"Insane" is a relative term for California housing prices. Depending on what that means to you, San Diego (particularly North County) has some neighborhoods with excellent public schools and very nice houses in the $700k-$900k range just a couple of miles inland from the coast.
A city in the midwest US would provide your best long term balance of noted factors. Low cost of living, high quality of life, with none of the economic distortion that occurs on both booming coasts. You get four seasons with a nice balance that allows for comfortable summers with long days plus real winters that provide natural beauty and life-balance.
With global warming, the midwest US cities near the Great Lakes (Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis) are poised for growth. Some of the smaller cities in this region are still recovering from the rust belt days, but they will boom in decades to come. While the southwest and southeast choke in drought and massive heatwaves, also struggling with the weight of their own economic excesses, the midwest will see an influx driven by less-heated economies, readily available fresh water, reasonably-priced labor, moderate weather and moderate, livable scale of its cities.
This shift is coming.
What Are Your Hobbies? wrote:
Bend, Oregon (worth it)
Bozeman, Montana (getting popular)
Madison, Wisconsin (underrated)
Sarasota, Florida (nice city, beaches)
Sedona, AZ
Santa Fe, NM
Sedona, AZ............surely ur not serious. Ummm, ever heard of Preskitt.
theclaws wrote:
I like playing the where will I move exercise, too. Have you picked a "winner"?
I've not been to most of the towns mentioned in the thread, so it's hard to really know. I would pick Bozeman just based on what I can gather online. Bend also looks pretty awesome. I'm not sure any of the towns mentioned are enough cheaper that I wouldn't just go with Boulder.
Charlottesville, VA or the surrounding area might meet your needs/wants.
cyhawk wrote:
theclaws wrote:
I like playing the where will I move exercise, too. Have you picked a "winner"?
I've not been to most of the towns mentioned in the thread, so it's hard to really know. I would pick Bozeman just based on what I can gather online. Bend also looks pretty awesome. I'm not sure any of the towns mentioned are enough cheaper that I wouldn't just go with Boulder.
Bozeman?..as in Montana? I've heard there's something like a 5 to 1 ratio of men to women. It's paradise for single women but ridiculous if you're a guy.
I too play this game.
Colorado. Tennessee. Tallahassee. Fayetteville, Arkansas. Boise.
College towns or small cities. Tough to get great year round weather and good schools.
Who else has thoughts?
Chattanoogo, TN. Pay for private schools with what you save on housing.