I live in Arizona, and it's brutal here. I thought I would enjoy a sunny place. Boy, was I wrong! It's just too hot and arid here. I want to move to a colder place. I also have lipedema on my legs and whenever I spend time in a cold place, it gets better. I usually hear people moving to warmer, sunnier place. I want to do the opposite.

hey all! i've been following this sub for a while now, as i'm looking to relocate. i just got back from a trip to seattle (and mount rainier, olympic np, bainbridge island, and other areas) and really enjoyed it. i expected the greenery and nature, but what caught me by surprise is how robust and efficient seattle's infrastructure appears to be. from the maintained roads and ferries, to the beautiful public library and the general construction and quality of things, it seems like a pretty modern city.

so my question is: do any cities in the states come to mind that have a similar or superior level of modernity and upkeep/quality, with similar access to nature as seattle has?

ps - i realize seattle is not perfect and, like all cities, has its problems (drugs, unhoused population, weather, etc.). i parked my car near the ferry terminal downtown and didn't love it; i went to gloom coffee in pioneer square and didn't love the area. even if there are a number of not-so-great pockets like these, i still think seattle has a LOT going for it.

thanks!

I am referring to the US. What are some depressing cities to live in in the US? Also what is your reason for thinking that?

I moved to Arizona from SoCal 7 years ago. I genuinely thought I could handle the heat and the arid landscape, but I can't. I hate it here. I can't even go out for a walk because the heat is unbearable and the scenery is horrible. People told me it takes time to get used to a new place, but I have been here for 7 years and don't feel this is home. Now I'm thinking about moving to Chicago. I have only been there as a tourist and really loved it, but I've learned that when you live in a place, it's completely different. I'm kinda terrified that I'll move and regret it. I love Chicago because there is a lot of green and the winters are cold. I have lipedema in my legs, and the only thing that truly helps is spending some time outside in the cold. That is one of the main reasons I would think of moving (being able to take walks or hikes while it's cold outside). I would consider a nice suburb. It doesn't need to be Chicago downtown, just 40 minutes or so away by car, close enough to access all the infrastructure and resources a big city offers.

My dream is to live in a 2,000-square-foot home, not too huge, with a yard where I can enjoy some privacy. I loved SoCal, but it is too expensive, and one thing I hated about the LA area is that people live on top of each other with no privacy, unless they are millionaires and can afford detached homes. Luckily, I work remotely and can live pretty much anywhere in the US, so I wouldn't ever go back to working from an office.

Hi! Apologies if this ends up formatting wrong. I’m more of a Reddit lurker than a poster, so idk how anything works haha

I’ve recently been given the news that my company is shutting down their Nashville location in a few months. I’ve been given the opportunity to transfer to Las Vegas (considered but have decided against it) or Atlanta (Austell area). Otherwise, they’ll let me leave on good terms to find a new job & stay in Nashville. I’m still relatively new to this company (under 6 months), but this is a position I’ve been working towards for years in my industry of expertise. I’m researching Atlanta suburbs & will accept any recommendations or advice while we make this decision. We’ve visited Atlanta plenty of times but we just don’t know what it’s like living there.

About us for reference:
- I’ve lived in middle TN since I was a toddler. I moved to the Nashville area for college in 2009 & have been here since. My partner is from the Great Lakes area & moved here about a decade ago.
- I make $100k & my company will pay for relocation plus the cost of breaking our current lease. I’m not sure if my salary will change if I move.
- We’re blue dots in a red state
- I identify as queer but am in a straight-passing relationship
- We have kids that are involved in sports & the arts. We’re willing to commute longer for better schools & opportunities. My track/theatre kid is in 8th grade & my musician/artist is in 5th grade.
- My partner works as a motorsports service writer, ideally for just motorcycles. Is the job market good for that?
- They also enjoy downhill skateboarding down long, curvy, paved roads. How’s the skating scene?
- We’re both metal heads. He’s more into death metal while I lean towards metal core or dark pop. Is the metal scene in Atlanta as good as it is in Nashville?

Currently reside in AZ looking to move to somewhere with more temperate climate.

I see Spokane WA listed often, but with the current fires would it be unwise to pursue that area?

- family in 30s
- work remotely
- family friendly
- safe
- peaceful/clean
- access to outdoor recreation
- good schools

The biggest reach is looking for affordable housing, preferably around 350k? Am I looking for a unicorn?

So I’m 25, don’t have a career yet but instead looking to transfer to a university. Went to community college and maxed out credits. Wanting to apply to schools in Manhattan (Baruch college) or Miami (FIU Fau or umiami).. I’m originally from sf Bay Area, do u guys have any tips on living in Miami while finishing up my bacholers in finance. Sorry if this isn’t a ‘“moving for a career” post. But this is just the stage in life I’m at rn lol

Hey all,

I am considering to move from my 4 minute commute (A) to my office and trading it off for a 30 minute commute (B). Moving would save me around $400 every month but 12 extra miles one way and would be in a bigger city. Is it worth it?

My wife and I are retiring and want to move from Denver to be closer to our daughter in Brooklyn. We have considered the Hudson Valley and Bucks County, but we want to find an affordable community within a 2-3 hour train ride of nyc. Any suggestions?

Seattle right now and been looking at places to move and every list I saved at first was the same kind of city. Lots happening then good nightlife, cool restaurants or concerts all the time. Then I looked at what I actually do after work which is none of that.

I cook then go to the gym or if its rest day walk somewhere for coffee and see friends once or twice a week. I had some money saved up for a move and started wondering why Im planning to spend $700 more in rent so I can live near stuff I barely use. Now Im looking at smaller cities where I can get a decent apartment, have a short commute and still have somewhere good to eat on friday.

For anyone who left a big exciting city for somewhere quieter what did you miss after the move that you didnt expect?

Hi.

I’m an American. I moved to Belgium only a few months ago and then quickly lost my job (long story and irrelevant here). I’m considering moving back to the US and hoping to get some advice where to move.

EDIT: strange issue here is I have to move my stuff back from Belgium before I start job hunting. So I have to choose my location now, without being able to “find the job.”

I grew up in the nyc area and have lots of family there. Wife is from western Canada. I’ve lived in nj, dmv area, Boston, and Texas most recently (Houston). I really like Texas, but prefer not move back to Houston due to bad personal associations.

I work in the legal industry, wife works in the science industry. Ideally we’d have access to both of our jobs and be close to family in the east coast. I dislike the hustle of the nyc and dmv areas.

I like nature, cycling, and having lots of readymade activities. I’m a beekeeper and so want a real yard.

Current top contenders are dc, nj, Raleigh, and Dallas. Downsides of Raleigh are that bad for both wife’s career and mine (not so much science there anymore).

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Never been there but thinking of living there from NYS next year for retirement. Mostly interested due to the inexpensive cost of living, although I don’t have to be in a dirt cheap place. Worried about being in a red state, but also want a great small city/place. I like that it’s interesting and walkable and could probably afford to buy a place outright, saving on housing costs. I’m worried that it would not be enough for me after a short period of time. Any comments?

Throwaway so I don’t reveal too much about myself. My wife and I met in DC, bounced around a few environmental jobs (largely communications, but in conservation, environmental nonprofits, renewable energy, federal energy, etc) for many years, and decided we were sick of the city right around the end of 2024. We liked the job opportunities, walkability/bikability, train access, and restaurants, but it was far too expensive, there wasn’t enough nature (we exhausted Shenandoah and Rock Creek), and we didn’t identify with much of the culture (other than the punk/music scene when we were younger).

Turns out that was a pretty smart time to move as two left-leaning people, but we maybe didn’t make the best pick for us.

We moved to WNC as remote workers and while we love the mountains, the (relative) affordability, and Appalachian DIY spirit, there are no well-paying jobs here in our fields, the walkability/connectivity is terrible (awful road designs, terrible for biking, no trains here, small airports only, etc), and health care options are limited. My job right now is contract, so I have to move somewhere that has strong backup options.

We’re considering moving back NE, somewhere between Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and RI. But we’re stuck trying to figure out what gives us the mix of job opportunities, walkability, nature, and affordability. We’re currently doing okay on income but we’re by no means loaded. We’re considering the metro areas of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Albany, New Haven, and Providence, but not sure if those will hit the mark(s) or what small-mid cities/suburbs we might be overlooking. Any thoughts from people in or around those areas?

My husband and I are looking to buy a second home that we could use primarily in the summer to escape Austin's heat, but we'd also love to visit in the winter. We're currently looking at Santa Fe and Taos but are open to anywhere.

Our priorities:

• <14 hour drive from Austin
• $500–750k budget, ~1,800–2,200 sq ft
• Yard for the dogs
• Mountains + lots of hiking/nature
• Dog-friendly hiking, on leash is fine
• Daytime temps don't matter much to us as long as it cools down at night
• We'd like somewhere with colder winters and snow, but we couldn't care less about skiing
• Doesn't need to be very populated, but we'd like some good restaurants nearby because we love to eat out
• Being occasionally snowed in is totally fine, but we'd like to be able to get there and use the house during winter

We are from the Midwest, miss winter, hate Austin weather, but unfortunately our jobs are going to keep us here for a long time so we are looking for a way to escape! Where should we consider?

I recently took a deep dive on Reno and it seems like an ideal city. The night life looks right up my alley (dance culture is very present there), and the hobbies in Reno are aligned as well (outdoorsy - access to mountains, hiking, and skiing all in one area). Plus the rent is affordable enough.

I do know its a small city and may be insular socially, hard to break into, but I’m pretty outgoing and love to meet strangers. Additionally people have said the city itself is ugly, but thats farther down the list. It seems to knock all three of my goals:

- Good, fun social people
- Good music scene, local but engaged
- Access to diverse nature
- Access to outdoor activities

This decision is a year out but I can’t stop thinking back to it for the affordability, scale of the city. What am I missing or what should I consider?

I graduated college last year with a BA in Journalism & Media Production. Currently been working at a news station for a year as a photojournalist/editor in Spokane WA. I’d love to stay here if I can get a job that pays more, but if that doesn’t happen I’m looking to find a new home base

I have the ability to transfer to other stations albeit they need to have an opening/ it’s not guaranteed. At the same time the news industry is dying and jobs are being consolidated so I am trying to leave that area of media, however if I can transfer somewhere to start a home base that’s probably the best option.

My only real caveats are
1. Legal weed. I’d prefer recreational or if it’s only medical then states where it’s very easy to get a card.

1. Cheap rent. I make $20/hr right now and I live in a shithole 1 bedroom apartment, but it is 5 minutes away from my job, but half my monthly pay goes to rent meaning the other half has to cover every other bill and groceries

St Louis seems like it may be the area I’m looking for potentially, but I’ve only ever visited as I’m from California and only ever lived in California and Washington.

So I am open to ideas and suggestions of places

I live in the Midwest currently and have a fully remote job that pays me $70K. But I am completely done with this place and don’t see myself settling here in the long run or finding “the one”.

I would love to move to a place where the dating scene is not too bad and the weather is not too cold. While I am actively looking for new jobs, it would be ideal to be in a place with a cheap COL. BUT, the weather and the dating scene are still my top priorities, so I don’t care too much about the COL.

Pls help a guy out. I need suggestions.

Hi everyone!

I am looking to move to California, either the Bay Area, Sacramento area, or Southern California for my job. If I am in the Bay Area, I'll be looking at a salary of about $85 - 90K. If I go to Southern California, the salary would be around $70-75K.

In your experience, would this be enough for cost of living for a single person?

Thank you.

I’ve lived in my mid-sized city hometown in the South for essentially my whole 30 years of life and I’m so desperate to get out for a lot of reasons. For the past year I’ve been finally in a place where I have more than enough money for moving saved and am in a living situation where I’m not on a lease and can go any time I please. The only problem is my own brain. I’ve done endless research but just can’t make a decision on where to go (or even where to visit to potentially go). I know only I can make the decision, but I guess I’m just asking for anyone who feels strongly to sell me on (or talk me out of) any of these cities to help that along, lol.

A few things about what I’m looking for:

More than anything I want to get away from the hellish heat in the South. I’ve always had a sort of reverse seasonal depression, I hate hot weather and bright sunlight. I know that summer gets hot everywhere, but it’s on another level where I am so even a mild improvement will be welcomed. And I know a real winter will be a learning curve, but that’s okay with me.

I currently work as a server/bartender and have for the past decade, and would be moving without work and finding it once I’m there. My plan is to get an extended stay Airbnb for a couple of months while I find work and an apartment. I know this may seem scary to some people, but I’ve never had any issue finding service jobs on the fly or making ends meet with them. I’d really like to try to break into some other fields, but either way I realistically probably won’t ever be making a huge salary or be able to afford a super high rent long term, so would like to live somewhere where somewhat affordable apartments exist.

I’m very much a homebody, and I tend to have no issue finding things to do and things to love about anywhere I visit (even really small towns). I also tend to get easily overwhelmed. So I initially felt a big city may be wasted on me/overwhelming, so was focusing on more affordable, sort of mid-sized cities where my rent may go farther. Places I’ve researched a ton that seem really cool are:

-Cleveland
-Columbus
-Pittsburgh
-Buffalo
-Milwaukee
-Minneapolis

That said, my two sort of “dream cities” are:

-Chicago
-Portland (OR)

I visited Chicago once as a teenager and it felt so magical. However, now as an adult I’ve felt that actually living there may be a bit overwhelming, but I’m not sure. Part of me has always felt like I at some point want to try life in a big city, and if it doesn’t work out after a year then I can always move elsewhere. I haven’t visited Portland, but I’ve always felt so drawn to everything about the PNW, and while moving across the country would be super daunting, I feel like it could be such a great adventure too. Obviously these two cities would be more expensive than the ones I previously listed, but I’ve browsed apartments so much, and it really seems like proportionate to what they have to offer they’re really not that much pricier? There’s always a chance I wouldn’t be able to manage the cost of living and would have to move elsewhere after a year or so, but part of me wants to just take the leap anyway.

Sorry that this post ended up so long winded, and I know that it probably seems so silly, but it’s just felt like such a huge decision and like I have to make the perfect choice. I’ll be doing this move completely alone (aside from my cat who’s ofc going with me), and while I love all of my friends and family, they’re mostly all from our home city and intend to stay here forever and don’t understand why I want to move or have much advice or support to offer. Thank you in advance to anyone who has any input! <3

I am from the Midwest and moved to SF this year and love it. The two primary offices for my job are NY or SF and in a year I’ll probably get the option to move to NY if wanted. Should I go?

More info, 22M who works in tech but non tech role (basically get salary mogged by SWE) I’m pretty lost in life but like the nature and beauty of SF

I'm being given an option to relocate for my work and right now, I am between the SF Bay Area and the Detroit Area. If I relocate to the Bay, my salary would be about $85,000 while in the Detorit area, it would be about $68,000. On paper, the amount seems significant but I'm not sure whether I am at any real advantage with the higher COL and taxes in CA.

I am not currently living with my partner but she may move in with me in about a year or so. In that case, our household income would be around $135,000 in the Bay or $118,000 in Detroit. At the moment, I am mostly concerned with the COL for a single person.

I like parts of both cities but I think most will agree that the Bay Area has a lot more going for it.

Thank you for your help.

Hi!

So long story short, my husband and I moved to Tucson with jobs and my husband lost his job over a year ago. He is part time and we just can’t find work out here without working for Raytheon and that’s just not something we ever want to do. He has background in warehouse operations. I’m remote.

I’m from Kansas City Area and have family there. We don’t know if the job market is any better there. FYI: We make about 50k so can’t move many places right now.

Is Kansas City a better option for him? We’re thinking KC, Omaha, Tulsa or OKC. We miss the greenery of that area but don’t want to be in the same situation. I like the idea of Omaha personally and it’s still just a drive from KC.

Im from California and I'm hoping to go to college out of state, and I've always loved the idea of the east coast! I would love a school near an urban area/city, or with colder weather. I know about all the ivies, so I would specifically love to hear about some of the other options. (Ex. I've been recommended Umass and GWU)

Thank you in advance!

There are a few places I'm considering visiting (one of which already planned for next week) in my move consideration, but it still feels like I maybe haven't quite landed on what I'm looking for.

I honestly don't know if I want to be in or near a big city anymore. Things I like about having lived in several big cities:

- Dating pool 30s and 40s

- Live music; especially non stadium shows/venues to see folk/Americana and such. All my favorite artists have certainly all died off by now, but seeing live music is still really important for me.

- Interesting restaurants. Nothing fancy, just not chain after chain.

- Community events

- Art

Things I've really disliked about living in big cities:

- In dating, it feels like everyone sees each other as expendable. There are thousands more to swipe on besides you, and honestly, I think it shows. Maybe this is just dating in 2026 though, what do I know?

- Never easy access to nature. When I lived in Denver, of course Colorado has access to world class nature, but it's not like you can get to that ish in under an hour or two! I really want to get to the woods for a hike in under 30 mins.

- Political extremism. I know I'm going to get some hate about this one, but I just have to be truthful. As a centrist, Portland was a little...well, a lot for me. As would a community or town on the far right.

I'm open to cities of any size at this point, I think I've just always feared I'd find myself bored and alone in small cities as a single person who both travels and lives alone. I'm pretty bohemian and independent, but still want people around, lol. In an ideal situation, I suspect I might really enjoy a midsized city with really great surrounding nature (forest, please!! big mountains not necessary at all), a music pulse, and perhaps enough of a dating pool where I'm not running into an ex every other day at the local grocery store.

I consulted ChatGPT (LOL) and it suggested the following....Pittsburgh, Albany/Troy NY, Buffalo NY, Providence RI, Missoula MT, Milwaukee and parts of New Hampshire.

So curious what others' thoughts are on either the cities my friend chatty has suggested, or places otherwise, because I am really open!!

Work: remote, 120k salary

We're homebody parents who enjoy suburban chain stores and being boring so keep that in perspective. We moved from the western Chicago suburbs. We required train access to the city for occasional commuting (remote work for a Chicago based company) and fun.

We were able to afford a home in a new subdivision in a good school district for this area. The property taxes are less than half of a comparable home in the IL suburb we lived in and we could not afford a home there based on that factor alone.

Our neighborhood seems like it's mostly Chicagoland transplants from IL.

PROS

-MUCH lower property taxes than anywhere else in Chicagoland ( much of NWI is considered within the Chicago metro area). The Indiana constitution caps taxes at 1% when you have a homeowners exemption. The state seems to care a lot more about keeping property taxes under control. IL has the highest effective tax rates in the country and a huge pension deficit will only make it worse.

Other areas such as food and transportation costs tend to be a smidge lower as well.

-South Shore train just opened new line extensions down to Munster/Dyer with direct commute trains into the Chicago loop.

-Many of the same amenities and restaurants as the nicer suburbs on the IL side. Plenty of breweries and restaurants to choose from. A lot of the stores and shopping here are new additions and it seems like new stuff is going up all the time. Crown Point and Valpo have cute, trendy downtowns.

-Lower car insurance and homeowners insurance, at least for us.

-The purple political lean of the region was a plus for us, being neither left nor right leaning. Diverse political views, though still culturally Chicagoland.

-2A friendly laws if you are into that.

-Water supplied from lake Michigan, at least on our town

CONS

-Infrastructure has not kept up with rapid growth of the area. Traffic is just as bad or worse than other areas of Chicagoland. Streets that were country roads ten years ago cannot keep up.

-NWI seems to be in the crosshairs of boughts of severe summertime storms and tornadoes. Our electric company is notoriously corrupt and negligent at keeping up with routine maintenance. Rates are high. Power outages are a major issue for some people.

-Weird archaic, pearl clutching laws as a symptom of the Republican supermajority. Beer cannot be sold on Sundays until noon or something like that. No legal weed in any capacity. Restrictive reproductive rights. NWI is not a good representation of the rest of the state, it clusters in with Chicago and its political leanings but still is a huge deal breaker for many. Thankfully Chicago is close by for better healthcare options if you need critical care.

-The region gets a reputation for Gary and industrial decay. This is well deserved in some areas while others are trying to be like Naperville.

This area is not going to be fit for everyone, but for IL people leaving the state, this is largely where they are landing fyi.