Best places to live in US

CroMagnon wrote:I'm not familiar with this Id, but let me guess - seven?

Yeah it has been a long time. I think this is my first visit in more than 6 months and my first post in nearly a year.

Natalia Romanova wrote:
oh, lol. i forgot i have a new id now. this is tw.

CroMagnon wrote:

Natalia Romanova wrote:
oh, lol. i forgot i have a new id now. this is tw.

Tracy Whitney - Natalia Romanova; how could I have missed the connection? Maybe the short post threw me off :-)

Natalia Romanova wrote:
u actually mean i talk even more than seven?

Impedimenta wrote:cro, what is wrong with NJ? fine. you do not have to answer. North carolina is an option.

Impedimenta wrote:what is wrong with NJ? fine.

CroMagnon wrote:What are some of the best cities (and neighborhoods within these cities) to live in US based on the following criteria:

1. Decent cost of living - worry about this when you retire
2. Socially liberal and educated population with modern cosmopolitan outlook- you will find all types of people everywhere. socially liberal population does not live separately in different towns. Find people with similar mindset and befirend them. Good Luck!
3. Good infrastructure -walking/biking paths, parks etc. Tons of places with this feature. But if this is 3rd on the deciding factors then live in Portland, OR ( i would say san diego or denver but you already considered them and rejected for different reasons).
4. Good traffic -traveling the distance is not a problem, but the traffic should not be terrible - consider commuting during odd hours, avoid carpool time etc. Places with good jobs, weather, bike routes etc are preferred by many and therefore traffic is unlikely to be smooth, esp during peak hours/
5. Scenic - getting a house with a view is high on my list. Ideally, there should be decent vacation spots within a few hours drive - depends on what kinda view? golf course? city skyline view? sea facing? if not North carolina then consider atlanta. i hear its better than NC as in less boring.
6. New construction - I would like to be the first owner of the house, so looking for suburban areas with a lot of new developments - no comments

Based on the above criteria, I had initially decided Orange County (Irvine and surrounding areas) in So Cal, but it is too expensive and a dollar doesn't go too far there. Even though I love the place, I don't think I'll be able to afford the kind of house I want. -have you considered Miami? less expenssive version of LA/San Diego

I finally shortlisted Denver/Boulder region and am currently here for 4 weeks to evaluate if this is the place for me - While everything looked ideal on my first short visit here, I'm here mostly to see if my skin can tolerate the dryness. I've never used humidifiers, so not sure how practical they are. - Seriously? well its not almost exactly like saying, i'll not buy this house bcz i dont like the color on the walls or bcz i hate the light fixtures. the dryness can be fixed, methinks.

I understand a lot of these factors are subjective. I'm not looking for concrete answers, just some suggestions and pointers.

CroMagnon wrote:What are some of the best cities (and neighborhoods within these cities) to live in US based on the following criteria:

1. Decent cost of living
2. Socially liberal and educated population with modern cosmopolitan outlook
3. Good infrastructure -walking/biking paths, parks etc.
4. Good traffic -traveling the distance is not a problem, but the traffic should not be terrible
5. Scenic - getting a house with a view is high on my list. Ideally, there should be decent vacation spots within a few hours drive
6. New construction - I would like to be the first owner of the house, so looking for suburban areas with a lot of new developments

Based on the above criteria, I had initially decided Orange County (Irvine and surrounding areas) in So Cal, but it is too expensive and a dollar doesn't go too far there. Even though I love the place, I don't think I'll be able to afford the kind of house I want.

I finally shortlisted Denver/Boulder region and am currently here for 4 weeks to evaluate if this is the place for me - While everything looked ideal on my first short visit here, I'm here mostly to see if my skin can tolerate the dryness. I've never used humidifiers, so not sure how practical they are.

I understand a lot of these factors are subjective. I'm not looking for concrete answers, just some suggestions and pointers.

truthbetold wrote:From your post you give the impression that you can find a job in a city of your choice. That is a good position to be in. Since you listed denver as a possibility, let me suggest any one of the following suburbs of minneapolis, woodlands on east, eden prairie , minnetonka and many other nearby communities. They were listed as the best place or among the best places in usa. Excellent schools, well known state university, terrific lake views, robust technical job opportunities, and decent size indian community. Like denver but better.

Silk Smitha wrote:

One is in north pole the other in stratosphere.

CroMagnon wrote:What are some of the best cities (and neighborhoods within these cities) to live in US based on the following criteria:

1. Decent cost of living
2. Socially liberal and educated population with modern cosmopolitan outlook
3. Good infrastructure -walking/biking paths, parks etc.
4. Good traffic -traveling the distance is not a problem, but the traffic should not be terrible
5. Scenic - getting a house with a view is high on my list. Ideally, there should be decent vacation spots within a few hours drive
6. New construction - I would like to be the first owner of the house, so looking for suburban areas with a lot of new developments

Based on the above criteria, I had initially decided Orange County (Irvine and surrounding areas) in So Cal, but it is too expensive and a dollar doesn't go too far there. Even though I love the place, I don't think I'll be able to afford the kind of house I want.

I finally shortlisted Denver/Boulder region and am currently here for 4 weeks to evaluate if this is the place for me - While everything looked ideal on my first short visit here, I'm here mostly to see if my skin can tolerate the dryness. I've never used humidifiers, so not sure how practical they are.

I understand a lot of these factors are subjective. I'm not looking for concrete answers, just some suggestions and pointers.

Silk Smitha wrote:

One is in north pole the other in stratosphere.

Hellsangel wrote:

Silk Smitha wrote:

One is in north pole the other in stratosphere.

You have no idea how many outdoor activities they have there in summer, do you?

PS: Do you do any outdoor activity?[/quote
mminnepolis is progressive but not crazy unlike a particular bay area.

fido_dido_2k wrote:Good weather is not on your list so I assume you are ok with brutal winters in Denver.

Raleigh, NC is a place that fits most of your criteria. The locals here are way too conservative.. everything here is closed on sunday mornings.

seven wrote:1. Decent cost of living - worry about this when you retire

2. Socially liberal and educated population with modern cosmopolitan outlook- you will find all types of people everywhere. socially liberal population does not live separately in different towns. Find people with similar mindset and befirend them. Good Luck!

3. Good infrastructure -walking/biking paths, parks etc. Tons of places with this feature. But if this is 3rd on the deciding factors then live in Portland, OR ( i would say san diego or denver but you already considered them and rejected for different reasons).

4. Good traffic -traveling the distance is not a problem, but the traffic should not be terrible - consider commuting during odd hours, avoid carpool time etc. Places with good jobs, weather, bike routes etc are preferred by many and therefore traffic is unlikely to be smooth, esp during peak hours

5. Scenic - getting a house with a view is high on my list. Ideally, there should be decent vacation spots within a few hours drive - depends on what kinda view? golf course? city skyline view? sea facing? if not North carolina then consider atlanta. i hear its better than NC as in less boring.

Based on the above criteria, I had initially decided Orange County (Irvine and surrounding areas) in So Cal, but it is too expensive and a dollar doesn't go too far there. Even though I love the place, I don't think I'll be able to afford the kind of house I want. -have you considered Miami? less expenssive version of LA/San Diego

I finally shortlisted Denver/Boulder region and am currently here for 4 weeks to evaluate if this is the place for me - While everything looked ideal on my first short visit here, I'm here mostly to see if my skin can tolerate the dryness. I've never used humidifiers, so not sure how practical they are. - Seriously? well its not almost exactly like saying, i'll not buy this house bcz i dont like the color on the walls or bcz i hate the light fixtures. the dryness can be fixed, methinks.

So yea! longtime no see. busy house hunting err i mean city hunting? now that you have the names of the cities shortlisted, you can deep dive to find what areas/neighborhoods are your type.Good Luck!

Welcome back, CM. Your good traffic and decent cost of living requirements eliminate most large bicoastal metro areas. So you have to find a smaller city, perhaps a university town of not insignificant size, where you will find all that you seek. I hear good things about places like Austin, Madison, etc. Seattle may also be interesting for you, although I don't know how high home prices there are.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:hi cro! haven't seen you in long. i trust all iz well. all iz well here.

truthbetold wrote:From your post you give the impression that you can find a job in a city of your choice. That is a good position to be in. Since you listed denver as a possibility, let me suggest any one of the following suburbs of minneapolis, woodlands on east, eden prairie , minnetonka and many other nearby communities. They were listed as the best place or among the best places in usa. Excellent schools, well known state university, terrific lake views, robust technical job opportunities, and decent size indian community. Like denver but better.

CroMagnon wrote:
Seattle is a place I love, but like Portland weather is too bad. I was there for about 5 weeks and I only had 2 days of sunshine. It might not have been the best time to be there, but from what I've heard it doesn't get much better than that. I think home prices there are reasonable even though they have been driven up by Californians migrating there in search of less expensive living.

CroMagnon wrote:

truthbetold wrote:From your post you give the impression that you can find a job in a city of your choice. That is a good position to be in. Since you listed denver as a possibility, let me suggest any one of the following suburbs of minneapolis, woodlands on east, eden prairie , minnetonka and many other nearby communities. They were listed as the best place or among the best places in usa. Excellent schools, well known state university, terrific lake views, robust technical job opportunities, and decent size indian community. Like denver but better.

TBT, I work from home and travel 1-2 times a month so I can stay anywhere I want. A place with good high end jobs is indirectly a good place to live and so would like to stay in such places.

I have lived in Minneapolis for 3 months. Even though I was not in a great place (mounds view), but would frequently go to places south of Minneapolis and really liked it. It is definitely on my list and I know Eden Prairie was rated the best place by CNN money.

Roughly how much would a 3-4 bedroom house on the lake cost in some of these suburbs you talk about? Any new projects going on there that I can look up online?

truthbetold wrote:Cro,
I could also suggest ct. Great weather for 7 to 9 months. But housing and living costs are obscenely expensive. For all the high taxes you get to rub shoulders with yale faculty and other east coast liberals. Ny and boston are within 2hr drive. You drive 20 miles away from major highways you can see old world charm og new england.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Cro,
I could also suggest ct. Great weather for 7 to 9 months. But housing and living costs are obscenely expensive. For all the high taxes you get to rub shoulders with yale faculty and other east coast liberals. Ny and boston are within 2hr drive. You drive 20 miles away from major highways you can see old world charm og new england.

Really ? Only if you use iOS6