Author Topic: Best LCOL Places to Live  (Read 4861 times)

doggyfizzle

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Best LCOL Places to Live
« on: September 30, 2016, 05:46:48 PM »
I didn't see a thread on this, so I thought I'd start one.  What are your favorite LCOL places to live that offer decent recreation opportunities without insane housing costs.  I'm currently living in HCOL coastal California, but now that we've got a 7 month old, my wife and I have started to re-evaluate where we are living so that we may spend more time with him.

My first thought is Tucson; tons of hiking, biking etc, and close to family.  The downside is the month of June, but with the lower housing costs vs where we are now we could easily afford to rent a house at the beach for that month until the monsoons start in July.

For anyone who has moved from California specifically, anything you really miss?

jeromedawg

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2016, 05:56:51 PM »
I didn't see a thread on this, so I thought I'd start one.  What are your favorite LCOL places to live that offer decent recreation opportunities without insane housing costs.  I'm currently living in HCOL coastal California, but now that we've got a 7 month old, my wife and I have started to re-evaluate where we are living so that we may spend more time with him.

My first thought is Tucson; tons of hiking, biking etc, and close to family.  The downside is the month of June, but with the lower housing costs vs where we are now we could easily afford to rent a house at the beach for that month until the monsoons start in July.

For anyone who has moved from California specifically, anything you really miss?

I often have the same thoughts, living in SoCal, and after speaking with several people who live/have lived in other parts of the country, they seem to all talk about how nice the weather is. Guess that can be a little hard to beat :) My cousin lived in Phoenix for years after having grown up in Houston. She made the move to San Jose after her work moved her out there - she was shellshocked by how expensive the cost of living is. I'm not sure what her intentions are but I'm thinking she may not necessarily want to stay out this way haha. I think I'd miss the variety of restaurants out here (Korean food, Japanese food, Chinese food, Indian food, etc) - I think it would be pretty difficult finding so many options in LCOL. Not saying I eat out all the time (because how Mustachian would that be? haha) but it's nice to have the options... I think that's one thing that has spoiled me. Others would probably the weather and proximity to the ocean and mountains.

newelljack

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2016, 06:40:40 PM »
My brother moved from CA to Houston, TX area and thinks everyone should move there. It's in a down market right now with all of the energy sector jobs disappearing, plus there's no state income tax. Personally, I couldn't handle the humidity. Not sure about recreation, it's pretty flat.

I am in the CA central valley, two hours from just about anything you could want: Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa Valley, Bakersfield...but COL is high compared to the midwest/south, just WAY lower than Bay Area. No plans to leave.

WyomingGuy

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2016, 07:06:35 PM »
Many options in Wyoming, which has no state income tax and routinely rates high on "Best Places to Live/Retire" rankings.

Laramie is particularly nice. College town. Historic. Outdoor activities galore year round: hiking, climbing, skiing, you name it.

Cody and Sheridan are also nice.

And if you have money to spend, try Jackson Hole.

jeromedawg

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2016, 07:26:23 PM »
My brother moved from CA to Houston, TX area and thinks everyone should move there. It's in a down market right now with all of the energy sector jobs disappearing, plus there's no state income tax. Personally, I couldn't handle the humidity. Not sure about recreation, it's pretty flat.

I am in the CA central valley, two hours from just about anything you could want: Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa Valley, Bakersfield...but COL is high compared to the midwest/south, just WAY lower than Bay Area. No plans to leave.

I don't think I could do Houston... not unless I'm OK with being indoors 99% of the time. I visited my aunt/uncle out there a few years ago and it was nasty - and that wasn't even a "bad" day, relatively speaking. Central CA is a great place to live, for sure.

icemodeled

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2016, 09:35:06 PM »
We live in southwest Florida and love it! Lots of outdoor activities, perfect winters and affordable. We are 20 minutes from the beaches. I know everyone says it's hot but to us it's not.. Phoenix to us is hot, intolerable for us. If your not use to or unable to tolerate humidity then that could be an issue. Have lived in Ohio also and the cost of living was very low, there are good amenties around the larger cities. There are numerous state parks and outdoor options(hocking hills being one). There is of course pretty cold winters to deal with. Tennessee comes to mind also for outdoors options and LCOL. It's a place we have considered moving to at some point in life.

sisto

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2016, 09:45:04 PM »
Following because if I found the right place I'd leave CA too. I just haven't found it, I've checked out many places trying to. Where I live is pretty nice with decent weather and no real natural disasters.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Best LCOL Places to Live
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2016, 05:11:11 AM »
A couple hours inland of the East Coast you can get a relatively low COL (compared to California), four fairly mild seasons, and access to all the diversity and recreation of the fancy coastal cities. The Allentown area where I am is pretty good on those fronts; I've also heard good things about inland Virginia (Roanoke, Richmond) and the Carolinas.

If Texas appeals but you don't want humid or flat, look at San Antonio or Fredericksburg. There is no place in Texas that I know of that isn't unpleasantly hot in the summer except windy days in Galveston. I would pick Corpus Christi if I were moving to Texas, but I don't mind flat.

There are ample authentic ethnic restaurants in every city over 100k I have ever been to. Lack of authentic (whatever) food is a bonkers reason not to move to Texas. They might be a little hard to find, but I know a street in Dallas where suddenly all the businesses only have signs in Korean.

 

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