best beach town to live
Jul 28th, 2001, 05:19 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
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.
any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks!
amy
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.
any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks!
amy
Jul 28th, 2001, 07:09 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have to agree with the above, Amy.
This is what you've requested:
oceanside
modest humidity
not touristy
affordable
friendly atmosphere
plenty of culture
This is a mutually exclusive set of criteria simply because if you fulfill all the others, affordability will go out the door!!
Everybody would want to live there!
The central coast of California fits many of your criteria.
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.
Don't know the eastern seaboard as well.
This is what you've requested:
oceanside
modest humidity
not touristy
affordable
friendly atmosphere
plenty of culture
This is a mutually exclusive set of criteria simply because if you fulfill all the others, affordability will go out the door!!
Everybody would want to live there!
The central coast of California fits many of your criteria.
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.
Don't know the eastern seaboard as well.
Jul 28th, 2001, 07:25 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Amy,
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.
Even if you don't want to live here, you should pay a visit!
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.
Even if you don't want to live here, you should pay a visit!
Jul 28th, 2001, 08:02 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
Jul 28th, 2001, 11:13 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
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!
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!
Jul 29th, 2001, 03:16 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
Jul 29th, 2001, 03:46 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
I find it interesting that so many people refer to San Diego as a rather 'small' town.
I was recently quite surprised to find that it has the 6th largest metro poulation in the USA.
And it's anything but cheap.
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.
I am relatively certain that there is NO city in the USA that fits all of Amy's criteria.
So Amy, if you had to eliminate one or two of your stipulations, which would be the ones to go?
I was recently quite surprised to find that it has the 6th largest metro poulation in the USA.
And it's anything but cheap.
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.
I am relatively certain that there is NO city in the USA that fits all of Amy's criteria.
So Amy, if you had to eliminate one or two of your stipulations, which would be the ones to go?
Jul 29th, 2001, 04:05 PM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
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.
(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.)
amy
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.
(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.)
amy
Jul 29th, 2001, 04:44 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
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).
Jul 29th, 2001, 10:35 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
Jul 29th, 2001, 10:55 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
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!
