Apologize in advance to those sick of all the 'where to move' posts, but here's my situation. Love living in San Diego with my wife and two small kids, but right now can't afford a home in a decent school system. We're looking to move somewhere more affordable, that hopefully has lots of sunshine, minimal pollution, and low humidity (hate bugs with a passion). Here's a (kinda long) prelim list - any comments on pros and cons?
Reno NV, Medford OR, Stockton CA, Flagstaff AZ, Henderson NV, Yakima WA, St. George UT, Colorado City, Lubbock TX, Charlotte, Peachtree City GA, Norfolk VA, Georgetown TX, Knoxville TN, Chattanooga, Roanoke VA

I've been to most of those on the list (but haven't LIVED in any of them). I think I'd put Medford,Oregon high up. It is surrounded by wonderful hiking and outdoor activities, close to Ashland, has no pollution that I'm aware of, and low humidity (but can be very hot in the summer!)

Take Stockton off of your list1! I'm from the Central Valley and the weather there is certainly not mild! It's hot as blazes in the summer and freezing in the winter. I do love the Medford/Ashland area!

There's a reason that the song "Happiness is Lubbock Texas in my Rear View Mirror" was a big hit!

Thanks for the replies! I'm surprised that Stockton's climate is considered uncomfortable. In the Places Rated Almanac, Stockton's climate is in the top 20 of 354 U.S. cities (better than Medford-Ashland #39). Here's part of the list:

1. Santa Barbara
2. San Diego
3. Ventura, CA
4. Los Angeles
5. San Luis Obispo
6. Honolulu
7. Orange County CA
8. Salinas CA
9. Riverside-San Bernardino
10. San Francisco
11. Oakland
12. Bakersfield
13. Santa Cruz
14. San Jose
15. Visalia CA
16. Modesto CA
17. Stockton-Lodi CA
18. Santa Rosa CA
19. Merced CA
20. Chico-Paradise CA
21. Phoenix
22. Sacramento
23. Fresno
24. Yolo, CA
25. Vallejo-Napa CA
26. Fort Myers FL
27. Redding CA
28. Melbourne-Titusville FL
29. Naples FL
30. Laredo TX
31. Fort Pierce FL
32. Miami
33. Fort Lauderdale FL
34. Tampa
35. Yuba City CA
36. Punta Gorda FL
37. Sarasota FL
38. Richland WA
39. Medford-Ashland OR
40. Yuma AZ
...
43. Reno NV
44. Las Vegas / Henderson
...
47. Yakima WA
...
53. Boise ID
...
91. Flagstaff AZ
...
95. Roanoke VA
...
97. Charlotte
...
101. Austin
...
107. Atlanta
...
109. Norfolk VA
...
126. Chattanooga
...
147. Colorado Springs
...
151. Knoxville TN
...
194. Lubbock TX

HI..
Live and love SD and have had similar thoughts of where to go but I gotta tell you that things are pretty darn great here..yes, it is expensive but look at what we have..Do understand on the housing thing and it is coming down..
I was looking at Sedona as a second home or close to it and we really liked Flagstaff..15 minutes away from Sedona and the home prices were cheap..
I do not know about the school system..
Also, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho looks so gorgeous and affordable but it can get snow..gorgeous in the summer..
I have friends who are from Medford and they love it..
Tucson might be another alternative too..new homes for under $300K or less with a pool and you have U of A and I am sure that the pollution is alot less than Phoenix!
We just got back from Reno and we were not impressed at all..I do like Tahoe but I would not want to be near places like Vegas or Reno and you mentioned Henderson, NV.. just to much gambling and drinking and I like to go and party in those places but not to live in them..
I would not go back East whatsoever!!!
Humidity and bugs are everywhere..Yuk!
Good luck to you!

What a funny list of climates. Ft. Myers and Naples are 25 miles apart. Their climates are about as identical as you can get. The only slight difference is that Ft. Myers is often a degree of two higher in the summer and a degree or two lower in the winter. So why does that make its climate slightly better than Naples?

And I'd sure rather stick with my Naples climate than endure Stockton's.

Who made up that list?

Uhm Anesthesia, with apologies in advance to any Fodorites that live there, you couldn't pay me to live in Stockton.

And IMO that list is so incorrect. Just one example, it shows Sacramento has better weather than Vallejo-Napa. That is so NOT true. Same goes for Stockton having better weather. I wonder who prepared this list, LOL.

Ditto on Sacramento /Stockton.
I am from Sacramento and it's hot as hell in the summer. Moreover, Stockton is, from what I've seen, fairly boring. I've spent some time in SD visiting my friends and a boyfriend who live there, and the climate is one of the best ON THE PLANET. Of course it's expensive to live there. Who wouldn't want to?
However, if you're considering Arizona, Sac, Stockton, go visit in the summer. All three have dry heat. But hot is certainly is.

I've been to Peachtree City, GA, and while it's a cute planned community, it's very cookie-cutter ... lots of new development, and unfortunately there is a lot of smog in Atlanta. I don't think it's what you're looking for. I did drive through Flagstaff once and it was amazing, but can only speak from what I saw from I-40. Never been to Chattanooga, but everyone I know who has been there speaks of it like it's incredible. Good luck!

My parents live in Carson City, NV which is a nice little town. It is growing because all the people from CA are selling their homes for alot and moving to Nevada where it is cheaper. Carson City is about 40 minutes from Reno and 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe. There is gambling but it's not like Reno or Vegas. The summers are wonderful - low humidity and sunny - not too hot. However, they do get snow in the winter. We live in Dallas, TX and love to visit them in the summer to get away from our 100 degree weather.

Note to Joesorce: Georgetown, TX and Lubbock, TX are nowhere near each other. TX is a big state. Georgetown is outside of Austin which is considered the hill country and very pretty as opposed to parts of TX (like Dallas where I live and Lubbock which is extremely flat.) The hill country is a growning area.

Anesthesia,

St. George, UT is also hot as H*** in the summer. Also, it's a gigantic retirement community and one of the fastest growing counties in the US. Would you want that?

All your eastern locations would be humid. Reno and Flagstaff have rather cold winters. Of the rest, Medford stands out as the best. Lots to do in the area. Summers can be hot, but it is dry heat. Good luck!

Thank you to everyone for the very helpful replies. It sounds like Medford is far and away ahead of the pack, with Flagstaff and Reno/Carson 2nd and 3rd. Oregon's high taxes may well be worth it. Thanks again!

In response to Norfolk and Roanoke, VA, I'm inclined to recommend you choose elsewhere.. I'm a native Virginian and familiar with both cities, more so Roanoke, but I can't say I'd ever want to live in either place.

DO NOT expect low humidity. VA as a whole can get uncomfortably humid from late May June to early Sept from about 9:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Roanoke has its distinguished citizens, but the vast majority upon introduction will strike any non-southerner as a bit redneck. Also, the downtown area leaves much to be desired. There's not a whole lot of culture here. And they seem to be fine with that. However, it does have very scenic areas and good colleges nearby.

Norfolk is a vast industrial area with a definite military influence. Also, quite a few good colleges in the area, and Virginia Beach is a great beach for kids. But again, not on my own personal top ten list of places to relocate.

I also live in northern SD County, been here since 1986 and grew up in Orange County. I have less than 9 years to go before I retire at age 50. I'm outta here the 1st day possible and I won't ever look back.

If I left today, Durango Colorado would be where I'd go. However, Spokane, Idaho Falls and a few other places in Colorado would get some consideration.

Oregon has some really wacky politics like California, one of the reasons to get out....along with gas prices, illegal aliens and the least polite population of people I've ever experienced. Texas has humidity and bugs but I'd go in a heartbeat if I lived on a ranch outside the metro areas. Iexas has great food and the nicesnt people I've ever met (not counting the big cities, which are overrun by idiots from California...who are trying to turn Texas into L.A.!! Austin is a perfect example of that nonsense!!

I suppose with all of these locations I would google to find the local newspapers and spend some time browsing the websites for those newspapers.

Also, I would look for national websites on education, and see how states stack up. Number of days they are in school is a good indication of their budget, and incidentally, Oregon is not known for funding their schools well. Washington is reputed to be better at this.

from your original post it sounded like the main reason was to leave for a good school district with affordable housing.

i assume all these places have that.. besides the pleasing weather.( i live overseas.. so have no idea.. just curious as posts seem to only deal with weather)