I am not sure to what to pick. I am concerned with affordability, walkability, and a strong collection of black professionals. Also a solid dating scene for 30s.

I also don't like miserable winters.

context: my best friend and I are wanting to move out of texas when we graduate next year and don't know where to go. we're gonna start off as servers/bartenders at any city. we want somewhere that's beautiful, with nature and fun night life. preferably rent under 1000 per person in a 2 bedroom apartment. I've never been to any of these cities, but I would like to know your insight! We're both 24 and just wanting some opinions!

What has been your experience living in a tech city versus a non-tech city?

For context, I work in slower moving old school engineering and am moving from Seattle to Philadelphia, and I was wondering about people's experience moving out of Seattle, San Jose, Austin, SF, etc to a less cutthroat environment? I love putting in my 40 hours then living life

I'm in my late 30s with a teenager & am going through a divorce. I absolutely love living in Seattle: pay is great, it's easy to get around without a car, and love being so close with nature. WITH THAT SAID: I am afraid of being priced out now that I am going to be leaving my marital home. While I'm hunting for places here, I want to weigh out my options of possibly relocating somewhere else that is slightly more affordable (even by a couple hundred bucks for rentals), still has pretty amazing transit or walkability (since affording a car on my own is out of the question), and still keeps us connected to nature.

I am trying to avoid the Southeast at all costs. I was born, raised, and bred there; all of my family lives there, as well. Life has been SO much better moving out West that I'd prefer to never move back (garbage pay, bad schools, car-reliant). It isn't fully off the table but would really emphasize keeping it out of sight.

Edit: Thanks for the recommendations! I will check out Portland (it's been on my list already) & will look further into other cities. I still want to stay in the Seattle metro & have time to continue to stay here, but am not opposed to keeping options open. To the rude folks: I've nothing to prove to y'all & everything to continue proving to my child for her bright future.

I’m curious to hear from people who have relocated to a new city or state within the last year or two, especially those who moved for work or a new career opportunity.
Whether you moved to Dallas/DFW or somewhere completely different, I’d love to hear about your experience.
Looking back, what was the most frustrating, stressful, or unexpectedly difficult part of relocating?
Was there anything you wish you’d known before moving? Or something you ended up having to figure out completely on your own?
I’m doing some independent research on people’s real relocation experiences and would genuinely appreciate hearing your perspectives.
I’m especially interested in the challenges people don’t usually talk about when discussing a move, including things that may have caught you off guard even after settling in.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share! I’d love to hear your stories.

Hey everyone,
I’m 20M and I’m about to make my very first move to the US. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed because I’ve never lived on my own before—I come from a pretty strict/controlling family back home where everything was done for me, so this is a massive step into independence for me :)
Right now, I’m torn between two places: Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California.
Here is what I’m looking for:

• Nature & Weather:
I really want all 4 seasons, forests, wildlife, nature, and streams/rivers. (I know San Diego is mostly sunny/coastal, but hear me out below).

• Vibe:
A lively social scene where it’s easy to meet people and make friends.

• Cost of Living & Safety:
Relative affordability (cheaper rent) and safe neighborhoods.

• Career & Education:
Decent job opportunities and a solid community college with a good nursing program.

My dilemma:
Portland seems to check a lot of my boxes for nature, forests, 4 seasons, and better rent compared to California.
San Diego, on the other hand, has a huge Iraqi Christian community. Since this is my first time leaving home and I have zero experience being independent, having that local community to help me get on my feet during the first few months sounds like a lifesaver. But I’m worried about the high rent, and it doesn't really have that "lush forest/4 seasons" vibe like Oregon.
I know I’m asking for a lot, but I’d love to hear your thoughts, honest pros/cons, or if there's any other city I should look into. How hard is it to settle in either place as a newcomer?
Thanks in advance!

I've received a job offer for a 13-month term position for the government, which would require me to find housing myself for the first time. Looking at apartments now, I don't understand how you're supposed to line up the timing of your lease with a 13-month job.

90% of apartment listings are rigid 12-month leases. That'd require either signing up for 11 months of lease you don't fulfill, or being homeless for a month at the end. Do you just pay out the ass for a month's stay at a hotel at the end? Sign up for another year and just break the lease a month in?

I assume there's something obvious I'm missing, because I've never heard of anyone comment on this before.

Hi. I apologize if this post is all over the place. Basically, my partner lost his job in the Boston metro area and has been job hunting for months now. Recently, he's been getting more interviews which is amazing and actually has a job offer pending! This one is in the East Bay/San Francisco area.. I think Oakland.

Originally, we're from small/mid-size town Texas and so our first move up to Boston was quite a change, but a good one. I fell in love with how much nature and parks there is up here in New England. SO different than empty Texas suburbs. I love taking my dog to many new trails around where we live or driving to a new town to see what they have to offer. I adore the fall foliage and the difference in seasons here! I appreciate it not being religious focused here as something, even though I got used to it, was very much a thing in TX. Massachusetts seems to value our careers (him in engineering and me in mental health). I also appreciate how the suburbs of Boston still feel like small towns and not necessarily fast-paced city life or metro sprawl. Another big plus from this most recent move is realizing how safe this area feels, even in Boston city. I was hoping he could get a job in the area or if it's out of state, the pacific northwest but it's just not how it's playing out.

So I'm wondering if there are any suburbs or areas in the Bay area that give me similar vibes or better than where I'm at now in the Boston metro area.

Thank you!

I recently discovered that there are a lot of houses under $200k in Tampa and Saint Petersburg. I previously believed that this was a very expensive area like Miami, but it seems that I was mistaken.

I currently live in Indiana and I want to leave. The winters are too cold and dark. I know Florida is humid, but so is Indiana and I've never been bothered by it in the summer. I also know Florida experiences hurricanes. I don't care. I just want to enjoy the sunshine and warmth year-round.

However other than the humidity and the hurricanes I know there must be downsides. I lean liberal but I would still live in a red state to not have to be depressed all winter long. My biggest concern is the pay. I'm planning to go to trade school next year and I've heard Miami pays their trades workers terribly but I'm not sure if it's like that in the Tampa area too.

I recently left a town that I really liked because it was unaffordable. When I was there, I lived in a place where I could walk <1 mile to a grocery store and pharmacy, and there were also little restaurants and bars nearby. It was kind of a mix of urban and suburban. There was a decent amount of greenery, and it was quiet.

When I moved, I made walkability a priority. The new town I've moved to is also quite walkable, but it has more of the "concrete jungle" vibe. Not as many trees, lots of busy roads. Other people do walk, but not a ton. There's so much traffic that I don't like to open my windows because of all the noise and dust that comes in. There is not much greenery, and it's really getting to me. It looked good on paper and on my first couple of visits, but not so much now.

I have been looking around in the outskirts of my old town to see if I should move back to the area. The only things I can afford would be not really walkable at all. But there would be a lot more nature and it'd be quieter.

Other factor to consider is that I have a baby, so getting in and out of the car just to grab a tomato is kind of a drag. But also walking down busy stroads is also a drag.

What would your preference be? My heart says greenery, but my heart hasn't always been right.

31F, single, queer, currently living in Denver. I have a disability that doesn't allow me to drive, so I rely on public transit. I want to own a home in the next 4 years or so and that just feels like a pipe dream in Denver (and most places with any level of public transportation infrastructure).

I'm planning on visiting at some point, but I'm curious - what's it like living there? Would I actually be able to get around via public transit, especially if I'm not in the heart of the city? What's the culture like?

I have traveled the midwest all summer and heading into fall.. originally from Texas and what blows my mind is the midwest as a whole is extremely underrated in affordability and quality of life

These states are the ones I would live in or plant roots in as the title says

Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan are quite nice as well but since I lean more conservative as I age I much prefer more business friendly states which mean more opportunities for the middle class.. since Texas is where I come from.. no disrespect against those states but im more of a country/rural person and those states listed fit my vibe

Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.. no opinion just haven't visited yet probably very rural though which I'm anticipating

I posted this on [r/relocating](r/relocating) and want to get as much intel as I can. Like the title says, I'd like to hear your takes on one of the region, or if you’ve been to all three states a comparison, based on your actual lived-in experience without talking about what everyone already talks about.

Yes, yes I know SC infrastructure can’t handle the growth, weather can be icy in TN and too humid in NC/SC. I know south is more red. And I know there are pockets with poor schooling. Et cetera

Beyond those things, I wanna hear what you personally love and hate about either of these states for a more personalized understanding of the experience. Feel free to talk about the people, the communities, the general ‘think’, things people don’t realize til the get there, or other aspects of daily life.

Again, I don't wanna hear about weather, infrastructure, or schools. Not because it doesn't matter to me, but because I have already read through *hundreds* of posts that detail those aspects for each state. I'm looking for more of the nitty gritty daily living things that you can't get in a quick Google search.

PLEASE explain too why you love or hate either state. Not just random hate like “well it sucks”.

Appreciate any and all insights!

EDIT: For clarity I’m looking for personal experience. If you’ve only seen a fraction of either state that’s fine. I’m not expecting answers that give massive pros and cons of all three. I want to know personal experiences of why that are has or has not worked for you and what you’d define a pro or con.

Another Edit: I am specifically asking for people’s experience. I am happy to engage with questions after, but please stop asking me for what I want specifically to start cause I am trying to get non-customized answers off the bat. Pros and cons. Literally just like what do you like and dislike aside from the 3 things everyone mentions.

I am thinking about accepting a job in Vancouver, but we really want to live in NE Portland or somewhere relatively walkable and not in what feels like the suburbs. I know that’s the opposite of what most people do for tax reasons. Would we be crazy to do this? Joint income $250k with 2 kids and would want to be in a good school district (I know PPS currently having some issues as well).

My wife and I are planning to move to Fort Collins / Timnath, CO from Los Angeles with our family (currently 2 young kids, hoping for one more at some point). Main reasons are cost of living/homes (we want to retire early so we can raise our kids), wanting colder weather, culture (don’t love the materialism of LA), fires, wanting a safe, family friendly place we can plant roots. Plus we already have a couple cousins there with their families.

Anyone have any thoughts on Fort Collins and specifically Timnath? The good, the bad, whatever you think I might want to know.

We’re currently looking at a home to potentially put an offer on in Timnath Lakes, just barely outside Fort Collins. From what I have researched, Timnath seems to have a lot of growth potential.

Thanks in advance!

My wife and I are in our 40s on Long Island and starting to look at places to retire in our mid 50s. The plan is to spend summers back in NY and live somewhere warmer the rest of the year. Over the next decade, I would like to travel and check out different suggestions.

We like being outside, walking to bars and restaurants, live music, being near the water, etc. Ideally we’d love a nice downtown where we could walk (or golf cart) to things instead of driving everywhere. Also want to be within an hour of a good beach. We travel a lot so being near a decent airport is important. I want to find a place our adult kids would like to visit too.

We’re not against 55+ communities, just don’t want somewhere that feels like everyone is 75 and there’s nothing going on and people waiting to die.

Budget would probably be $700-850k. We’ve been looking mostly at some specific places in Florida but definitely open to other ideas. I don't want a place that will be uninsurable and be underwater or washed away in a few years.

Anyone live somewhere they absolutely love? Or somewhere you moved to thinking you’d love it and ended up regretting it?

Why did you end up leaving what were your reasons and where did you move to? Do you have a higher QOL?

Im (25F) from a small town in florida and i did an internship in philly in college and loved it! Albeit i did make good money and lived in rittenhouse area. I only took the buses occasionally. But the sheer walkability of the area just blew me away, and the prettiness, festivals, vibrancy. I never felt like trash or dirtiness was a problem but i did stay in the nicer parts

I then moved to cincinnati for my full time job and…i did NOT like it. I was looking for smth more fast paced and metropolitan, with diversity and events. Cincy had none of that. I did not like the sheltered midwest slowness.

Still im intimidated by nyc tho. Like maybe its iust too big. I also lived a pretty cushy lifestyle in philly so i got to enjoy it due to that and didnt venture far beyond grad hospital, rittenhouse, and center city where i worked.

With the exception of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha.. Wisconsin seems like its actually thriving compared to Pennsylvania or Michigan

I’m looking to leave Seattle, Washington, and find a new city or state that I can eventually call home. I’m not too concerned about politics, and having great public transportation isn’t a priority since I’m perfectly fine with driving. Ideally, I’d like somewhere that offers a more relaxed lifestyle without the hustle, crowds, and high-pressure feel of big-city living.
As a single male, I’d also like to move somewhere with a good dating scene and opportunities to meet new people, make connections, and potentially find a relationship. I want a place that has enough going on socially to keep life interesting without feeling overwhelming. Warmer weather and plenty of sunshine would definitely be a bonus, but they aren’t dealbreakers.
Overall, I’m looking for a place with a good quality of life, plenty of social opportunities, and a laid-back atmosphere. I’m open to different cities and states as long as I can see myself building a life there and genuinely enjoying where I live.

Edit: I work from home so don’t need to commute anywhere.

Edit 2: Bigger city like Seattle potentially an option with a better dating scene. Seattle is just tired .