DW and I are considering relocating from HCOL PNW to the east coast, post-FIRE. New England appeals for the natural beauty and access to airports for intl travel. We particularly liked the vibe of Burlington, VT and Portland, ME but housing costs may be prohibitive for our budget. We also considered Ft. Wayne, IN in the Midwest, but hot summers are unappealing for us.
Here are our criteria. Your suggestions and feedback much appreciated!
1. Housing costs (single family, detached house - NOT condo) between $200-400k max
2. Walkability (if we could walk from the front door to the grocery store, local parks/trails, and at least a few restaurants, this would be ideal)
3. Access to organic grocers (e.g. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sprouts) and restaurants serving plant-based fare
4. Low crime and unemployment
5. Access to airport (1-2 hours max drive or train would be preferable)
6. State taxes
Edited to add: we are partial to New England (as opposed to the SE), particularly VT, NH, ME, MA, NY and NJ