Moving to a new state
Dec 31st, 2016, 10:58 AM
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Moving to a new state
Hello, I am new to this forum. I currently live in CT. This state has become too expensive for me to live in. I also am all set with the cold and snow. I am looking for somewhere to move down south. I would like to know which state you guys would recommend for a Northerner to move into. I am looking for somewhere warm with no tornadoes or flooding (or at least not known for them). Once I can get my family to agree on one state I will start the job hunt in that state before making the move since it would be foolish to not have a job lined up before leaving here. I am just looking for thoughts, opinions, feedback. Thank you! 
Dec 31st, 2016, 11:18 AM
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Dec 31st, 2016, 02:00 PM
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I gather your occupation is pretty generic and can be done almost anywhere?
Most of those states are known for some kind of weather problems, look at all the flooding in Georgia last year. South Carolina is also low-lying and prone to flooding. of course Florida has hurricanes and flooding. But it really depends where you live in some states, if you live in coastal areas or low-lying areas or not. Homes were almost entirely underwater in the counties around Atlanta last Fall--Hurricane Matthew flooded areas in GA, FL, SC and NC.
Forget the middle south, as that is the tornado area (Texas, OK, NE, etc) also Florida, MS and AL have above-average. Here's a good map on that data.
http://www.ustornadoes.com/2016/04/0...united-states/
I lived in OK as a kid and we had tornado drills in school, for example, and we had our own tornado dugout shelter out back in the yard (sort of like a root cellar).
How about New Mexico? It does get colder in winter in higher climates, but all in all, nothing like New England.
In your tags, you name Louisiana, are you kidding? I wouldn't move there as the economy is bad and due to the weather.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/19/news...oding-economy/
Louisiana is always broke. And Georgia has bad flooding problems. LA is only about a meter above sea level around new Orleans.
Most of those states are known for some kind of weather problems, look at all the flooding in Georgia last year. South Carolina is also low-lying and prone to flooding. of course Florida has hurricanes and flooding. But it really depends where you live in some states, if you live in coastal areas or low-lying areas or not. Homes were almost entirely underwater in the counties around Atlanta last Fall--Hurricane Matthew flooded areas in GA, FL, SC and NC.
Forget the middle south, as that is the tornado area (Texas, OK, NE, etc) also Florida, MS and AL have above-average. Here's a good map on that data.
http://www.ustornadoes.com/2016/04/0...united-states/
I lived in OK as a kid and we had tornado drills in school, for example, and we had our own tornado dugout shelter out back in the yard (sort of like a root cellar).
How about New Mexico? It does get colder in winter in higher climates, but all in all, nothing like New England.
In your tags, you name Louisiana, are you kidding? I wouldn't move there as the economy is bad and due to the weather.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/19/news...oding-economy/
Louisiana is always broke. And Georgia has bad flooding problems. LA is only about a meter above sea level around new Orleans.
Dec 31st, 2016, 05:16 PM
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You don;t mention family make-up and ages but you need to understand that if you still have kids in school that is a major factor. CT in general has very good schools. Many other states have mediocre to poor public school systems - and you need to investigate carefully if you still have school age kids.
And as well as looking for low housing costs you need to consider that salaries are also often low. Don;t count on earning what you do in CT.
And as well as looking for low housing costs you need to consider that salaries are also often low. Don;t count on earning what you do in CT.
Dec 31st, 2016, 05:54 PM
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Charlotte is a great city in a backward (at the moment) state, but the pendulum WILL swing back to a more normal kind of government. You will get "pot shots" from folks maybe for such a wide open question, but I will recommend my home town for a great quality of life.
It would help to know what kind of work you may be qualified for. Ass for not earning the same as CT, well, there are other off setting situations, of course.
It would help to know what kind of work you may be qualified for. Ass for not earning the same as CT, well, there are other off setting situations, of course.
Dec 31st, 2016, 08:06 PM
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Have you ever spent time in any of those places - during the summer?
I live in New England, and, I would never trade winter/cold/snow for stifling heat/humidity.
As mentioned, usually, salaries are more or less proportionate, but there could be a significantly wider gap, to cost of living.
To escape Connecticut winters, you really don't need to go so far south. How about mid-Atlantic states?
I live in New England, and, I would never trade winter/cold/snow for stifling heat/humidity.
As mentioned, usually, salaries are more or less proportionate, but there could be a significantly wider gap, to cost of living.
To escape Connecticut winters, you really don't need to go so far south. How about mid-Atlantic states?
Dec 31st, 2016, 08:53 PM
#7
Definitely think about how you would handle high heat and humidity, lasting for months. If you are thinking NC you might consider Asheville, rather than Charlotte or the Raleigh-Durham area, as it is up in the mountains. More bearable summers, and better winters than you are used to, plus well out of hurricane range.
Jan 1st, 2017, 02:54 AM
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I am so totally amazed at the number of people who seem to be able to live in the South--actually MOVE here for one of the fastest growing parts of the country--and tolerate the apparently AWFUL weather. OMG!! It's really great for the complexion. LOL
Jan 1st, 2017, 04:38 AM
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No place is going to be totally free from the possibility of natural disasters or extreme weather conditions. Southern coastal areas are prone to flooding and exposure to hurricanes, plaines areas get tornadoes, many areas in the south are prone to severe thunderstorms, desert areas have extreme heat in the summer, other areas have a combination of high heat and humidity. Many areas in the south (like parts of Texas, Georgia, etc.) while moderate in temperature can experience severe ice and sleet storms that literally shut down the cities and towns.
Now that's not saying you shouldn't relocate to any of those areas but rather you have to realize that there are "trade-offs" no matter where you go.
Common sense tells you the further south you go, the warmer the year round temperature will be.
Likewise, as others mentioned lower housing costs tend to reflect the lower salaries that are paid to local workers. That doesn't mean there are no high paying jobs but rather you'll find salaries for many comparable jobs will probably be lower than they are in CT.
Relocating, in and of itself, does not guarantee you'll find happiness & contentment - that will come from your inner being. You might find the "perfect place to live" - great schools, pretty views, pleasant year round weather, etc. -= but if you end up working in a dead end job or have a miserable boss you'll end up disliking your new home.
Since you'll be spending half your day commuting, working and doing everyday chores (much the same as you do in CT) I'd choose my "new location" FIRST on the availability of suitable employment and SECOND on the climate.
Good luck following your dream.
Now that's not saying you shouldn't relocate to any of those areas but rather you have to realize that there are "trade-offs" no matter where you go.
Common sense tells you the further south you go, the warmer the year round temperature will be.
Likewise, as others mentioned lower housing costs tend to reflect the lower salaries that are paid to local workers. That doesn't mean there are no high paying jobs but rather you'll find salaries for many comparable jobs will probably be lower than they are in CT.
Relocating, in and of itself, does not guarantee you'll find happiness & contentment - that will come from your inner being. You might find the "perfect place to live" - great schools, pretty views, pleasant year round weather, etc. -= but if you end up working in a dead end job or have a miserable boss you'll end up disliking your new home.
Since you'll be spending half your day commuting, working and doing everyday chores (much the same as you do in CT) I'd choose my "new location" FIRST on the availability of suitable employment and SECOND on the climate.
Good luck following your dream.
Jan 1st, 2017, 05:49 AM
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Look at the Piedmont South for less extreme weather and a better, more diverse economy balanced among manufacturing, distribution, and financial services:
Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte, NC
Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Atlanta-Marietta, GA
NW Alabama
NE Mississippi
Any area around a university, and there are bunches of them, will have better living and a better economy than elsewhere.
Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte, NC
Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Atlanta-Marietta, GA
NW Alabama
NE Mississippi
Any area around a university, and there are bunches of them, will have better living and a better economy than elsewhere.
Jan 1st, 2017, 06:00 PM
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I was raised in CT and moved in 2015 from NYC to Nashville (I still have a place in NYC so I get my northern "fix" more often than others. I moved here because I wanted out of NYC - it was too expensive, dirty, crowded, etc. I'd been there for 15 years and was done. I chose Nashville because I am a Vanderbilt grad and had been witnessing it's growth since getting stuck here for a week during Hurricane Sandy.
While the summer is hot (it is the south), most places are air conditioned and you aren't outside walking around like you would be in NYC. I've seen the leaves change, and later this week it will be in the 30s. If it snows no one goes outside anyway because there are no snow plows to clear the roads. I missed last year's snow storm but I think the most they got was 8 inches and school was out for two days.
The schools here are NOT bad, especially if you send your child to private school OR as far as public schools there are two fabulous magnet schools (Hume-Fogg and MLK)as well as strong public schools in the suburbs. Lots of middle/upper middle class families send their kids to public school in Brentwood and Franklin (which is one of the most charming towns I've ever visited). The private schools here, like Harpeth Hall, Ensworth, and MBA are fabulous. There are lot of families here with high educational expectations (who are physicians, engineers, etc) so students will have access to AP/Honors classes and other educational opportunities found up north.
Cost of living, to me, is amazing. The housing prices have gone up since I moved here, so Nashvillians will disagree with my assessment of COL because they are much higher than they were just a few years ago. However, I am comparing prices to NYC so take that with a grain of salt. You can get a new 4BR/3Bath home in the burbs and also in some great areas in town for 500-800K (even less depending on the area)...and in CT depending on where you live (i.e. Fairfield County) my house in Nashville would be worth more than double up north for what I paid for it in Nashville. I realize that of course my house would be worth more if in CT, but my point is you can get as nice of home for a lot less money down here.
Finally, I've met a diverse group of people, especially lots of people who are moving down here from the NE. It's booming in health care and technology, and there are a lot of foreign companies moving their headquarters here. The restaurant scene is huge and the airport is an absolute dream. I can scoot up to NYC in less than two hours, and I live in the city but about 15-20 minutes from the airport. In NYC I live six miles from LGA but yet it takes at least an hour and now $60 just to get there.
Good luck in your search and I hope you and your family can get on the same page to find a great new home!
While the summer is hot (it is the south), most places are air conditioned and you aren't outside walking around like you would be in NYC. I've seen the leaves change, and later this week it will be in the 30s. If it snows no one goes outside anyway because there are no snow plows to clear the roads. I missed last year's snow storm but I think the most they got was 8 inches and school was out for two days.
The schools here are NOT bad, especially if you send your child to private school OR as far as public schools there are two fabulous magnet schools (Hume-Fogg and MLK)as well as strong public schools in the suburbs. Lots of middle/upper middle class families send their kids to public school in Brentwood and Franklin (which is one of the most charming towns I've ever visited). The private schools here, like Harpeth Hall, Ensworth, and MBA are fabulous. There are lot of families here with high educational expectations (who are physicians, engineers, etc) so students will have access to AP/Honors classes and other educational opportunities found up north.
Cost of living, to me, is amazing. The housing prices have gone up since I moved here, so Nashvillians will disagree with my assessment of COL because they are much higher than they were just a few years ago. However, I am comparing prices to NYC so take that with a grain of salt. You can get a new 4BR/3Bath home in the burbs and also in some great areas in town for 500-800K (even less depending on the area)...and in CT depending on where you live (i.e. Fairfield County) my house in Nashville would be worth more than double up north for what I paid for it in Nashville. I realize that of course my house would be worth more if in CT, but my point is you can get as nice of home for a lot less money down here.
Finally, I've met a diverse group of people, especially lots of people who are moving down here from the NE. It's booming in health care and technology, and there are a lot of foreign companies moving their headquarters here. The restaurant scene is huge and the airport is an absolute dream. I can scoot up to NYC in less than two hours, and I live in the city but about 15-20 minutes from the airport. In NYC I live six miles from LGA but yet it takes at least an hour and now $60 just to get there.
Good luck in your search and I hope you and your family can get on the same page to find a great new home!
Jan 1st, 2017, 06:27 PM
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If humidity and cold weather are really an issue, consider Arizona from Phoenix south. Hot but dry, reasonable housing costs, excellent schools in some communities, growing industrial and tech base, all the culture you can cram in, and I think importantly, optimism, although the divide between liberal and draconian fundamentalists can be confounding.
Feb 28th, 2017, 08:55 PM
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I was going to mention Arizona but I see that it was already suggested. Summers can be brutal but Winter-Spring is beautiful. Depending on what profession you are in, there has been a lot of tech growth in the East Valley (Mesa, Tempe, Chandler).
