Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#1

Post by codegeek » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:20 PM UTC

Tired of living in the Expensive East Coast and specifically NJ. Everything is so expensive while the infrastructure is so shitty.

My wife and I have been contemplating moving to a different state within US and would love to get your opinions. We have 2 toddlers but really no other huge requirement.

We have looked at Texas, Florida and even Georgia. Warmer weather, not much snow and low taxes. What else ?

Note: We have lived in HongKong when we had no kids and absolutely loved it. But with kids in equation, we want to stay within the US for now.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#2

Post by codegeek » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:23 PM UTC

Cannot edit the text anymore. Just wanted to mention that I have a bootstrapped product that I run and ideally would love to stay closer to startup ecosystem. Of course, California is out of question again due to the excessive cost of living.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#3

Post by sjs382 » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:27 PM UTC

New Orleans is wonderful this time of year. ;)

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#4

Post by ashwn » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:31 PM UTC

I hear Tx is nice...not sure about infrastructure though. We too are looking to make a move, though we're not even in the planning stage yet.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#5

Post by colund » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:34 PM UTC

sjs382 wrote: post #3

New Orleans is wonderful this time of year. ;)

But bring a boat in case of a Katrina 2 coming in

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#6

Post by SEJeff » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:34 PM UTC

Arizona gets a bad rep as super hot, but Tucson is not nearly as hot due to being slightly higher altitude. Also, the government tends to be "smaller" and less intrusive than other states such as say Illinois. I lived there 2 years when stationed at Ft Huachuca during my UAV training, loved the state and would live there again if given a chance.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#7

Post by SEJeff » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:35 PM UTC

codegeek wrote: post #2

Cannot edit the text anymore. Just wanted to mention that I have a bootstrapped product that I run and ideally would love to stay closer to startup ecosystem. Of course, California is out of question again due to the excessive cost of living.

Austin has a huge startup culture, the Mayor of Chicago is trying really hard to bootstrap a similar ecosystem with tax incentives, and Portland is really just a smaller and slightly cheaper SF.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#8

Post by Someone1234 » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:35 PM UTC

Can I just say: Cost of living ONLY matters if you're compensated from out of state.

A lot of people look at CoL and think "wow for the $120K I make in NYC I could live like a king in Oklahoma!" But the reality is that places with lower CoL also have lower salaries, so a $120K NYC salary might be $60K in other states, with the same job, same responsibilities, etc. It is relative.

Oregon has a lowish CoL and a low amount of snow. Ditto with Ohio. No clue on startup culture. Utah (yes, that one) seems to be an up-and-comer in terms of startup culture, and while it does get a lot of snow, they're very pro-active in clearing it which is nice.

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#9

Post by codegeek » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:47 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #8

Can I just say: Cost of living ONLY matters if you're compensated from out of state. A lot of people look at CoL and think "wow for the $120K I make in NYC I could live like a king in Oklahoma!" But the reality is that places with lower CoL also have lower salaries, so a $120K NYC salary might be $60K in other states, with the same job, same responsibilities, etc. It is relative. Oregon has a lowish CoL and a low amo…

I agree with you. But cost of living is just one factor for us. We care about a peaceful environment, hopefully lower taxes (even if we make less ), decent infrastructure (in NJ, we have shitty roads with high cost).

Re: Ask HN: Where to move within US?

#10

Post by Someone1234 » Thu, Sep 10, 2015, 2:58 PM UTC

codegeek wrote: post #9

Someone1234 wrote: post #8

Can I just say: Cost of living ONLY matters if you're compensated from out of state. A lot of people look at CoL and think "wow for the $120K I make in NYC I could live like a king in Oklahoma!" But the reality is that places with lower CoL also have lower salaries, so a $120K NYC salary might be $60K in other states, with the same job, same responsibilities, etc. It is relative. Oregon has a lowish CoL and a low amo…

I agree with you. But cost of living is just one factor for us. We care about a peaceful environment, hopefully lower taxes (even if we make less ), decent infrastructure (in NJ, we have shitty roads with high cost).

To be honest I'd put Northern Utah on your list (Salt Lake area and north)). Low taxes, good infrastructure, low crime, nice people, growing startup culture, amazing for B2B startups, etc.

Sure, there is a religious aspect which puts people off. But like it or not, that religious aspect makes everyone quite pleasant and makes the area a nice place to live (even for those who aren't of that specific denomination).