If you had to relocate anywhere in the country...

[dmention7]

... which state(s) would be your top choice, and why?


I've started thinking about opening up my job search to include a few select regions I wouldn't mind relocating to, and I was curious where others would choose to live if they had a choice. Let's keep this to an assumption that you're not getting some crazy promotion, but that you'd still be in a similar position with similar pay relative to the local cost of living.


My first choice would be the pacific northwest... washington or oregon. I really miss the mountains and living within an hour's drive of the ocean. Also, both portland and seattle are the kind of mid-sized metropolitan areas that I'd prefer to be in/near, but like minnesota, there's no shortage of sparsely populated natural beauty only a short drive away.

I'd have to research some of the more practical aspects like political/economic climates before making a decision though.

 

[Hot Ice]

This would be a hard choice for sure as there are plenty places in the USA that are amazing. I personally miss North Carolina, A LOT. Living in the middle of the state and being able to drive to the ocean or mountains within a couple hours was amazing. I made it my Sunday drive quite a few times. The Outer Banks are super amazing as well. The climate is a little stickier in the summer but the winters are mild. Green grass almost year round. The food and drinks are fantastic with so many choices and outdoor events/places. Ahhhh...

 

[DrWebster]

Believe it or not, I'd move to California if the salary and job were right. Not terribly interested in anywhere else in the country.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

For the mountain side, if not the ocean, I would consider Denver. I really liked the town when I visited there. Indy is another city I could definitely live it as again I liked the town and the layout of the place. Both are also you're moderate city areas.

The Dallas Metroplex is larger and you have the heat, but if you're in a better area of town, I also think it had a lot going for it as far as things to do for the money.

All have much lower housing prices than here.

Jess, I have heard the same, and Charlotte has a lot of stuff going on and there is the tech triangle too. I've never been there, though.

 

[Picklz]

I really like socal but I don't think I could put up with their crazy laws and such there. Denver would be high on my list, especially if I could find a job that was in one of the suburbs, having to drive into downtown denver though would = fail, their traffic is worse than ours.

Pacific northwest is very pretty, in much of it you get stuck with a lot of cloudy / rainy days too so as long as that doesn't bother you.

There are plenty of places in the US that I haven't visited though that I very possibly could want to move to.

 

[mndsm]

Texas, or New Mexico. Screw snow.

 

[Stealthgator]

I just got back for NC it was great for a visit but it takes forever to get to one side of the city to the next, at least in Raliegh. I hear Charolette is more like Minnapolis w/ more to do though.

 

[AJ]

Tuff one, and I can't really say anything base on anything personal cause I have traveled so little in my life.

Ideally I'd like to be in a smaller town vs a large metro area, but jobs obviously factor into that. I think if I had the chance, I'd like to spend a good 5-8 Years out West. Somewhere near the coast in Either OR or WA. I'd also consider something in the SW corner of Wyoming or an outlying burb of Denver.

The reality is, that when I retire, I'm going to head to a small town regardless. Chances are it will be in IA or MN, close to family and 4 fun seasons of weather.

 

[Tauni]

Corey and I are looking at Oregon mainly for after we graduate. East coast or Texas would be my answer.

 

[VTEC8YA]

VEGAS!!! HOOKERS AND BOOZE!!!!! Nuff said.

 

[LASERBLUE135]

Believe it or not, I'd move to California if the salary and job were right. Not terribly interested in anywhere else in the country.

Northern California
Agree 100%, moving up the coast into Oregon and Washington works too.

I love the weather there. I'd research the CHEAPEST place to live and start looking around those areas. The pacific northwest is spendy to live.

I am planning to move there as soon as is humanly possible/somewhat convenient. Probly in the next 2-10 years. I wouldn't move once my son is in high school, but I would happily move before or after.