rkkwan

Let me add to what spunki is saying. This is my real-life experience.

On our short street in SW Houston are 18 small patio homes (<2,000 ft, one or two stories). Middle-class neighborhood. There are whites, blacks, Hispanics, Chinese living here. There were a Phillipino family too for a long time, but they moved away; plus a older white man with a younger Phillipino wife and their daughter, also for a long time.

And when I used to work at a lab at Medical Center, our whole group went out to lunches together often. There are white (including Americans, Australians, Italians), Chinese, Indians. We eat at all kinds of places - ethnic and American - and nobody will care a bit! Of our group then, one Chinese American married a Australian; and another Indonesian-American was dating an Italian. The American boss was seeing a Chinese.

I think you got the idea...

nytraveler

Well, if its a contest. I live in a small (45 flats) middle class apartment house on the upper west side. Since this is a co-op current tenants must approve of all new tenants buying into the building.

We have residents of multiple races (I'm not sure how to define race exactly)/ethnic/minority groups - Caucasian of many many varieties, African American, Caribbean American, Chinese American, Filipino American, Mexican American, Cuban American, Puerto Rican, Pakistani American, gay, straight and I'm not sure exactly what, of every possible religious belief. We have four - that I know of - (racially?) "mixed" couples, and recently lost an Ethiopian/Russian couple - they had a child and moved to get a larger apartment. This is reflective of the entire neighborhood - which has residences ranging from NYC low income public housing (across the street) to white glove buildings with apartments worth $10-$15 million (1 block away on Central Park West).

As I said - for diversity go to New York.

eroz

not Houston.
Miami or LA. and LA only consider the beach communities!

wowzer

I live in Houston. I was born here and wouldn't really choose to move here on a whim. I think you have an interesting selection of cities - are these 3 places on your list because of specific job opportunities?

I really don't think I'd move to Houston unless I had a good job offer. High heat, high humidity, and flooding pretty much sum up the weather. There is a lot of racial diversity here, but I agree that it often seems somewhat self-segregated. The night life isn't horrible, but it's not spectacular either. Austin and Dallas both are usually considered "cooler" cities in Texas.

KTinTX

My 2cents Jerry:

Don't write off Houston too quickly. Yes, I live here, and have for most of my 34 years. I even live on the East/southeast side where the refineries are within a few miles of my house. The air quality doesn't bother me at all, but I'm not asthmatic. Yes, it's hot in the summer and humid the majority of the year. But....cost of living is WAY less than your other 2 choices. There is still a pretty decent job market here. NO STATE INCOME TAXES. (neither does Florida)....

Parts of Houston are very racially diverse...parts of it are definitely not. I think it is much like other large cities. Houstonians, and Texans in general, do like to drive and think nothing of driving 30 miles to eat dinner on a weeknight. I personally drive 75 miles roundtrip to work each day.

Just wanted to give a counterpoint to all of the "Houston's a dump" posts. LOL

KTinTX

malvado

and to tip the balance back in the right direction....

Houston is still a dump

Austin

Jerry - I think I agree with the majority - LA. (Tho I also agree with a few others that none of these three are great places to live). My reason is that I'm assuming that you won't just spend all your time in that one city, but will venture to other parts of the state - at least possibly surrounding areas. That's why I'd say no to Houston - even tho maybe it is more liberal (ha, that felt strange typing that) than some cities here in TX, not all cities/towns/communities are, by a long shot. However, if you want a nice, open, liberal, accepting city in TX, Austin is IT.

I haven't lived in FL for 20 years, but unless it's changed dramatically since I lived there, a no again to Miami - or at least other parts of FL.

That leaves LA...CA is about as liberal as they get - open minded, accepting, etc.

rjw_lgb_ca

Just had to put another coupla words in.... It's interesting to see how this thread has developed. I have never ever regretted moving to southern California from Pittsburgh (and would never ever consider moving back there for even one microsecond). But I've lived here and made a very happy life for myself here for 19 years-- and I was fresh out of college when I moved here. I had no idea of the challenges before me-- southern CA is NOT an easy place to live, let's be honest-- and love it as I do, the "minuses" of the area are formidable. It's easy to relax here when you're a visitor-- not so much when you live here. And once you've been through one large earthquake, you confront your ultimate smallness and solitude as a human-- you alone, against the shaking ground (and possibly your entertainment center if you forget to secure it).

Of the three cities, I'd pick SoCal again, with Miami second (I love South Beach). If the choices were opened up (and I had jobs waiting), I'd go to San Diego, then LA metro, then Manhattan, then Miami. But that's me.

And since I forgot to answer your traffic question: Of the three regions, Miami has the worst drivers. Houston has bad traffic, but LA's is legendary. In its defense, LA's streets and highways are well-marked and logically laid out, so alternates are always available. I've never had to find detours in the Houston area, so I can't really comment. It seems easy to get around, so....

Binthair

I chose Houston, and I can live anywhere in the country I choose to. BTW, the weather today was absolutely perfect, even by Southern California standards. I enjoy visiting many places where I could not imagine living, and many people leave Houston in the summer just as they leave southern Florida. California would have made a wonderful choice 50 years ago, but unless you want to be a perpetual apartment dweller, or are already wealthy, forget it. For me, moving there is like buying an overvalued stock sustained by momentum investors. I visit CA and FL often, and Houston is only a few hours from either. I think Houston is overall much more livable city over the course of a lifetime than the other two cities. You have easy access out of Houston when you want to escape.

jerrysimpson

Though Los Angeles appears to be diverse in all, I must say that I will pass on this city. On the internet today, I read that Los Angeles County, CA was the only county in the nation to recieve a 'Severe' rating for bad air quality. I can't imagine living in a area with bad air pollution. I decided between Houston & Miami.

rjw_lgb_ca

The EPA survey you cite reflects more stringent testing methods, so even with the LA basin's vast improvements in the last several years, ground-level air pollution is still pretty bad. Oddly enough, it's not just the cars; the diesel-burning container ships in and out of the Ports of LA and Long Beach contribute a staggering amount of that pollution.

As I said, it's better but not a great place for a person with severe asthma. You'd have to stay right on the coast at all times, or head into the desert (Palm Springs, for example, is in the Coachella Valley, surrounded by high mountains, and the LA basin pollution can't rise enough to dirty their air).

But for someone with asthma, a city with heavy petrochemical plant pollution (i.e., Houston) wouldn't be a walk in the park either. I know-- I'm from southwestern Louisiana originally, and the petrochemical pollution there is horrible (the smell!). That leaves Miami, a place I love to visit, but with its own special challenges....

dita

Never heard of anyone moving to LA or Miami and actually "loving" it.
Don't know much about Houston.

Maybe thinking over your choices would be smart. My opinion, if I were moving from NC to another place, San Fran and NYC. Unmatched offerings. Only the best of the best survive. GOOD LUCK

dita

Personally, I can't even stand Miami after 5 days.

ilovetulips

I lived in Houston for 3 years, and I think it is a city with much to offer in terms of culture, restaurants, things to do. I have also lived in San Antonio and I now live in Austin. I found Houston to be quite ethnically diverse. Most people can find their niche there. As one other person said, the cost of living is about as cheap as it gets ( I don't mean that in a negative way.) I think that the city gets a bad rap by those that only go once or have some prejudices toward it, but it really is a great city to live. The bad part: The heat is pretty oppressive because of the humidity and be prepared to drive long distances because it is a huge metropolitan area. The drivers are pretty good for the most part. I think it would be worth checking out.

illusion321

How about Philly, very racially diverse. I also like Phoenix Az

MightyIsis

I vote for Miami. Every bit as racially diverse as LA. Interracial dating/friendships would not raise an eyebrow in most parts of either city. Both cities have pockets of racism (what city doesn't?) Both cities have vibrant African American and Latino communities, as well as many people from other parts of the world. Both cities have lots of beautiful women (which would be important to me if I were a twenty-something male).

Jerrysimpson, you haven't given us much else to go on. What other quality of life issues are important to you? What do you do in your off time? Are you wealthy? Wealth comes in handy in LA. Miami is lower tax and lower cost of living, to be sure.

Houston is a great city, but not for an asthmatic. I would also avoid the desert, as extremely dry air can aggravate the situation as well. Travel to both cities to "try them on". Good luck to you, and keep us posted.

illusion321

As a recent college grad I know where you are coming from. I moved back to the town that I grew up in, and i am not too found of it and it was not what i had in mind after graduating but i had no money and my boyfriend is still in school. I hope to make a big move after he graduates ( in about two years) He wants Baltimore (where he is from) and i want the west (somewhere in AZ) because of a better job market. Who knows whats going to happen But i can relate to your burning itch to try something new. I would love to move to Amsterdam and try to get a job teaching English, Have you ever considered trying something like that for a year?

Statia

Just my two cents on the asthma issue. I live in the West Indies year round and recently spent three months in Houston. My asthma actually bothers me more here at home than it ever did during my time there. Go figure.

I was also never bothered by the air quality, and agree that it's a culturally diverse city with much to enjoy and do. I will agree, however, that the summers can be dreadfully hot and humid. The spring and fall are wonderful, though.

I personally don't care much for LA or Miami, but that's just my opinion.

lynnejoel1015

I would say NOT Los Angeles. I lived in Houston 13 years and now LA 3 years.

Not a fan of LA. Horrible air. Driving will lead you to anxiety and road rage.

Houston isn't as bad, but probably not as much diversity, although there is a lot of diversity in Houston.

I've heard good things about Atlanta.

Why not Seattle or Chicago? Chicago is the best!

miss_world

There's a site www.city-data.com that's pretty helpful. I grew up in LA and relocation always worries me because I'm very liberal. I love LA, but you should take into consideration that many, if not most people who grew up somewhere else do not. As for the other two, I can't help. I wouldn't move to Houston if you paid me and I know absolutely nothing about Miami except that the bugs are really big. It really is true that you should be looking a lot more into other stuff - or at least first - before you move (taxes, jobs, housing costs, etc.). An interracial relationship is not going to support you and athsma can seem trivial next to unemployment. Good luck.