Best Places to Live 2007: Tops for homes
What do you think of the towns on this year’s list of places where real estate is most affordable — and priciest? Which are your favorite cities? What makes them great American towns? Would you consider moving to one of them? Are real estate prices the most important factor? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story on CNNMoney.com.
Not much has been said about Albuquerque, NM. High and dry and centrally located. Affordable housing and great heathcare. A self sufficient city due to its relative isolation and
its stable weather patterns. High tech
employment, and an appreciation for the
arts.
I am a native here in Bradenton/Sarasota, Florida- they have just reported our foreclosure rate is a staggering 56%! I have to leave my home town due to NO JOBS (unless you are into making 9 bucks an hour)- the schools are really in trouble- and of course the cost of living is increasing with ech passing day- I love it here- but can not afford to stay-very depressing!
Need to consider posting the best cities based on secondary school education to support relocations.
Nobody here, as I read it, has chimed in about living in NYC. I was surprised to see it rated 10 out of 10 in the national poll (for top cities). Maybe you all don’t like crowds.
So my question is, where does a 40 soemthing move to after living in NYC for 18 years where one can adapt to less people and less amenities? Living here for so long I’ve gotten used to the 24 hour everything (pharmacies, restaurants, food stores, people) but I am sick of parking my car on the street or paying $400 a month to park it in a garage; or getting tickets or towed, and tired of the NYC scene.. I’m too old for a scene but not too old where I want to sit home every night. Any ideas?
Chris
I would suggest Mobile Alabama. This city is bucking the national trend of the housing woes, not to include the fact that the city has seen literally no growth over the past twent years until the previous years. There is a lot going on in this small southern town!
Think twice about moving to Raleigh, NC. So many people have moved here in the last 5 yrs, wages have become horribly depressed. Unless you’re highly degreed, you’re in for a disappointment. High income tax, high gas tax. Heck they tax EVERYTHING, including a property tax on your car!
We’re looking for a place to relocate in maybe 7 years. Looking in South Carolina or Georgia. Diversity, great schools and affordable housing a must. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I have marketed real estate communities in VA, NC, SC, FL, TX, and DL. I have lived on the coast (New Bern) and piedmont (Raleigh) of NC and would recommend these areas depending on your lifestyle. I have hired people from all over the US and they seem to love it here. Just an option for you to check out.
What is the best place to live that have great jobs, affordable(!!) living, young people, great weather and fun things to do???
PLEASE HELP!!!
Was thinking of condo in SoFl for seasonal use in retirement. Evaluating higher taxes for out of state owners by FL SOH dual tax system, renting seasonally now appears better option. Or buying elsewhere. Any others find Fl tax policy re out of state owners distasteful ? I don’t mind paying some more than residents, but my tax would be Four times a local and have less protection from increases than locals have.
I have lived in San Diego, San Francisco, Maui, Detroit, Portland Oregon, and now Palm Desert California. I worked in the hotel industry so I can pretty much pick where I want to live. One thing I have come to realize is that every place has good things and bad. If you make smart choices sometimes you can avoid the bad. Like in Southern California I ride my bike one mile to work, so I never have to deal with traffic. In Portland I went skiing a couple of times a week and walking in the parks everyday, so I never noticed the rain. In San Francisco I went out of the city north to Point Reyes a couple of times a month so I wouldn’t get claustrophobic. In Maui I would fly to Honolulu when the island got on my nerves and I missed the city vibe. So if you find yourself in Minnesota you should embrace the winter, take up ice skating or cross country skiing. Remember wherever you go there you are…
The HOAs here have gotten out of hand, people here are more concerned about your grass color and not their own than human beings. If your grass isn’t green enough they can take your house.
Mpls advocate: I agree with John from Maple Grove!
I’ve lived all over the US and I’ll take Cold weather and warm people over Warm weather and COLD people any day of the week. Great arts, restaurants, sports, FRIENDLY people, what more does a person need.
Just moved from Montclair CA to Rowlett TX, Primary reason was home prices, less crime, better schools for the kids
Minneapolis… come on! If you like frigid, nasty winters, short muggy summers, high property taxes - then you will find paradise in Minneapolis. Give me the southwest any time
We moved from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas about 2 years ago so my husband could transfer with his job. We jumped at the chance thinking it would be a better economic choice for us…I wished we’d never moved! For those of you considering moving out of CA for greener pastures…think hard about it, find out all you can about where you thinking of moving and if you’d actually like the day in day out lifestyle. True, LV is a unique place…but not the kind to raise a family in! I miss the beach and our friends and family!
I’d love if you could do a list separating East and West coast or something similar. Most of the places on the list seem to be on the east coast, whcih is nice to know, but I’d love one that concentrated on the western states. Having lived in OR, CA, and AZ and having family on west coast I’ll never want to move to east area personally. Maybe a best places to live East and West as well as the overall list? Just a thought.
The guy that said Santa Barbara is so great- well, he already apparently LIVES there. The rest of us can’t afford it. And as for laid back, I don’t think so. Stop into the Starbucks in Montecito even mid-day. I have seen people ten times calmer in the middle of L.A. Pushing, shoving, rushing. My kid goes to college up there. Lovely area, but expensive and far more stressed population than L.A. No thanks.
Not to begin with too much of an insult to the fair city of La Mirada…..but you must be crazy to call this one of the best in California. It’s surrounded by freeways, deep in smog, factories nearby, commercialization run rampant, and in general, another perfect example of an LA suburb without much character. But best? Never. And it’s mighty ugly under that brown LA sky.
A couple of decades ago the Californians starting moving out of the HELL their state had become (really who could blame them) and began “Californicating” all over the country. Folks, let’s realize that there is no paradise anymore because as soon as the new nirvana is discovered it is decimated by the masses!
I was born and raised in Southern California and unfortunately raised my daughter - now 21 - here, and I am hoping to finally buy a home in the northeast where they are genuinely affordable. The quality of life here has gone from good to awful in the past 60 years and I HATE this state. If you are rich it is probably wonderful, but if you aren’t it is a very depressing place to be. The struggle just to maintain, much less move up, is not worth it. BE FOREWARNED, those who think this is paradise!
I find it amazing that Phoenix, AZ is not on the HIGHEST PRICED places to live. I have lived here all my life, survived the ridiculously hot summers and now I have to look for somewhere else to live because I can’t afford a larger home. My husband and I are both teachers and the median price for a 4 bedroom home is around $700K. Good luck with that on a teacher’s salary! Plus, I don’t think LA has anything on Phoenix / Scottsdale when it comes to the need to look perfect and compete with the Jones! We’re thinking Colorado - big open spaces, nice weather, great houses… what more could you ask for all for under $450K!
Life in Orange County, New York…Friggid, cold winters, muggy, hot summers. More people than jobs (so good luck finding one). Homes are ridiculously expensive! A good paying job will require a commute of at least 45 minutes. That’s why I’m on this website. I WANT OUT!!!
After being born and raised 38 years in So Cal, I left with my family to Carmel, IN. It is 30 minutes to downtown Indy which has all the world class complements you can ask for, including professional sports (Pacers, Colts, Indy 500, Brickyard 400). I can leave my job at 5pm near downtown and I am home in my nice suburb in 30 min. The area is green and smog-free. Talk about not looking back!
1st - it cracks me up that people complain that “their” city isn’t on the list! Be careful what you wish for! My hometown has been on there in the past, and I can’t wait to leave now! Too many southern CA’s have moved here over the years…I am stoked anytime my hometown is bagged on or left off of these lists!
Anyhow, yes, real estate price is an important factor when you are faced with trying to start a family (in our situation). We own our home here in CA, but are planning to move out of state to an area where the cost of living is 1/2 what it is here. We can get the same house we own currently ($500,000 for a 1600 square foot home built in 1959 that has not been remodeled) for about $140,000 that HAS been remodeled AND make the same salary in the new state. Never though I’d leave CA but it’s just not worth it if you want a family and a life.
Life is Los Angeles, Orange County and the adjacent area is one big rat race. It takes me 1 1/2 hours to drive from my home in the Valley downtown Los Angeles and about the same to return home. Planning and participation in every activity requires accommodation for the traffic, lines and population density.
Though this year the heat isn’t too horrendous, from mid-July to Labor Day we have what I call “40 days of Hell.” The temperature exceeds 100F, the air is stagnant and dirty and doesn’t taste too good. Most people spend their free time at a home pool, in doors or at the movies.
I migrated to CA from NY because I got accepted to law school and remained. Though CA has been very good to me and my children appear to be doing well, after 33 years I still can’t get used to that California attitude and I think most of my fellow migrants agree with me. Every one seems to have a laid back attitude (read, stab a knife in your back) and can never be trusted. They are self adsorbed and self per-occupied people that are obsessed with keeping warm (yes, warm even though the temperature approaches 109F) and their appearances. Accordingly, few of my friends are Californians.
As soon as it is economically advantageous to leave and my retirement is maxed out, I’m going to New Hampshire.
Good luck moving here.
Santa Barbara: um, those are not such great schools. And “celebrities,” Rob Lowe? You must be kidding.
I have to tell that Santa Barbara is probably the best place in the entire world. Beaches, babes, biking, hiking, running, walking, shopping, surfing, and relaxing are some of the many things available here. We also have more celebs than I could count. Rob Lowe said he likes living here because he doesn’t feel rich when knows that Ty Warner and Oprah are right next door. We also have great schools and colleges right in town.(SBCC, Westmont & UCSB) I often travel and come back here thinking that this is the best place to be in the world. The only problem is that Montecito people are stuck up and Rincon(best surf spot in CA, also in SB) gets a little crowded sometimes. Otherwise there are no worries and everyone is very laid back. The clubs are awesome and the weather is perfect. This is a true rich “hippy” town. Why wouldn’t you want to live here?
Bay area towns in top ten hottest? Our area is known for moderate summers with San Francisco being downright chilly. Fire the reseacher and hire someone who can be accurate.
Lake Mary’ job market is terrible. The cost of living is high and the commute to Orlando, on I4, is one the worst in the country. You may have been impressed by some of the golf grounds, but how many people in this area can really afford golf, when the cost of living is so high?
Appreciation in real estate is important when deciding where to live if you move a lot. We lived in Charlotte, NC for 5 years and absolutely could not sell our house even though ‘they’ say prices appreciate at 5 to 7 percent. We are now in Orange County, Ca…great place to live by the way. Great weather, lots of diversity, tolerance, lots to do, etc.
I LOVE where I live. Ann Arbor. MI is a wonderful place to live. I am a native, born here along with my siblings. We have sports, culture, education, parks and diversity. We have a vibrant downtown with wonderful restaurants and great little shops. You can walk from Main Street to State St and the campus area. Ann Arbor has great public transportation, you can live here without owning a car. Lakes are nearby, the entire state is beautiful and offers a vacation paradise for most any taste! And we have four seasons; autumn in Ann Arbor is the best! My grandparents came to A2 in 1929 and most of my family is still here. We love it!
Southern Ca
I live in Irvine, Ca and love it. I love the conservative and Christian feel of the area which makes it a nice and safe place to live. Add to that the low crime, great weather and endless amount of activities and it’s no wonder we can’t keep people out.
John M to say that you prefer LA to Mpls, tells me you need a brain transplant, I have lived in LA, Denver, Tucson,, Cincy, & wouldnt take free housing in any of those lousy cities,, Mn has them all beat!
The next time they do one of these Top places polls I wish they would consider the following. There is a large (and ever growing) population of families in this country that aren’t just looking at cost of living, or housing when choosing a place to live. These families are looking at states with the best services for their Autistic children. We are one of these families.
As great as the services are in CA, the other problems with living in the Los Angeles area are making it very hard to stay here. We do so by making a lot of sacrifices. I’d like to know how the states rank. When I say services, I mean effective Regional Centers, Public School systems that have progressive Special Education divisions, adequate Behavior, Occupational and Physical Therapy providers, etc.
I live in Ankeny Iowa which is just north of Des Moines - very fast 20 min commute to all shopping and entertainment and houses are very affordable and NEW. The school districts good too and a growing poulation. Des moines is big on Insurance business and has the good jobs.I think other Iowa cities are peaceful and clean - I wonder why the survey left them out.
What a joke.
I live in Basking Ridge, NJ and my friends in Hillsborough and Sayreville would swap their single family home with my comparably sized town home in a heartbeat. I don’t even see it in the list.
I find it very interesting that any city in Southern California would make the list. For example, La Palma, which is in Orange county (or maybe LA county), is smack dab in the middle of the rat race there.
I would know because I moved OUT of Orange County 6 years ago to Colorado, and don’t regret it for a minute. What LA has it going for it (maybe the weather), doesn’t compare to the quality of life here in Colorado, blue skies, LOW taxes, little traffic, laid back lifestyle, and not having to compete with the Jones. Sure, the real estate values here haven’t skyrocketed like LA has, but money isn’t everything. I took a 20% paycut to move here, and I still am out ahead, since the income, property and sales taxes are a lot less.
Why is Charlottesville, VA not in the top 100?!?! If you have never been there, you really need to go, then you will realize that you have left off a top-25 candidate…
I find it interesting that $250K is termed “affordable” for homes in the details. I’m not sure who is affording them, certainly not the dwindling middle class. Perhaps it is simply my area, but it seems that salaries have not kept up with housing, so that the median home value, and the median salary are not complementary.
It’s interesting that when I punched in the data that I thought was important to me, it came up with the exact location where I am living….Southern California. I moved to LA from Minneapolis(a city that has been in Money’s top ten in the past) because I couldn’t take the cold, wanted more ethnic and racial diversity and I disliked the xenophobic attitude of the people. I have never looked back. Sure we have a high cost of living, crowded freeways and some polution but what more than makes up for that is absolutely great weather, diversity of culture and night life, the beach and mountains, one of the strongest economies in the world, and an attitude where you aren’t expected to act a certain way to fit into the community.
Our biggest problem is to stop the constant inflow of new people who seem to love to move to this much hated city. So keep talking trash about LA. We don’t need any more people!
Real Estate prices and job opportunities are the most important factors for most families. Living in Southern California for 38 years, we have seen it go from a middle-class society to one that requires you to make a 6 figure income to survive here. Small-town and quaint takes a back seat to being able to live without becoming poor or in debt. I have been priced out of my own state here and am looking for a more affordable lifestyle, which is not easy to find. Any suggestions that are realistic?
I am always amused by these lists. There is no better place in America than Springfield, MO. The balance between jobs, cost of living, cost of real estate, year round weather (with 4 seasons), recreational opportunities (lakes, sports, bike and walking trails, local theater and opera, etc.) is excellent. I suggest the magazines and news folks take a serious look at the Missouri Ozarks, especially around Springfield.
-
If you can learn from the mistakes of others, now is a great time to invest. more -
Airlines have cut capacity, expect crowded planes for holiday travelers. more -
Nike has ruled the sneaker business for decades. As it looks ahead, here are its blockbusters. more -
Relief at the pump seems to be an excuse to drive more. Do we need a gas tax? more -
If General Motors declares bankruptcy, the entire industry could be hurt. more -
Credit markets are still healing two months after Lehman's bankruptcy. more
One can search for the youngest city, the skinniest, or the cleanest air. How about liberal or conservative, religious or non-religious? Acceptance of different life styles, etc. Most cities have plenty of golf courses, restaurants, and leisure activities. I’d like to live somewhere with like-minded people. Currently I feel like a petunia in an onion patch.