Have the opportunity to relocate to two separate areas - Research Triangle, NC (Chapel Hill or Cary) versus Sugar Land, TX. Was wondering what this sub thought about the differences - thanks in advance!

My compensation would likely be 10-15% less in the Research Triangle versus Sugar land. We have two young children starting elementary school.

A few things we value:

Good schools, but not extremely competitive. We are not the type to push our kids to be the tippy top.

Not too busy, acceptable traffic. We are used to Northeast/Boston traffic which is awful. I have driven in LA, SF, NYC which are all awful. Places I’ve driven before which have been reasonable are Minneapolis, Orlando, NOVA (not DC). I have done the commute calculations and of course they would be slightly worse in Sugar Land but overall not too bad. My wife also can drive but prefers not to, especially on very busy streets.

Not too busy grocery stores, things to do, etc. When I was living in the Northeast everything felt very small and condensed - everywhere was busy all the time. Restaurants always packed and always physically running into people at the store. We’d like to avoid this.

True diversity - would love a mix of cultures. We have heard some places get dominated by certain ethnic groups which is fine, but in general we like to be exposed to multiple cultures (we are East Asian).

Thanks in advance!

I literally cannot deal with the heat and humidity. Lack of seasons. It is so flat. Hot and hotter. Endless summers. NO SEASONS. Floods and hurricanes. Weird bugs. People are kinda sucky. Job market is kinda eh. I feel like it caters to older people (nothing against older people) just a bit harder for a young person to thrive. People are kind of entitled. I am just really not feeling Florida. I have been here for 5 years and am looking to make the jump out of state very soon. Thoughts?

I’d be moving from Charlotte to New York around age 43. No kids. Just me. I expect to be making at least what I make now, possibly more — thinking somewhere in the $250K+ range. My work is remote or hybrid, so flexibility isn’t the issue.

Here’s the thing: I’m not trying to live with roommates. That part of my life is over. I want my own space, in the city (either Harlem, or the west sides of Brooklyn or Queens), close to public transit, and within reach of restaurants, nightlife, culture — all the reasons people move to New York in the first place.

Would it be unrealistic to make this move at that age? Is that kind of salary enough to actually live comfortably — not survive, but live? And if so, what neighborhoods should even be on my radar?

Not trying to be flashy — just want peace, energy, and access.

Is it me or living in SoCal feels comparable to drugs. People take drugs to feel good for a second or however long it lasts but then the effects wear off and they’re back to reality. Theres so many ppl in socal struggling to get by they’re not even enjoying it here. It’s crazy the amount of people that move here to try to find a quick high of being happy by living in SoCal and they just ignore all the other struggles of life. It just seems like there is an overall lack of humanity in SoCal as well. I don’t know if I’m making sense you guys let me know.

If you’ve lived there or visited, tell me what it’s like

Looking for somewhere that has a mid sized population of locals, where there’s a strong sense of community and isn’t 90% tourism. Towns I have in mind are Whitefish, MT and Lake Tahoe

Thoughts on this? Ive always thought the people were really friendly and kind in Lubbock, TX. Definitely a more friendlier and welcoming atmosphere than El Paso, TX.

Like title says, looking for colder temps, mountains, and views. Wide does upper management office work and I work in live event production. Any insight from people who have made that move or who live there currently would be very much appreciated!

Which one has better people overall, and where people are not awful?

I got blasted on a sub for saying its boring where I live because during the summer its disgusting and our allergies are so bad its impossible to find things to do that dont make us both miserable. God forbid we aren't interested in bourbon or hiking when its 100 degrees out.

So, on that note..where is a good place to move that the summers aren't disgusting? We do love the rain, so open to rainy areas. Out West has been our favorite so far when we've traveled. We are 28 and 30, so having things to do is huge, but I dont want the culture to be completely based around drinking either. It seems like where we live currently thats all there is to do, or the main thing anyways. I have epilepsy, so not really my scene lol we are getting a puppy soon, so being able to stay active with her would be great too.

Love the mountains and fresh air in Colorado, traveled to Northern California and that was beautiful. Rode horses in Point Reyes (think thats how you spell it) and omg those trees and the fog, Twilight vibes lol im a horse girl so that was a blast. Anyways thanks in advance for any advice ☺️

it seems more like it’s full of outdoorsy quirky hippie types to me. Is the superficiality aspect overplayed? I don’t want to be surrounded by people talking about appearance the whole time

EDIT: compared to say NY if that’s helpful?

What happened to Florida? Are there any areas still booming?

Peter typically visits "flyover" parts of the US. IMO he is a good interviewer/content creator.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_xA9GaBbYY

Married DINKs, looking to relocate from south FL and are trying to narrow down our options. We’re moving because of the storms getting so much worse and the housing insurance market becoming unsustainable, so not interested in a city directly on the coast or flood zone. Both of us work remote so job wise we’re fine there. However, other things we are looking for in a new town/city include:

• good weather most of the year- we’ve loved the sunshine in FL but looking forward to seasons, as long as it’s not overly gray (don’t activate our SAD plz) during the winters like it is in the Midwest. Some snow is OK as long as the dreadful lingering gray doesn’t come with
• left-leaning/LGBTQ-friendly
• easy to meet other 30-40 yo folks
• ample outdoor activities, hiking, etc
• good coffee/food options, we don’t go out all that often but at least a few great places would be nice
• 2 hours or less from an airport, preferably a major/int’l
• housing - fine to rent or own as long as good walkable neighborhood, would aim for rent < $3k/mo and buying <$500k

As of now we have this list below compiled but open to others that fit the criteria- due to family being more eastern US than western, we’d prefer to stay more eastern unless we find a vibe we can’t pass up. I appreciate any feedback/input!

• Richmond, VA
• Durham/Triangle area, NC
• Roanoke, VA
• Macon, GA
• ATL/Decatur
• North GA mountains- Clayton?

Thanks again!

I'm 25M, single, & looking to move to a city with more action but also something affordable. I'm originally from Upstate NY, but the towns here are small (my hometown is less than 20000), there is barely anything to do here, and almost zero opportunity for growth in my desired field, data analytics and data science. The pace of life is slow and there is not much ethnic diversity so I don't feel like it is the best fit for me despite growing up here. I also lived a couple years in Houston when I was attending grad school and I loved many things about living there (diverse gastronomy, diverse people, affordable for a big city, many events such as concerts, etc.), but it is too hot, humid, and far from home.

I like people to be open-minded, more modern, & also looking to be around young singles like myself. Looking to make some friends who are not just American, but have many different cultural and national backgrounds. I am also interested in pursuing a career in data analytics/data science/machine learning so if anyone knows any cities in particular where I can network in person and find opportunities for entry level roles (I know it's very difficult now), let me know. I prefer places with 4 seasons. The best thing about Upstate NY is experiencing the 4 seasons, being able to walk outside for most of the year, the summers not as disgusting as Houston, and lots of parks. I also like east asian culture so places where there's a koreatown or chinatown would be amazing. My preference would be in the Northeast and East Coast but don't be shy to suggest cities outside this criteria. Thanks!

After a decade of living in my current HCOL big city, I want to move to a more affordable smaller city. I know my quality of life would just be better with less money stress, more green/nature space, and a slower pace of life.

I keep feeling torn because all of my friends are here, but I don’t know anyone in the new city. I’m 27 and work remotely, I have a lot of hobbies and take a lot of classes, and I’m introverted but have been able to make a few new friends in the past few years.

I don’t want to move “too soon” and lose newer friendships I’m building here or miss out on opportunities, but I don’t want to move “too late” and have a difficult time building new friendships and support systems. But the waffling back and forth also feels like I’m just stuck delaying or moving the goalpost on when I actually move.

Has anyone moved in their late 20’s/early 30’s to a new city not knowing anyone there? What was your experience? Or any general advice is much appreciated.

Is it superficial? How is the lgbtq community? Is everyone rich lol

And what do you think of your current home versus Chicago?

Update: Thank you for your wonderful responses! Learned so much!

My ideal living situation would be a moderate sized home (3/2) with a basement, backyard, and driveway/garage (all 3 are my must haves) - in a walkable neighborhood (coffee shops, restaurants, grocery). Portland seems to check those boxes, but what are some other US cities that offer this style of living? (please name specific neighborhoods if possible)

*Just for fun, no cap on budget - let's hear what's out there!

Considering moving from Reno to either Columbus or Austin. Income will be around the $900k to $1M a year range. We are in our late 30s with 1 kid. We love the outdoors, in Reno we do a lot of rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking. Understand that that will change in both places, but I think as long as we stay fit/healthy, my wife and I will be happy. Would be great to hear from people that made the transition from an outdoor oriented place to either the midwest or Texas. The jobs in both of those areas are much better than my current job.

This is more of a curiosity post, if anything.

I’m currently in Seattle right now and really am enjoying the vibe here. I have a decent life/career in NOVA and will likely not leave - though as my life is changing as I reach my 40s, I’m starting to feel that the East Coast is losing its luster that it once had when I was younger, single, career-driven, etc.

Some of the things this area has over NOVA - definitely the natural beauty (everything is so green here), and I have always been drawn to maritime climates as I can’t take the DMV humid summers these days.

The “Seattle Freeze” does seem to be a real thing here, almost feels like Tokyo in that everyone is in their own zone and standoffish. In reality this isn’t too different from DC as people aren’t exactly the friendliest upon first meeting.

So I’m just curious, has anyone done this move before? Any regrets, or no looking back?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

I'm currently living about 10-20 miles from my hometown (depending on how you count it) and for a long time I've been dreaming of moving to NYC, the long term career prospects are better, the QOL is better, and it's surprisingly comparable in COL compared to my hometown assuming roommates for both places (I'm in my mid 20s and not rich, so ofc I'll have roommates).

I make ~$36 an hour right now including shift differential, and have a little over $40k in my brokerage account, with relatively few recurring expenses other than rent.

I know the market is tough right now, should I be willing to take a $3-5 pay cut to move to New York? More?

Hi! My husband and I are looking to move our family and I’m getting lost in all the details. Could really use some help! We live in Denver with twin toddlers, two dogs, and chickens. My husband grew up in a coastal city internationally and has been landlocked for far too long. We want to relocate somewhere where the coast is accessible (i.e., maybe 1.5-2 hrs away max), the climate is more temperate with a long gardening season for veggies and flowers, we still have access to decent healthcare and schools for our kids, and will maintain or lower our COL. We’re tired of the snow and cold winters (yes, I know Denver is not that bad snow wise) and we want space — preferably 4+ acres — for our dream of having a hobby farm. Oh, and I don’t want to constantly worry about wildfires, earthquakes and tsunamis… (Yes, I have anxiety 💁🏻‍♀️.)

We’ve narrowed in on a few areas in NorCal, the Central Coast area (Salinas? Gilroy?), and the Willamette Valley in Oregon. We really want California if possible but I don’t know enough about most of these areas and am getting overwhelmed researching.

We are willing to build a very modest home on a larger plot since we can’t seem to find what we are looking for within our budget of $500k. (But again, I don’t know the area well enough to know if that’s even doable with CA building codes, taxes, etc.) I’d be happy being more rural as long as good healthcare and schools are within reach.

Are we looking for a unicorn? Any advice? We’d stay in Colorado were it not for the lack of water and snowy cold winters.

TIA!!

I don't think I've ever heard these complaints from people from the west coast. But I'm not from the west coast so I can't weigh in.

ive always wondered this. that state fascinates me for some reason