make a case for why someone would enjoy your area

[rh71]

Say someone is looking to move to another place because they don't want to spend their whole life in one area. Why should they move to where you are? Why do you like it there? Why do you not?

EDIT>>> don't forget to state your area.

 

[xanis]

I wouldn't recommend my area. As much as I like Philly, it's just not awesome enough to warrant moving here. Lots of crime, some high taxes, traffic and shitty drivers, plus some more. Not to mention that my entire family has lived in the same Philly 'burbs for their entire lives. I'm trying to move to another state after graduation.

 

[sjwaste]

We have a viable job market and plenty to see and do. Other than that, traffic sucks, people are rude, and the entire area is overcrowded. Taxes are low (in Northern VA).

Honestly, unless you need work, I wouldn't recommend the greater DC area to anyone with a family. It's a lot of fun if you're patient, live near the metro, have a reverse commute, and are single or a young couple. Housing is (very) expensive, and unless you're coming from Manhattan or SF, there will be sticker shock to live in a desirable area.

So the case "for" -
1. One of the few places in the US where you can buy a house and still have it appreciate. (See: Arlington, VA)
2. Our unemployment rate is about half the national average, and then half that for public sector employees.
3. Base tax rates on property and sales are low in VA. MD is another story, but I try never to go there.
4. You will literally never run out of things to see and do.

"against" -
1. Traffic. You probably have never experienced anything like a DC rush hour. Live near the metro, or along a reverse commute to make it liveable.
2. People. There are tons of them, and "self-importance" is the number one trait in way too many. It's the DC area culture.
3. Cost of living. Astronomical. If you drive a recent or expensive car, personal property taxes will cancel the tax benefits of otherwise living here.

 

[Scouzer]

Uh... salaries are above average. That's about the only redeeming factor.

 

[Mojoed]

1) Cost of living is incredibly low (3-5 acres and 2000+ Sq. ft. with a view can be had for ~$65000)
2) Crime is practically non-existant
3) People are so nice, that you think they may be up to something, but they're not.
4) Incredible mountain views, but only 10-12 minutes from town.
5) Nice wildlife, deer all over the place.
6) Tons of creeks/streams. Most people have at least one running through their property.

Cons:
1) In order to get a decent job, you must commute 20-60 minutes each way.

 

[JohnCU]

two words: the beach.

 

[rh71]

We have a viable job market and plenty to see and do. Other than that, traffic sucks, people are rude, and the entire area is overcrowded. Taxes are low (in Northern VA).

NoVA is not a good place for a growing family? I was looking at places like Reston (or really anywhere in Fairfax county) considering there are supposed to be a lot of IT jobs there. I also am partial to DC (sports) so was hoping to find a good suburban place nearby without having to deal with high taxes associated with living just outside a big city. Beaches within driving distance? Any other good towns around there?

 

[BoomerD]

I can't find a single redeeming factor about this area to entice some fool to move here.

hmmm...we're about 2 hours from the ocean, 2 hours from the snow, 2 hours from San Francisco, 4 hours from Tahoe, 5 hours from Los Angeles. While all of those are indeed good things, it's FUCKING HOT in the summer, rainy and foggy in the winter, we are back to being the car-theft capital of the nation again, medium crime rate, lots of gangs, drugs, we're getting over-run by Mexicans, (legal and illegal) we have a very high unemployment rate, and a low average wage rate, (getting pushed lower by high unemployment and 63 bazillion illegals who want yer jerb.) and to add insult to injury, we're ground-zero for the housing meltdown.

Nope, there's really not much to entice someone to move here.

 

[FoBoT]

you get all four seasons, but none last too long
cost of living is reasonable

kansas city missouri

 

[Schadenfroh]

Knoxville Metropolitan Area

Well, my city has a large university in it with tons of smoking hot ladies, who never come to the research facility. Living expenses are not bad for a city this nice. Loads of high paying jobs at the OR National Lab near here. Many stores, good places to eat and overall very clean with very friendly people. We have a sizable river for you to enjoy water sports, but I would not let the water touch me. We are not far from the Smokey Mountains National Park if you are into hiking or going off into the woods away from people to do who knows what. One can go into Fort Sanders at 3:00AM if one wants some action. Firearms and ammunition are readily available at the frequent gun shows, thanks to very liberal firearm laws. Oh, and there is also a nuclear weapons factory nearby, how cool is that?

It is freaking cold here, but I am from the Gulf Coast, so my body is used to 105 degree heat with 100% humidity.

 

[olds]

Sacramento, California. It's not New Zealand.

 

[rudeguy]

I live in Grand Rapids Michigan. Yes, its Michigan so there aren't a ton of jobs but the people in this city are great. Its like a big, small town.

The people are great, its big enough that there is plenty to do, but small enough that we don't have a lot of big city problems.

 

[xanis]

1) Cost of living is incredibly low (3-5 acres and 2000+ Sq. ft. with a view can be had for ~$65000)
2) Crime is practically non-existant
3) People are so nice, that you think they may be up to something, but they're not.
4) Incredible mountain views, but only 10-12 minutes from town.
5) Nice wildlife, deer all over the place.
6) Tons of creeks/streams. Most people have at least one running through their property.

Cons:
1) In order to get a decent job, you must commute 20-60 minutes each way.

So, uh, where exactly is this?

 

[sjwaste]

NoVA is not a good place for a growing family? I was looking at places like Reston (or really anywhere in Fairfax county) considering there are supposed to be a lot of IT jobs there. I also am partial to DC (sports) so was hoping to find a good suburban place nearby without having to deal with high taxes associated with living just outside a big city. Beaches within driving distance? Any other good towns around there?

I wouldn't say so, but I was more talking about DC itself, Arlington, Alexandria, and PG/Montgomery Co -- the "close in" counties.

If you move farther out, like Reston, you will get more space for less money. The schools are good. The commute will be horrible to most places from Reston, though. Most of Fairfax Co is going to be on the 66, 267 toll road, or 395 corridor, commuting "in" to the city.

For what it's worth, I'm getting married in a few weeks, and we've decided we don't want to raise our kids here, but we live in Arlington.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but if you can afford McLean or some place way north in Arlington, it's not a bad family setup. I live on the metro (house) in North Arlington and it's just too busy, no one lets their kids play outside. Our base property tax rate is under 1% (about .86% this year) which is nice, considering that 500k+ is what you'd need for a decent size house and lot in N. Arlington. Public schools are great.

If you're raising kids, I would strongly suggest the following:

North Arlington (in the Yorktown or Washington-Lee HS districts)
McLean (anywhere)
Falls Church City (Zip Code 22046, not to be confused with Falls Church in Fairfax Co, for its access to the McLean school district)
Vienna (good balance of distance and metro access)

If you need more space to live a little bit cheaper, Alexandria is a decent place. I'd suggest outside of Alexandria City proper, on the Fairfax County side for slightly better schools.

EDIT: You asked about beaches. Not really. Ocean City, MD and Dewey/Lewes, DE are the more common destinations from here. Maybe 2 hrs. VA Beach is about 3 hrs away and isn't all that great, but maybe a little more family-oriented.

What type of IT do you do?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I live in Grand Rapids Michigan. Yes, its Michigan so there aren't a ton of jobs but the people in this city are great. Its like a big, small town.

The people are great, its big enough that there is plenty to do, but small enough that we don't have a lot of big city problems.

I've been to Grand Rapids...it's a shit hole with almost no redeeming qualities. I'd have to be making big big money to live there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

San Diego, CA

'nuff said.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Pros: Uh....its a decent sized place but not too big so it doesn't take long to get anywhere (in town, but if you want to go anywhere worth going you're looking at 2 hour drive minimum). People for the most part are pretty nice and get along. In the summer it really dies down with 1/3 of the town gone while college is in summer session (if you consider that a good thing, can be nice but also sucks). KSU is a decent college. It's not Junction City.

Cons: cost of living is high especially for the wages, tons of bad drivers (I think more per capita than anywhere else I've been), its a progressive town full of conservatives. If you don't like KSU, you're not going to like here. Likewise, if you're not a Bill Snyder fan, you probably shouldn't tell people. If you like going out, you've basically got Aggieville full of college kids and military, which hate each other, or you can go to one of the satellite bars which are probably full of rednecks and assholes who hate both college kids and military.

 

[rh71]

What type of IT do you do?

Well I telecommute as it is and can be anywhere so I was asking more for my wife who would have to find a new job doing sys admin stuff. Are the salaries pretty decent?

Thanks for the leads as far as towns go. Just what I was looking for.

 

[rh71]

San Diego, CA

'nuff said.

My bro is in SD and I talked to him about it - he's pretty satisfied there... he says taxes are based on your home cost (or was it value?). The couple unknowns to him - how do the public schools rate? How's the IT job market?

What's your view on the illegals there? Are they overrunning the place?

 

[JulesMaximus]

My bro is in SD and I talked to him about it - he's pretty satisfied there... he says taxes are based on your home cost (or was it value?). The one unknown to him - how do the public schools rate?

Some are excellent, some are okay, and some are crap. Depends on the school district really.

 

[sandorski]

It's awesome! Everywhere else sucks!!

 

[Shawn]

they wouldn't

 

[Jeff7]

Erie, PA.
Well........we have .....this thing, and some decaying buildings, and ridiculous amounts of snow.

Oh, and there's a nice little Penn State University campus here, with a new engineering building.

 

[rh71]

It's awesome! Everywhere else sucks!!

Vancouver was one of the best places we've ever visited. Just not a fan of the weather.

 

[sandorski]

Vancouver was one of the best places we've ever visited. Just not a fan of the weather.

Ya, the Weather is rather sucky. Especially this time of year.