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Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

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Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#91

Post by ctennis1 »

psadauskas wrote: post #47

I did not ever expect to see my old hometown of 30k people on HN. Growing up there in the 80s and 90s, it was a nice enough place, but basically 0 tech jobs outside of doing basic IT or support. My parents still live there (my dad an EE at the mentioned Cummins), but the fortunes of the town are tied to Cummins' stock price. They've done a lot to revitalize the downtown in the last decade, it used to be pretty run do…

I think you'd be surprised. I moved to Columbus in the early 2000s after college from another Indiana city. Perhaps I have blinders on, but I don't ever recall any casual racism or homophobia. If anything I'd say it's a more progressive city than many other small conservative midwestern towns. There is considerable diversity in the city, given that many of the engineers who live here have come from other countries. There was a recent presentation about the problems of "conversion therapy", and the presbyterian church a few weeks ago had a day of remembrance specifically for those who are transgender.

Not saying it's anything along the lines of Colorado, or the bay area, which I've frequented the past decade - but I think 2017 Columbus IN is vastly different than late 90s Columbus IN. The article really nails it.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#92

Post by taway_1212 »

novaRom wrote: post #26

Move abroad. That's simple. Lots of places with much better quality of life. European Union is terrific place: multiple nations, different climates, various cultures, freedom of speech, parlamentary democracy, clean ecology, safety, good education, inexpensive housing.

You forgot high taxes and low salaries.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#93

Post by jseliger »

athenot wrote: post #30
Nelkins wrote: post #21

I think about this a lot, mostly about Rochester, NY (where I went to college). It has world-class universities (and a renowned music conservatory[1]!), great history, festivals, relatively low unemployment[2] and the housing is dirt, dirt cheap[3]. The thing is, right now I make a pretty great salary in NYC and I don't know that anything in Rochester could come close, even taking into account cost of living. Even if…

Affordable housing and good salaries are usually on the conflicting ends of the same scale. A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market. Conversely, super cheap housing is usually an indicator that there really is no demand from affluent residents. As a counter-point to what I just said, more and more information-based jobs can be done remo…

A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market

Not necessarily; some cities simply build enough to keep a lid on housing prices: https://www.vox.com/cards/affordable-housing-explained/. Many Texas cities do this and even Chicago does to some extent. Tokyo also does this: https://www.vox.com/2016/8/8/12390048/san-francisco-housing-....

We have the technology to build a lot of housing units on a given parcel of land, if doing so is legal.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#94

Post by yeldarb »

froindt wrote: post #12

Surprised to see Cedar Rapids, IA on the list. I grew up in the area and it was not very appealing to stay in the area. Growing up, everybody's parents worked at Rockwell Collins, and not many of my peers had intentions of staying in the area. Few did. In the last few years I have noticed changes around the city. Some big investments downtown, new developments for commercial and shopping space, etc. I doubt Cedar Rap…

NewBoCo[1] is doing some awesome stuff in Cedar Rapids.

They’ve got a startup accelerator, a code school, a coworking space, and run lots of great events.

[1] https://newbo.co

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#95

Post by lordCarbonFiber »

jimmaswell wrote: post #60
athenot wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Affordable housing and good salaries are usually on the conflicting ends of the same scale. A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market. Conversely, super cheap housing is usually an indicator that there really is no demand from affluent residents. As a counter-point to what I just said, more and more information-based jobs can be done remo…

I feel like if all work was suddenly remote, city residency would drop at least 50% in a week. I hope remote eventually becomes the norm. There are probably a lot more like me out there who even in their 20s only work in a metro area solely out of necessity. I have a hard time imagining that all these people I see on HN pining for city living and making suburbs out to be worse than prison are more than a vocal minori…

Im pretty sure it's the opposite direction. The economies of scale make it so cities have above and beyond more amenities than the suburbs ever could. Be it food, culture, access to jobs/networks, or even just the dating pool working remotely in a huge house in the middle of nowhere really can't provide a substitution.

Living isolated far away from civilization might be appealing to some, but I'd put money on the idea you're the minority. Growing up in the suburbs was a black mark on a generation and I think most of us aren't looking to subject our children to that. Aside from the space (which I'll never understand; who wants to have more shit to clean and maintain) I can't see any benefit to leaving the city.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#96

Post by Density »

seppin wrote: post #66
jimmaswell wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like if all work was suddenly remote, city residency would drop at least 50% in a week. I hope remote eventually becomes the norm. There are probably a lot more like me out there who even in their 20s only work in a metro area solely out of necessity. I have a hard time imagining that all these people I see on HN pining for city living and making suburbs out to be worse than prison are more than a vocal minori…

> I feel like if all work was suddenly remote, city residency would drop at least 50% in a week. I hope remote eventually becomes the norm. Could not disagree more. (Young) people move to cities for vibrancy, culture, and to be around each other.

Most people aren't young. Raising children in a city is a nightmare.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#97

Post by walshemj »

gumby wrote: post #49
mavhc wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Won't you have to pay taxes twice if you're from USA though?

No, you deduct the taxes paid in your place of residence from what you pay in the US. Since taxes are lower in the US than in most developed countries you end up owing the US nothing -- but you still have to file. Of course, though your taxes may be higher, other expenses may be lower (e.g. telecoms, health care, housing) so you'll probably end up with more in your pocket.

wel the IRS can come after you for property tax as Boris Johnson a dual national (who has never lived in the US) - when his mum died recently the IRS sent him a huge tax bill related to her home.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#98

Post by nfriedly »

My wife and I spent some time in the Bay Area in our twenties. It was nice and I'm glad we did it, but I am so happy that we moved back to a small town in Ohio before beginning to raise a family. SF is a nice place to visit, but Ohio is home.

It definitely helps that programming can be done remotely, but I think I'd still prefer it here, even if it meant working for a local shop at half my current salary.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#99

Post by driverdan »

AndrewGaspar wrote: post #65
Nelkins wrote: post #21

I think about this a lot, mostly about Rochester, NY (where I went to college). It has world-class universities (and a renowned music conservatory[1]!), great history, festivals, relatively low unemployment[2] and the housing is dirt, dirt cheap[3]. The thing is, right now I make a pretty great salary in NYC and I don't know that anything in Rochester could come close, even taking into account cost of living. Even if…

I wrestled with the same thing recently, moving from Seattle-area to Santa Fe, NM to be closer to my in-laws. It only worked because there was a singular employer who paid approximately what I had grown accustomed to. I think it is going to work out, especially since my wife has better prospects than she did in Seattle, but there's definitely a risk working somewhere that has few other competitive employers in the ar…

Why not find a remote job?

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#100

Post by driverdan »

Apocryphon wrote: post #61

I'm wondering where's the equivalent for California. Sacramento is too significant and big a city to be comparable. I'm thinking Bakersfield and Elk Grove. http://kedc.com/kern-county-fast-becoming-a-mecca-for-millen... https://www.marketwatch.com/story/4-cities-where-millennials...

Why would you choose CA? Taxes alone will kill a large portion of your income no matter where you live. NY is the same way.
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