best beach town to live
 

i have spent some time browsing these posts about "best places to live" and the advice given seems very helpful for the most part. i am 30 and have the misfortune to call york, pennsylvania my home. ready to move on. <BR>looking to live close to the ocean. any place with severe humidity is out. extremely touristy, tacky areas are out. and i definitely desire an affordable cost of living. i would like some culture and friendly inhabitants, first and foremost. <BR> <BR>any suggestions would be appreciated. <BR>thanks! <BR>amy

Amy - <BR> <BR>You can definitely find a place that will meet some of your criteria, but all the elements you've listed ??? <BR> <BR>If so we'd all live there (and wouldn't be telling others about it!) I doubt your Shangra La exists in this country, or any other.

I have to agree with the above, Amy. <BR>This is what you've requested: <BR>oceanside <BR>modest humidity <BR>not touristy <BR>affordable <BR>friendly atmosphere <BR>plenty of culture <BR> <BR>This is a mutually exclusive set of criteria simply because if you fulfill all the others, affordability will go out the door!! <BR>Everybody would want to live there! <BR> <BR> <BR>The central coast of California fits many of your criteria. <BR>I can't think of anyplace along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, Texas, Louisiana, MS, or AL. that fits. FL is humid and often touristy, not cheap in the desirable areas. I get the impression you're not thinking of Maine. <BR>Don't know the eastern seaboard as well. <BR>

Amy, <BR> <BR>Charleston, SC is a great place to live - but you knocked out much of the criteria -- regarding humidity (high in the summer!); lots of tourists - but very controlled because of the character of the city itself; and it's become expensive to live here. But, culturally, socially, and ambience have it over many other places that one could settle for. Charleston has been voted the most ''polite'' city for the past 3 years. <BR> <BR>Even if you don't want to live here, you should pay a visit!

<BR>Ft. Lauderdale doesn't meet any of your criteria except the last one. <BR> <BR>What a great town!

Only visited--haven't lived there myself, but people I know have said that the San Diego, CA coast is a great place to live. The reasons they give are: wonderful climate, near the ocean, small, friendly coastal towns, low unemployment. Not sure what you would consider "affordable," but you can always ask around or check with Chamber of Commerce for demographics and additional information. good luck.

Just read today that the median house price in San Diego is now over $300,000.00. If this is what you consider to be "affordable", then you'll love it here!

San Diego is a great place, but affordability isn't one of it's claims. And while the unemployment rate is low, so is the average pay. Recruiters would confirm that jobs in this region tend to pay less than in other Southern California market places. <BR> <BR>As for the Central Coast of California, the housing costs are horrendous for what you get. Just in the past year, prices have skyrocketed. I've been searching up there to relocate, but can't find a decent two bedroom home in a beach community under $375K!

When this became a RELOCATION website? <BR> <BR>Now then, Amy, what TRAVEL info are you seeking or sharing?

You might try Portland, Maine. It's beautiful, has a relatively mild climate, great art museum, and is only a 2-1/2 hour drive to Boston.

With not wanting humidity I suggest looking to California. Some suggestions are: SoCal to NorCal – San Diego, Oceanside, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Ventura/Oxnard, Carpentaria, Moro Bay, Cambria (My Choice), Mendocino and Eureka; all of these beach towns are on the California Coast. Socal is known for their sandy swimming beaches and NorCal is known for the rocky coast line with beautiful scenery.

I find it interesting that so many people refer to San Diego as a rather 'small' town. <BR>I was recently quite surprised to find that it has the 6th largest metro poulation in the USA. <BR>And it's anything but cheap. <BR>And the pay there is lower than most other similarly sized cities...the locals say it's called "sunshine equity"; people are willing to accept less pay because part of the value of living there is the weather. <BR> <BR>I am relatively certain that there is NO city in the USA that fits all of Amy's criteria. <BR> <BR>So Amy, if you had to eliminate one or two of your stipulations, which would be the ones to go?

thank you for your responses (or lack thereof, in some cases) to my question. so shoot me if i want the perfect place! thanks for setting me straight in that there is no such thing. <BR> <BR>portland was the one response that interested me the most and i will look into it. absolutely loved san diego, but the chances of ever owning a home there are zilch to none. and charleston is great, but the humidity is too much. thanks to everyone. <BR> <BR>(except for "just wondering" who really needs to GET A LIFE. if i posted on the wrong site, it takes alot less time to ignore my post than to write a snotty reply.) <BR> <BR>amy <BR> <BR>

Newburyport, Massachusetts - it's a great ocean town. People I know who live there love it and feel like they are on vacation all the time. It is quaint, very livable. They have a lot of festivals yearlong in the town, a wonderful theater/arts center, pretty easy drive and commuter rail service into Boston. Plum Island is a natural wildlife refuge (georgeous beaches, birding..) off of Newburyport. It is right at the NH border(Portsmouth, also a wonderful coastal town).

Long Beach, NY is like being on vacation all the time. Beautiful boardwalk, friendly, active people, app. an hour to Manhattan. Doesn't get any better than this.

Wilmington, NC is a beautiful big town, small city. The only thing it doesn't offer is low humidity, however, you are on the coast, and the ocean breeze helps alot.

Morro Bay and Cambria are two options that Bob mentioned. Morro Bay has price of over $350,000 for shacks (prices have really gone skyhigh in the past year). And while Cambria is less expensive, it's really in the middle of no where and offers very little in terms of employment opportunites.

Well as some others have posted, California would be the best. My favorite place is Southern California. I would suggest Oceanside or San Clemente. Venice and Santa Monica are also awesome beach towns. Huntington Beach is also a good one. Kinda expensive though. Look into it. Good luck!

In California nobody mentions the South Bay area - Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Manhattan having the young, hip crowd.

Amy- since you liked the Portland suggestion, look into the Southern Rhode Island area (Narragansett Beach, Misquamicutt [sic] Beach, etc). Great little towns, and close to Newport and Providence.

My favorite state is California, I'd like to retire there as the weather is so much better than places like Florida. I used to live in a beach town in LA (Santa Monica) but moved because of the cost of housing and influx of tourists, it doesn't meet your criteria at all for those reasons--I also might add that beach towns south of LA like Hermosa and Manhattan beach have some of the highest housing costs in the US, so don't think they will suit your criteria. I'd think about northern California coast, like Fort Bragg, although it's getting more touristy, I think, but I've read that is pretty reasonable cost considering it's California. I'd like Mendocino but it's more expensive, which is why some are moving to Fort Bragg. You might also consider places in Oregon like Eugene or Ashland/Medford, they aren't on the coast but not far. I haven't been there but have read they might offer what you want. Having known several people from York, the good thing is just about anywhere is a step up. If you are serious, there are sites and books to research on this subject; Rand McNally publishes several city guides with stats on all facets (called Places Rated) and might be at your library if you don't want to buy it. At age 30, though, I might look more for good job oppotunities and reasonable rental costs than some other stuff. In that case, southern California does have much more reasonable rents (compared to other big cities) than you'd expect in comparison to the cost of buying a house. Really, your profession and potential income really have to be factored in here if you're only 30.

There are some great towns along the New Jersey Shore such as Spring Lake, Brielle, Brick, Sea Girt, Bay Head, Red Bank, etc. <BR>Nice beaches (they really are for those who have not been), close to many all-year employment opportunities and a beach season that runs from May until late-September. <BR> <BR>For culture, you are about 90 minutes from New York City, there is a year-round community in many of these towns, and while there are plenty of tourists, many parts are not overly touristy. <BR> <BR>Some towns like Spring Lake, still seem like a small, 1950's village. Yes, the home costs in some towns can be quite high. However, there are plenty of apartment rentals and townhouses for rent within and near many of these towns.

Well, I would go with the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Sequim has one of the most perfect climates in the U.S.--it feels like May about 7 months of the year and roses bloom until December, take a brief hiatus and start up again in March. Lots of sun and clean air and yes, the housing is (still) affordable. Fabulous beach walks and you can actually swim in the water at nearby Marrowstone Island (plus Sequim has a great aquatic center). Culture, not so much, but there's plenty of culture down the road in Port Townsend, with its variety of summer music programs, renowned writer's conference, jazz bars, visiting artists programs and so on. The OP rates pretty low on the tacky scale. <BR>We're living in Europe now, but when we move back to the states, we're making a beeline to the OP. <BR>The only problem I see for you is how you plan to make a living...what do you do? If you're self employed or work in the healthcare professions, you could be ok (or if you're a highly skilled carpenter or other high demand craftsman). You didn't mention how you plan to support yourself in your message--if that's not a primary concern, good for you! <BR>BTilke

I live in San Clemente, CA, which has been mentioned by several people. I would say that it fits all of your requirements except cost of living. In the context of Southern California it is comparatively reasonable, but take that with a grain of salt! The attractive parts about the area are the weather and the small-town beach community feel (which is, unfortunately, being impacted by development). The primary negative is that we are far enough south to be a pretty good drive from most employment. However, my husband and I think it's well worth it. Check it out if you are looking for a change! <BR> <BR>BTW, I love San Diego, and would live there in a heartbeat, but if you look seriously there, do some research on where you would work before you commit to where you would live. They are a little late in developing the transportation systems to support the growth that has occurred, and daily commutes are rough.

Grew up in Ventura, CA. Beach town to the max. Everyone spent summers lounging at the beach in the fog or the sun. Didn't buy a coat until I moved to N CAL. May not be all that culturally fulfilling but there is some going on there. I live in CA so I know nothing about affordability according to non CA residents. No perspective at all. We pay outrageous amounts for housing, electricity and gas (but it is getting better, and no blackouts!)

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you, because I don't want anyone else moving there. Hint: You can drive there from York.