Where should I relocate to?

[MetalMat]

After training in chicago my new company will allow me to give a list of the top 5 places I want to be relocated to in the US. Here are some choices I am interested in:

Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Dallas, TX
Tampa, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Pleasanton, CA
Raleigh, NC
Knoxville, TN
Nashville, TN

Other 15 places I am not very interested in:

Atlanta, Ga
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
Louisville, KY
Boston, MA
Detroit, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Minneapoils, MN
St. Louis, MO
Richmond, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Charlotte, NC
Woodcliff Lake, NJ

I lived in Fort Worth for a few months, and I did like Dallas/Fort Worth alot. However, I have been to Seattle and Portland on vacations and love it up there, plus I have some family in the Seattle area. Bonus of living in Dallas is that it is near my girl friends parents and the closest to where I currently live in case I want to visit.

I am excited to get out of cajun country.

 

[DougK62]

If you like to do outdoorsy stuff there is no better place in the country than the pacific northwest. It's beautiful.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: DougK62
If you like to do outdoorsy stuff there is no better place in the country than the pacific northwest. It's beautiful.

And I do like to, it sucks in South Louisiana. Nothing to do but hunt/fish, drink, eat good food (cajun food rocks), and swim in the bayou.

In fact, this is my uncle: Uncle

 

[cyclistca]

For the NW I would go for Portland. It's a nice city.

 

[Stifko]

I 've heard the Portland is a nice place to live.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I'd like to tell you to stay out of the NW cause we're crowding too fast...but I can't do it. It's the greatest area of the nation (and yes, I've been in pretty much all the areas).

However, you do need to be aware of the dark/rain/overcast nature. If you need a LOT of sun, or very warm days, you don't want to be here (or you want to be on the eastern side, which is nothing like the rest of the nw). Also, if you're super A type, super neocon, uptight, etc, you might have some issues adjusting. We're mostly laid back, independent, hippies around here.

 

[loup garou]

Of those, I'd definitely choose Portland or Seattle. What are the other 15?

 

[LordMorpheus]

Dallas is a real strong town. I think its got the highest concentrations of corporate headquarters of all the US cities - not sure about that but it sure does have alot of them, so finding a job if this one falls through should be easy.

Also, your salary will go lots farther in Texas than it will in the pacific northwest.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: loup garou
Of those, I'd definitely choose Portland or Seattle. What are the other 15?

Atlanta, Ga
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
Louisville, KY
Boston, MA
Detroit, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Minneapoils, MN
St. Louis, MO
Richmond, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Charlotte, NC
Woodcliff Lake, NJ

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Dallas is a real strong town. I think its got the highest concentrations of corporate headquarters of all the US cities - not sure about that but it sure does have alot of them, so finding a job if this one falls through should be easy.

Also, your salary will go lots farther in Texas than it will in the pacific northwest.

*boggle* Inside Seattle or Portland proper is expensive, yes. But just outside you can get a 3bd home on land for 100-140k. Less if you'll take a fixer-upper. It's cake to live around here on 15-25k. I've never lived in Dallas, but I wouldn't have imagined it being that cheap.

 

[skimple]

Originally posted by: DougK62
If you like to do outdoorsy stuff there is no better place in the country than the pacific northwest. It's beautiful.

Very true. It is very beautiful and there's a lot to do

but....

Real estate is outrageously expensive. If you plan to buy a house/condo, you will likely pay 3x - 4x what you would pay in Louisiana. And your new job will NOT be paying 3x - 4x what you're making now.

My sis in-law has lived out there for 5 years - loves it - but still can't find a house that she can afford.

Figure out your expenses before making the jump.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: loup garou
Of those, I'd definitely choose Portland or Seattle. What are the other 15?

Atlanta, Ga
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
Louisville, KY
Boston, MA
Detroit, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Minneapoils, MN
St. Louis, MO
Richmond, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Charlotte, NC
Woodcliff Lake, NJ

For sure the NW, i live in Seattle, but Portland is pretty nice. Id rather live there cause its closer to good surf.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: skimple

Originally posted by: DougK62
If you like to do outdoorsy stuff there is no better place in the country than the pacific northwest. It's beautiful.

Very true. It is very beautiful and there's a lot to do

but....

Real estate is outrageously expensive. If you plan to buy a house/condo, you will likely pay 3x - 4x what you would pay in Louisiana. And your new job will NOT be paying 3x - 4x what you're making now.

My sis in-law has lived out there for 5 years - loves it - but still can't find a house that she can afford.

Figure out your expenses before making the jump.

Again, that's only inside city limits. If you're willing to be 15-30 minutes away prices drop drastically. If you're willing to go further, to the very rural, they're about as cheap as you'll be able to find anywhere in the country.

 

[BoomerD]

Portland, OR Gray and rainy, not too bad for housing costs.
Seattle, WA Gray and rainy much higher housing costs
Los Angeles, CA Warm and dry, MUCH higher housing costs
Pleasanton, CA Hot and dry, EXTREMELY high housing costs

Having lived in the northwest for part of my life, I'd personally choose Portland 1st, and Seattle 2nd. L.A. is crazy...very high housing costs, high crime rates, terrible smog. Pleasanton is close to San Francisco, and the housing costs are thru the roof. Fairly low crime rates, pretty decent weather most of the year, not much to do without going to SF or San Jose.
Dallas is pretty hot & dry as I remember. Housing costs should be much lower than any of the above.
Haven't been to any of the Tennessee locations in over 30 years, so I can't/won't comment on them.

 

[DainBramaged]

My list would be something like:

Boston, MA
Phoenix, AZ
Miami, FL
Chicago, IL
Providence, RI

 

[aswedc]

I always thought Portland was kinda small town, nothing too exciting happening. Am I wrong?

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Dallas is a real strong town. I think its got the highest concentrations of corporate headquarters of all the US cities - not sure about that but it sure does have alot of them, so finding a job if this one falls through should be easy.

Also, your salary will go lots farther in Texas than it will in the pacific northwest.

*boggle* Inside Seattle or Portland proper is expensive, yes. But just outside you can get a 3bd home on land for 100-140k. Less if you'll take a fixer-upper. It's cake to live around here on 15-25k. I've never lived in Dallas, but I wouldn't have imagined it being that cheap.

And where do you consider to be "just outside" I live 30 miles "outside" of Seattle. If I could get a 3br home on land for the prices you're talking... I'd buy 3!

 

[caboob]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Portland, OR Gray and rainy
Seattle, WA Gray and rainy

In Jan and Feb, you'll go suicidal from all the rain.

 

[habib89]

pleasanton, ca!! weather is nice.. air is clean, you're 45 mins from san francisco, the area is nice.. it's a little expensive like all of california is, but man, i can't imagine living anywhere but the bay area... i'd definately stay out of Los Angeles though.. basically the opposite of norcal.. air sucks, and the people suck

northwest is nice too..

 

[booger711]

Portland.

no sales tax. the traffic is even more horrendous in seattle. only 1.5 hr to the beach!

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: aswedc
I always thought Portland was kinda small town, nothing too exciting happening. Am I wrong?

It's the 25th largest metropolitan area in America. Roughly 2 million if you count Vancouver WA. It's where people head to 'go to the big city' around here.

Portland fact book.

 

[FoBoT]

portland OR is too expensive

go for nashville or knoxville

 

[Bryophyte]

The PNW is just about as far from 'Cajun Country' as you're going to get. We are the antithesis of the US South.

 

[z42]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Portland, OR Gray and rainy, not too bad for housing costs.
Seattle, WA Gray and rainy much higher housing costs
Los Angeles, CA Warm and dry, MUCH higher housing costs
Pleasanton, CA Hot and dry, EXTREMELY high housing costs

Having lived in the northwest for part of my life, I'd personally choose Portland 1st, and Seattle 2nd. L.A. is crazy...very high housing costs, high crime rates, terrible smog. Pleasanton is close to San Francisco, and the housing costs are thru the roof. Fairly low crime rates, pretty decent weather most of the year, not much to do without going to SF or San Jose.
Dallas is pretty hot & dry as I remember. Housing costs should be much lower than any of the above.
Haven't been to any of the Tennessee locations in over 30 years, so I can't/won't comment on them.

If you switch the two bolded parts you'd be correct. A starter home (3 br, 2 ba, 1400 sq ft.) within 15 miles of Pleasanton will run you about $600k. Summer weather around here is usually around 80-90 with a few occasional heat waves getting near 100. A little cooler than LA.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Dallas is a real strong town. I think its got the highest concentrations of corporate headquarters of all the US cities - not sure about that but it sure does have alot of them, so finding a job if this one falls through should be easy.

Also, your salary will go lots farther in Texas than it will in the pacific northwest.

*boggle* Inside Seattle or Portland proper is expensive, yes. But just outside you can get a 3bd home on land for 100-140k. Less if you'll take a fixer-upper. It's cake to live around here on 15-25k. I've never lived in Dallas, but I wouldn't have imagined it being that cheap.

And where do you consider to be "just outside" I live 30 miles "outside" of Seattle. If I could get a 3br home on land for the prices you're talking... I'd buy 3!

Within 30 miles of Downtown Portland I can find you at least a couple dozen at that price. Seattle is tougher because it's so sprawling, but I've seen listings at that price once you get about an hour away from Seattle proper.