The "Where Should I Live?" Thread

[Blackhawk]

Tread carefully, as Chicago remains on a fast track to bankruptcy. As reported a few months ago in the New York Times:

Illinois would still be a step up from Indiana. And with a trans family member, it's a step that matters.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Tread carefully, as Chicago remains on a fast track to bankruptcy. As reported a few months ago in the New York Times:

Illinois would still be a step up from Indiana. And with a trans family member, it's a step that matters.

I appreciate your perspective, but as a low-income individual/family largely dependent on government assistance, the prospect of relocating to a city and state teetering on the edge of fiscal ruin seems about as prudent as diving into a pool of box jellyfish.

[Blackhawk]

FWIW, I wouldn't be anywhere near Chicago, and I receive near zero state benefits. My benefits are at equal risk anywhere in the country.

And the big selling point remains: I'm in a state that has become openly hostile toward my family members, and in an environment where that hostility is likely to expand from government to citizens.

[Isgrimnur]

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/se ... /illinois/

[EvilHomer3k]

I'm looking for a spot in a blue state that's got a good track record on civil rights, a diverse population, good medical responses and support systems, low crime, low humidity, cold winters and cool summers, legalized marijuana, and a two-bedroom home in a safe neighborhood for $400 per month.

Seattle has this; i just assume you left a '0' off at the end of that monthly rental price

That 0 keeps a lot of people out of blue states. Especially the western ones.

[paulbaxter]

What ate people's opinions about North Carolina?
We are visiting there this coming Thursday to look at areas to potentially move.
Any areas to avoid?
Any areas that are nice?
Assume a total income of around 50k. I'm on SSDI. My wife may retire early and get a part time job as she has some medical issues. I've actually thought about trying to get her SSDI, but she's currently out of work and has no insurance so we can't get evaluated by a doctor.

I've been living in NC since '96 after growing up in the Detroit suburbs.

I love it here. Weather is pretty decent. Traffic isn't too bad. If you're anywhere near the major cities there's excellent healthcare facilities.

Probably the big downside is that it's been a destination state to move to for quite a long time now, so real estate prices have continued to go up and up. Possibly less so than some of the most expensive parts of the US, but still quite significantly. The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area is the area I know the best, but it's gotten pretty expensive across the board, including a lot of the more rural areas within a 30 minute drive in most directions.

At least pre-flood, Asheville had become absurdly expensive. It's hemmed in by mountains, so there wasn't really much room to expand outwards.

But if you can find a place you can afford to live, I say it's a pretty nice place.

[Jeff V]

What ate people's opinions about North Carolina?

Nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there, for reasons Kraken mentioned.

A serious consideration before moving to any red state is your anticipated reliance on government programs. Blue states will likely make up for federal deficiencies, while red states are more likely to say "fuck you all! Go work in the coal mine old man!"

[Apollo]

I grew up around Atlanta. If I were moving back there, I'd look for a place in the North Decatur or Druid Hills areas. Really, anywhere around Emory University is nice (if expensive now). Of course I still have friends there, so it wouldn't be a lonely move.

Atlanta is a booming land of Opportunity for sure, but the traffic in and around the city is absolutely Nightmarish. I still have PTSD from the last time I drove there four years ago.

[Punisher]

What ate people's opinions about North Carolina?

Nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there, for reasons Kraken mentioned.

A serious consideration before moving to any red state is your anticipated reliance on government programs. Blue states will likely make up for federal deficiencies, while red states are more likely to say "fuck you all! Go work in the coal mine old man!"

I thought NC just elected a democratic governor though?

[Apollo]

My left leaning son has been surprised at how decent it has been living in Montgomery AL

Unless there are specific laws or whatnot that you are concerned about, living in Red states in the Deep South, especially in cities or suburbs of big cities, has been easy for me, though I am admittedly closer to the center than most of you guys. Jobs are plentiful, cost of living is low, housing is much more affordable than other areas of the country, marijuana use is tolerated as long as you don't smoke in front of an (on-duty) cop and there's plenty to do outdoors. You can even speak your mind, saying things like "Christianity is Bunk" or "Trump is the Antichrist!" and while conservatives won't like it, they won't unfriend you either. Say the wrong thing in a group of liberal friends and you are likely to be ostracized Forever. Finally, people are very friendly and helpful and will actually appreciate that you moved there from a Blue State. We've been getting tons of Blue State people down here for at least the last 30 years, especially from the Northeast and Midwest, so you're very likely to find folks from your old state if that matters to you.

On the other hand, if you don't like summertime heat and year round humidity, don't even think about it! Mass transit is usually limited to buses which makes larger cities, like Atlanta, almost impassable and electric car infrastructure is very rare away from cities and suburbs.

[Holman]

Mass transit is usually limited to buses which makes larger cities, like Atlanta, almost impassable and electric car infrastructure is very rare away from cities and suburbs.

This is an issue for me. If I move to downtown Philly or even to Ann Arbor, I'm going to do it without a car. I've already ascertained that I can do all of my errands on a bus or a bike, and maybe with a taxi or an Uber/Lyft once a month or so.

In Philly I can buy a transpass (unlimited bus and trolley trips) for $96 a month, while we've been spending five or six thousand dollars every year to insure, gas, maintain, and park a car that we paid off in full the day we bought it. Bus routes will get me everywhere I want to go, even out to visit my kids and my dog after the divorce.

[Madmarcus]

My left leaning son has been surprised at how decent it has been living in Montgomery AL

Unless there are specific laws or whatnot that you are concerned about, living in Red states in the Deep South, especially in cities or suburbs of big cities, has been easy for me

I agree. As a cis white male I can live happily in Red states and did for many years. I'm good at being bland and centrist about my public politics. Prior to Trump it wasn't even difficult but right now I'm very happy to be in a solidly Blue area. On the other hand PA as a whole went back to Red so perhaps I'm simply back to my old ways of living in a Red state. My son, LGBTQ+ but ace so it isn't in anyone's face, more or less agrees with everything you wrote. So when he found both queer friends and game playing friends he was perfectly content.

I moved out of the south because I wanted public transit (closer to car free) and less summer. Part of me still thinks I should have moved to upstate NY or Kraken's area but family was important so metro Philly was important (or NJ but I wasn't that crazy).

[Punisher]

Just found out that these are the areas we are going to explore.

Benson
Smithfield
Zebulon

[Holman]

Just found out that these are the areas we are going to explore.

Benson
Smithfield
Zebulon

Those all put you close to Raleigh, which is a good thing. Good luck in your search!

[Alefroth]

Zebulon is a real place on planet Earth?

[Blackhawk]

Are the Zubulonians even friendly to immigrants from Earth?

[Holman]

Zebulon is a real place on planet Earth?

It's an Old Testament name used (in this case) for a town.

17th/18th century Puritans (and by extension American Protestants) liked OT names. They wanted to reach back to the Bible, but Catholics already had a lock on all of the Western-sounding New Testament names, which were "normal" because they had become saints' names (Matthew, Luke, John, Thomas, etc).

I have an ancestor from the 1800s named "Absalom Alabama Roberts."

[Alefroth]

Zebulon is a real place on planet Earth?

It's a Hebrew Old Testament name used (in this case) for a town.

They were totally contacted by aliens-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_the_Gods%3F

[Unagi]

Are the Zebulonians even friendly to immigrants from Earth?

It's just Zebulons