I have 3 kids and am interested in relocating to "Small Town USA" in the South. So far I've looked at SE Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia. All look nice but I really want nice, quiet scenery and moderate weather (i.e. no snow and not too humid in the summer, maybe a temp of not more than 85 or 90). So: a place big enough for finding a job, but small enough to know your neighbors. Mountains are nice, the coast is nice, but just fields and lakes are fine too. Cost of living moderate. I've heard rumors that the South has tons of mosquitos and you're dripping with sweat all summer. I'm assuming that's all coastal...If anyone that lives in any of these states has any feedback, I'd really appreciate it!!

Yes, it's awful. Nothing but swamp. Don't move down here...believe every terrible thing you ever hear about the South. Stay wherever you are.

I'm not sure you'll be able to find a town in any of those states that doesn't have hotter weather in the summer. I live in Little Rock, which is certainly not coastal and it's not unusual for us to have weeks in which the temperature never drops below 100. I grew up in central Texas and the weather was hot and steamy there, too.

I think, generally speaking, all of the places you've mentioned will have humidity and heat in the summer time. And probably mosquitoes, too. I know in Fla and Ga, mosquitoes are a real pest in the summer time. However, if you look in the "mountains" (I use the term loosely) of Georgia and Arkansas, I think you will find a bit more temperate weather (maybe 5-10 degrees cooler than, say, south Georgia. BUT, I wouldn't let the weather and/or mosquitoes deter you. The South is a great place to raise a family. Good family values (for the most part.) If you stay away from the big cities, that is.

Captain - I didn't mention NW Arkansas because though the temperatures are milder in the summer, there's LOTS of snow in the winter.

All we do in the swamps of north Georgia is bash alligators and fight bugs, even in the snow. My wife's brother is expert at shooting the larger varmints with a pistol. Atlanta is so deserted that the traffic jams are down to 2 hours. I would go to eastern Montana where it is nice and cool year round.

All of the states you mentioned are hot in the summer. A lot of S. Florida residential areas were built on swamp land (although you would never know it now). You could consider North Georgia or North Carolina. There is a small amount of snow there in the summer. Possibly the outerbanks of NC. Generally, the summer will be cooler on the coat. There are nice on-shore breezes to cool you. Inland gets hotter during the day as the land heats. More Asphalt and buildings = more heat. SE Tennessee, S. NC and N. GA sound like they might fill the bill. Post messages on the sites for those states. Goodluck

Yikes! SE Texas is the most humid part of the state! Also, if you are concerned about good schools for your 3 kids, then this is not the part of the state where you want to be, and the same goes for Louisiana, Missisippi and Alabama, which all rank below Texas in public school performance.

Based on what you are looking for climate-wise and city-wise, I suggest a smaller town west of I-35 in Texas. I lived in San Angelo for 6 years and it does meet your criteria. So do Abilene, Brownwood, and Midland-Odessa. No, the scenery in this part of the state is not the most beautiful, but the people are great and so are the schools. The summers do get hot, but there is almost no humidity and everywhere is air-conditioned so you really don't sweat much.

Ask if you'd like more info.

I don't know of any states that meet all of your criteria. I have lived in NC and VA and both of those get hotter than 85-90 in the summer; VA gets snow and NC does get snow occasionally (more in the western mountains). All of the states you list in your post definitely get hotter than 85-90. In fact, the only places I can think of that don't get snow and rarely get temps over 85-90 are in southern California.

Come on everybody, this is a troll.

The NC Raleigh-Durham area comes closer than the other places you're looking at. If we get snow, it's usually no more than 1ce or 2ce a year, adds up to maybe 2-3", and melts in a day or so -- although there are exceptional years with either no snow at all or a surprise foot or it, but that's rare.

In the summer, you will have stretches of over-90-degree days BUT: it cools off nicely at night, usually, because of all the pine trees (until development clear-cuts it all), and unlike some areas, the over-100 days are rare for the same reason. I lived in WashDC for 13 years, have been here for 8 -- summer is much worse in DC: hotter, humider, and miserable at night. I've gotten entirely used to summer here, and even though it will seem humid to someone from the southwest, it's less humid than the other states you're looking at. No swamps, either.

Well, speaking for my area, southeast AL and northwest FL, we have some swamps, but mostly in the form of quite scenic delta wetland areas. All in all most places are high and dry enough unless you choose to live in a flood zone, which the real estate folks should let you know beforehand. Summer humidity and misquitos are just a fact of life of life around here, but the mosquitos aren't nearly as large and mean as those found in more inland areas. Watch out for the gators! They've been known to come up through the sewer lines!! Ouch!!! Seriously, the back bays and bayous of the Southeast (NW Florida, South AL, South MS are quite beautiful. Because of the humidity, the weather can seem quite cold in the winter, but snow, of course, is rare.

Al did hit on a good point about Georgia. The traffic is horrible here. Summers are scorchers here also (85 to an occasional 100+ with humidity). We also have beautiful spring seasons, a very good economy, and a nice little baseball team.

Mrs. Sheridan,

Are you the troll that lives under the bridge that the Three Billy Goats Gruff traipsed over?

Please don't consider moving to the south! All the roads are on bridges because the ground is so swampy they won't support the weight of a road. We all have to move the alligators off the front porch to open the door of our trailer. Deliverance, like all movies, is an accurate portrayal of southern life.

Forget what you've heard about outstanding authors coming from the south. That's just an urban legend.

Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, the Army Missile Command, Space Camp, etc. are all figments of your imagination. North Alabama couldn't possibly house scientists capable of supporting the Space Shuttle, missile programs, satellites, etc. Atlanta residents all wear antebellum dresses. All daughters are named Scarlett.

Just like all NewYorkers are members of the mafia. All of Connecticutt is weekend homes for rich NewYorkers. All Californians rollerblade and surf. You're issued rollerblades and a surfboard upon moving to the state. All residents of Montana and Wyoming are members of extremist right-wing separatists groups.

Please, I implore you. Don't move to the South. We don't need your kind here!

No, the heat & mosquitos are not just "coastal". They are everywhere. The spring, fall, and winters are great, but summers are SO humid. Just awful. You have to shower twice a day. Don't consider Mississippi or Louisiana. Yuk states. But I will say the people in the south are the nicest, friendliest, most trusting people anywhere. We now live in Virginia, which gets hot, but not quite as bad as the deep south. Maybe in the mountains of Tenn. or NC or VA? The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is gorgeous. Good luck.

For heaven's sake, people, she just asked if we have humidity and mosquitos. She didn't insult us!
Be nice.

The only place I've ever been to or heard of with weather that perfect is Key West Florida. More power to you if you can afford it- Try NW Alabama- Boaz & Guntersville: Columbus & Starkville Mississippi: Jackson Tennessee or Northwest Mississippi, just below Memphis- the Robinsonville area is booming- jobs at the casinos, and the infrastructure to support these jobs. :

We've lived in MS, AL, GS, and NC. North GA would be good, but it's been discovered and is getting more than its share of newcomers. The area around Anniston and Jacksonville, AL is pretty-a new automobile plant is going in there, and should stimulate the economy that took a hit with military installation relocation. Huntsville, AL has a more diverse population, and may be a better transition for a newcomer. We enjoyed our time in Tupelo, MS- it's close enough to make weekend trips to Memphis when you need a bigger-city fix, and the Natchez Trace is beautiful. Face it, all of these are Deep South states, and it does get hot here in the summer. Air conditioning makes it tolerable for those less acclimated, and screen porches help enjoy the summer without the bugs. Perhaps you might consider NC or SC- one of the outlying towns from the Research Triangle Park area in NC, or the SC towns just below Charlotte, NC- might have more traffic, but more job selection. Also know that many times a town is small because the four or five families who rule it want it that way. My favorite story comes from a man who lived in one of our stops in AL. A pillar of the community- deacon in the church, head of the town utility board, wife played the church organ, two outstanding kids- he said to me, "you know, I've been here 17 years and I'm still new." It ain't always Mayberry down here.

Are you planning a march to the sea? Then begin in Atlanta.

Seriously, can it be a coincidence that the poster is named "Sheridan" and is worried about swamps?

Trolltrolltrolltrolltrolltrolltrolltroll.....

DO NOT live in Mississippi.
It's pathetic.
I know; I had to live there for several years.