Hi, everyone! I am a freelance writer, from Pennsylvania, who plans on moving, out of state. Although Pennsylvania is my home state and I have lived and worked in various parts of it, I have decided that it's not for me. I'm not sure where to move to. I was wondering if anyone can suggest a location, with an active art and literary scene, that is affordable to live in (or near).

Chicago is the city that comes to my mind -- even though Illinois isn't on your list of states. It has VERY active arts and literary scenes, and while much of the housing is not particularly affordable, there are some areas within the city -- and even near public transportation -- that are surprisingly affordable (at least in comparison).

Good luck!

Minneapolis and St. Paul aren;t on your list, either, but they are very diverse, artistic communities, with a particularly active theater scene.

San Francisco fits the bill but is not affordable to live in or near.

Florida is a tough one. Great art scene in Miami, but not so much theater. Not sure about literary endeavors.

You didn't list NC, but you might look into Asheville.

Seattle meets your criteria - except for affordability.

Thank you, for your replies! I will look into each location, that was recommended to me.

Austin.

Santa Fe.

Boise.

Portland.

There are a ton of possibilities.

Unless you're a rabid Trump supporter, I'd stay away from Boise. I'd start with Chicago and then keep heading west until I found a city with the right vibe that I could afford to live in.
I was born in PA and lived and worked there until 2005. I moved to Oregon soon after I retired.

Try www.city-data.com, it is a relocation site and better suited to your question.

Do you want a big city or a smaller town? There are "active art scenes" in most large cities.

Ashland, Oregon

http://southernoregonliterary.org/

It all depends upon your level of sophistication and your interest. There are many "art scenes" that are just regional. And that could be just fine. But they vary.

What kind of weather and climate suits you? Dry? Humid? Hot in July? Freezing in winter? Do you go outside for recreation? If so, what activities?

Art and music and literature can be found in many places, but these other things matter greatly, too - for your overall well being.

Check out Denver - with its three universities and those in nearby Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins there is a lot of great "culture" happening, a good symphony, excellent Jazz, a thriving music scene for all "other" types, the art museum and Clyfford Still museum and more.

Not hard to keep in touch with the rest of the US - 3 ½ hrs to the East Coast, 2 ½ to the West Coast, lots of cheap flights to everywhere.

Easy to get around - a mile high but on the flat, near great mountains, with dry air with hot summers and bearably mild winters overall.

OK, do I sound like I'm into boosterism? I'm not (haven't mentioned any sports teams, so there...).

Richmond, VA has mild winters, big Jewish community of all varieties, great art scenes, a free museum open 365 days a year, cheap rents, and excellent food and craft beer scenes.

Washington is 2 hours away by train, so you can go up for the day to see a museum show or a matinee at the Kennedy Center. You can kayak or canoe on the James and go rock climbing or trout fishing 1 1/2 hours away.

Downers: hot summers, not an airline hub, though incredibly cheap JetBlue flights to Boston and NYC,

I would think that just abut any college town would fit the bill. Here in New England there are plenty to choose from - Northampton mass, Middlebury & Burlington Vt, Hanover NH, Brunswick Maine, etc

I honestly cannot believe that NOBODY has bothered to ask you to define what you consider to be "affordable."

Or why you singled out four states? Do you wish suggestions tailored to those?

My question would be do you necessarily want a city? Cities tend to be more expensive and artists gravitate to less expensive places, unless they're willing to give up a great deal in exchange for an urban environment. I understand that but I'm not one of those. So since you mention "affordable" would a smaller town interest you?

How many here are actually involved in the arts? Some strange misconceptions. There is no one characteristic that applies.
Many of our family members and friends are involved in all sorts of artistic endeavors. It depends on what you need t5o do. Do you need to exhibit? Can you use the Internet to find an agent, publisher, or publications? What are you looking for in other writers? A place to hang out and commiserate, beta readers, a university setting for a paper library, seminars, and readings?
Etc., etc.