most people think of the PNW they are thinking of things west of the Cascades.
Interesting. I'm assuming Olympia is the typical rainy weather associated with the region, what's weather like in Spokane?
East of the Cascades is all high desert - really hot summers, really cold winters. As I mentioned more snow. West of the Cascades you don't even get snow every winter - so in Portland and Seattle some winters you get a little snow, some winters you dont get any.
In Spokane, Bend, Boise you get a bit of snow, about 10 inch of rain per year (about the same amount of rain as San Diego actually).
And yes Olympia will be what youre likely imagining the PNW to be - damn near constantly gray, always wet, lots of evergreens, etc.
In Spokane, Bend, Boise you get a bit of snow, about 10 inch of rain per year (about the same amount of rain as San Diego actually).
And yes Olympia will be what youre likely imagining the PNW to be - damn near constantly gray, always wet, lots of evergreens, etc.
When I hear the requirements in #3 I think of the Pacific Northwest. I don't know how far out from Seattle you'd need to go to find affordability #1. You can also look in Oregon.
I'll take a look in the area, thanks.
If I am being honest (and by no means want to come off disrespectful) but your list comes off as if you're looking for confirmation to move to the PNW. As someone who lived in both Portland and Seattle for years (currently in Seattle and looking to leave) you should add some criteria to your list that doesn't self select for "small cute fun towns near enough to Portland and Seattle without having to compete on price."
The people in Portland and Seattle are actually very different. For the most part people in Seattle are assholes (check out the urban dictionary for the Seattle freeze) people in Portland are a bit nicer but it's a hard town if your focus is your career (maybe this changes a bit with remote opportunities - but I am still in the camp that remote devs are always going to play second fiddle to the devs at HQ/in-office if thats an option).
If you are going to move somewhere with a remote job, Seattle would be a terrible place. And to be honest the surrounding area is not a much better bet. With how bad traffic is, 90 minutes isn't going to get you to small cute cheap towns, in fact most of the towns just outside Seattle are more expensive. It's not an undiscovered gem.
As someone without a remote job currently in Seattle, I wish I could just trade spots with you. I don't even care how bad your situation could be. Feel free to reply if you want any questions about Portland or Seattle. Happy to help if I can.
The people in Portland and Seattle are actually very different. For the most part people in Seattle are assholes (check out the urban dictionary for the Seattle freeze) people in Portland are a bit nicer but it's a hard town if your focus is your career (maybe this changes a bit with remote opportunities - but I am still in the camp that remote devs are always going to play second fiddle to the devs at HQ/in-office if thats an option).
If you are going to move somewhere with a remote job, Seattle would be a terrible place. And to be honest the surrounding area is not a much better bet. With how bad traffic is, 90 minutes isn't going to get you to small cute cheap towns, in fact most of the towns just outside Seattle are more expensive. It's not an undiscovered gem.
As someone without a remote job currently in Seattle, I wish I could just trade spots with you. I don't even care how bad your situation could be. Feel free to reply if you want any questions about Portland or Seattle. Happy to help if I can.
No disrespect taken, thanks for your comment. I hadn't really even considered the area prior to the above commenters suggestion. I suppose it's certainly possible that my subconscious guided me to the self-selection, but it wasn't intentional.
Looking in Tacoma I'm seeing quite a few 1 bedroom apartments for <$1.5k a month which seems decent to me, and I imagine Tacoma is more expensive than some of the smaller surrounding towns. This doesn't line up with your comment so my question is, what am I missing?
Looking in Tacoma I'm seeing quite a few 1 bedroom apartments for <$1.5k a month which seems decent to me, and I imagine Tacoma is more expensive than some of the smaller surrounding towns. This doesn't line up with your comment so my question is, what am I missing?
To be curt, that Tacoma is actually really really a hit or miss shithole. The part of Tacoma you're finding those apartments in, I can almost guarantee if you visit will not be the part of town you want to live in. If you look at the conforming loan limits for both King and Pierce counties - the county that Seattle and Tacoma are in respectively - they have the same limit which is like $871k I think?
There's really not much going on in Tacoma and taking the link from there to Seattle is a pain - sure its doable but you're talk about a huge hit to quality of your life. They are trying to make public transit better in the region but its a 20 year plan before its expanded to where it needs to be. The small towns around Tacoma are either military towns or also very expensive - Lakewood is basically a town for JBLM and Gig Harbor is mostly retirees cashing out and moving on the water.
There's really not much going on in Tacoma and taking the link from there to Seattle is a pain - sure its doable but you're talk about a huge hit to quality of your life. They are trying to make public transit better in the region but its a 20 year plan before its expanded to where it needs to be. The small towns around Tacoma are either military towns or also very expensive - Lakewood is basically a town for JBLM and Gig Harbor is mostly retirees cashing out and moving on the water.
Richmond, VA? I found it very affordable, at least 10 years ago, the weather is not extreme and everybody closes down if there is a bit of snow, and it's not that far from DC.
Jersey City or West New York could be options. Cheaper than NYC proper, and a short ferry ride away. Might not be cheap enough, but worth exploring...
There is no chance it’s below average housing.
Jackson, WY. Bellingham, WA. Breckenridge, CO.
Of course you have to like skiing. But those would be my lifestyle picks that kind of align (ish) with your criteria.
Of course you have to like skiing. But those would be my lifestyle picks that kind of align (ish) with your criteria.
Omaha reminds me a little of Austin 40 years ago. Art, music, nightlife. Leans blue. I should probably delete this.
Search Upstate New York. Finger Lakes area.
Where do you want to move?
Danville, KY?
zip it
"In 2011, Money magazine placed Danville as the fourth-best place to retire in the United States."[1]
What can I say - it's hard to argue with that!
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danville%2C_Kentucky
What can I say - it's hard to argue with that!
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danville%2C_Kentucky
this thread is not going to help you, its going to cause you more decision paralysis
I get where you're coming from and I appreciate the input, but I disagree.
I'm single with a remote job. No pets, no one I need to consider but myself.
Here is what's important to me in order of importance:
1. Affordability. -> So no SF or NYC. Ideally a place where housing falls at or under the nations average COL index of 100.
2. Opportunity -> I don't want to be too far from at least one major population center in case I happen to lose my remote job and need to get reemployed ASAP. Ideally within a 90 minute drive of a city with a pop of at least 500k, these numbers are just estimates so a little longer of a drive or lower pop would be alright if it's otherwise worth the tradeoff.
3. Weather -> I don't deal well with heat and would prefer somewhere that doesn't have blistering summers. High levels of rainfall is also a big plus.
4. Distance -> I currently live in Washington DC. If I could find a place that met these requirements near by rather than across the country that'd be preferable, but this isn't nearly as important as the other considerations.
Again, any input is welcome and appreciated, thank you.