U.S. Cities to live & work in....

[mekannik]

So where would you go??

The current situation: collecting money and searching for the next step in my career (Engineering). Having been in automotive manufacturing and having to deal with deadlines, forms, and shit-heads.. I am ready for a change. As of now Florida is making a suitable, temporary (would not mind permanent) home, but the recruiters that have been contacting me are offering: southwest Missouri (is this even real??), Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh (close but not quite my hometown), Charlotte.

My personal goals are to concentrate on lean manufacturing/program management (and with all respects to MatthewTheSkyWalker - I did get my MBA)... I just want to end up living near one of my three best friends (Cleveland, Los Angeles, Orlando). I figure my next step will have me in some god forsaken hole (i.e. Toledo, Kansas City, Jacksonville) and then I will be able to pick my locale of choice in a couple of years. Just wanted to hear from some EF'ers from around the USA on which cities are bearable, have decent gyms, and a reliable supply of Guinness Extra Stoudt and Stone Arrogant Bastard.

Oh - Michigan, Nebraska, and Idaho are all out. Lord knows it is hard enough dealing with Fuckeye Fans (these morons are everywhere). I do not want to deal with Cornhuskers - one of my ex roommates, or Wolverine fans.

Any thoughts?

 

[courtneybcca]

personally you couldn't pay me enough to live in the east... if I had to hollywood, florida would be the best bet...

 

[jack sparrow]

I've been all over and was gonna give you advice until I saw that 'cornhuskers' comment.

 

[Razorguns]

Everyone is moving to California -- so that's an obvious choice. Just stay out of the valley/la county. Move more south.

Vegas is booming. Phoenix is too damn hot, but cheap to live.

Texas and other states are just too mexican for me. I like to live in the US.

Too variant options. Hard to say. It all depends on what you like, house price ranges, preferences, etc. Decent gyms, beer, etc. you can find anywhere.

 

[Lestat]

San Diego has HIGH demand for Engineers. What specific field are you in? Any ASIC design experience?

 

[Vicious cycle]

Pittsburg. Hate the football team, but nice place from what I hear.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

A shame you can't get your money back on that MBA. jk bor.

I've lived all over and been to 40 states. The best place to live in the entire US - without comparison - is New York City.

Now, as to your choices - Philly is the best choice on your list. Indy is a joke, SW Missouri, right, the AR / MO border is always hot, Charlotte is a watered down Atlanta with even less class and taste (yes it's possible).

Philly has some history, some culture, and a lot of university life which attract people, money, and lots of Guinness Stout. And you're not all that far from NYC and the ocean.

Jacksonville sucks. I have a company here, not a life. My last few weekend have been spent in NY and DC, and I am off to NY again next weekend. You get the idea. I bought a place in S FL to get away. Toledo is even worse than Jax. Kansas City, you might as well blast yourself with a shotgun.


The only place on your list that is even realistically considerable is Philly.

 

[Lestat]

A shame you can't get your money back on that MBA. jk bor.

I've lived all over and been to 40 states. The best place to live in the entire US - without comparison - is New York City.

Now, as to your choices - Philly is the best choice on your list. Indy is a joke, SW Missouri, right, the AR / MO border is always hot, Charlotte is a watered down Atlanta with even less class and taste (yes it's possible).

Philly has some history, some culture, and a lot of university life which attract people, money, and lots of Guinness Stout. And you're not all that far from NYC and the ocean.

Jacksonville sucks. I have a company here, not a life. My last few weekend have been spent in NY and DC, and I am off to NY again next weekend. You get the idea. I bought a place in S FL to get away. Toledo is even worse than Jax. Kansas City, you might as well blast yourself with a shotgun.


The only place on your list that is even realistically considerable is Philly.

Can you expound more upon your like of NYC? What makes it the hands down best?

Personally I like the laid back style of California.. northern and southern.

 

[medicj]

Most of my family live in NY. I have some family in Cali. I live in the midwest. Like them all. I spend a lot of time in NC. I like it there,2. So I guess I am of no real help to u. Sorry.

 

[eat big]

personally you couldn't pay me enough to live in the east... if I had to hollywood, florida would be the best bet...

You couldn't pay me to live on the West Coast either.

 

[nycgirl]

Can you expound more upon your like of NYC? What makes it the hands down best?

It just is. MTS, like myself, is from there. You were only there 6 days. Not long enough to truly experience New York. You can get whatever you want at any time. The culture, the food, the knowledge, the flow of ideas, etc. For the right money (and job), I'm definitely at a place in my life spiritually, physically, & mentally, to go back there (of course, I would have to be able to afford to live in Manhattan).

I can't see myself being more than an hour plane ride West of the East Coast. I know I will always be on the East Coast.

 

[Y_lifter]

Of the ones you mentioned.. Charlotte

 

[medicj]

It just is. MTS, like myself, is from there. You were only there 6 days. Not long enough to truly experience New York. You can get whatever you want at any time. The culture, the food, the knowledge, the flow of ideas, etc. For the right money (and job), I'm definitely at a place in my life spiritually, physically, & mentally, to go back there (of course, I would have to be able to afford to live in Manhattan).

I can't see myself being more than an hour plane ride West of the East Coast. I know I will always be on the East Coast.

yea.NY is great. Plus, where else can u get cheesecake that good? No where. Or pizza .... or a good deli food. It's the best. We have our family reunions there every year. I love it.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Can you expound more upon your like of NYC? What makes it the hands down best?

Personally I like the laid back style of California.. northern and southern.

nycgirl said it best: it just is.

NY is the city that built this country. The first fortunes were made there and invested there. People moved there are found their American dream there.
NY is just where it's at. If you're into laid-back, NY will eat you.

NYC is the capital of the world. It happened for a few reasons: great natural harbors made it north america's shipping capital. Once the money started coming in, it stayed in. NYC actually has the ideal conditions for building skyscrapers - natural bedrock is easily accessible.

It was the first American city, it is the greatest concentration of wealth in the US, and the sophstication of 300+ years as North America's first city can be found nowhere else.

 

[Lestat]

nycgirl said it best: it just is.

NY is the city that built this country. The first fortunes were made there and invested there. People moved there are found their American dream there.
NY is just where it's at. If you're into laid-back, NY will eat you.

NYC is the capital of the world. It happened for a few reasons: great natural harbors made it north america's shipping capital. Once the money started coming in, it stayed in. NYC actually has the ideal conditions for building skyscrapers - natural bedrock is easily accessible.

It was the first American city, it is the greatest concentration of wealth in the US, and the sophstication of 300+ years as North America's first city can be found nowhere else.

it seems too crowded for my tastes now, especially manhattan.

And the weather is too extreme.. frozen winter, hot humid summer.

I can see how it would be fun, I'd want to live in Mahanttan if anywhere, but its so expensiev now.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

it seems too crowded for my tastes now, especially manhattan.

And the weather is too extreme.. frozen winter, hot humid summer.

I can see how it would be fun, I'd want to live in Mahanttan if anywhere, but its so expensiev now.

Weather is what it is, but the winters are not terrible. (Slushy shitty snowy days suck though).

Manhattan is expensive. You get what you pay for. Besides, the vacation spot elsewhere is part of the NYC experience

 

[mekannik]

Matt - was waiting for you to chime in. Figured you would bash central Florida, but right now that is where my friend is living and we would be the easiest transition for me (Tampa to Orlando area). NYC is great - but I really do not like cramped conditions that much. And Long Island is no alternative.

Actually just had my second phone interview with the Philly company this afternoon. Went very well, so I should be up there in a couple of weeks for the face to face. Will be interesting to see if I get equal offers ($-wise) from both Philly and Orlando.... would be a toss up.


Oh - and the MBA was 80% paid for by my old company. The salary increase the first year with my next position will more than cover my part. The six sigma training I am looking towards should be the next step up.


As for the West Coast, one of my best friends lived in Huntington Beach (on the Pacific Coast Highway, one block from Surf City central). Florida's heat and humidity is bad... but the Californian demeanor sucks. Too many times I have met L.A. people that are openly fake and DO NOT like getting called out for who/what they are.

That or I just really enjoy pissing some people off....

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Matt - was waiting for you to chime in. Figured you would bash central Florida, but right now that is where my friend is living and we would be the easiest transition for me (Tampa to Orlando area). NYC is great - but I really do not like cramped conditions that much. And Long Island is no alternative.

Actually just had my second phone interview with the Philly company this afternoon. Went very well, so I should be up there in a couple of weeks for the face to face. Will be interesting to see if I get equal offers ($-wise) from both Philly and Orlando.... would be a toss up.

Oh - and the MBA was 80% paid for by my old company. The salary increase the first year with my next position will more than cover my part. The six sigma training I am looking towards should be the next step up.


As for the West Coast, one of my best friends lived in Huntington Beach (on the Pacific Coast Highway, one block from Surf City central). Florida's heat and humidity is bad... but the Californian demeanor sucks. Too many times I have met L.A. people that are openly fake and DO NOT like getting called out for who/what they are.

That or I just really enjoy pissing some people off....

L.A. sucks, it's a city designed for posers. I don't like CA either...well, Bay Area I can tolerate.

We sent some people for Six Sigma....it is smoldering stinky garbage. They kow nothing more than some buzzwords, and still can't think for themselves. Worthless for us. But some businesses value it and I hope you find them.

OK, I'll stop bashing corporate ridiculousness. It is the poor performance and dumb ideas of big businesses that keep me in business after all, and you do wht you gotta do to advance your career.


Philly > orlando by any objective evaluation. Orlando is Disneytown, a tourist mecca with little of its own culture. That of orlando tat is not disney shit is tacky, classless suburban sprawl.

Philly --> Orlando is a non stop southwest flight now, so you can visit your friend anytime.

It's s shame that NYC isn't a choice for you now. Good luck wherever you go.

 

[Snypr]

From your choices, I'd say SUBURBAN Philadelphia.
As far as the whole U.S., I've lived in too many places to count, and I say;
1. Somewhere outside L.A.
2. Vegas
3. New York City

NYC would be #1 for the business ops, culture(including food) and resources, but it's way too crowded for me and the summer humidity and winter snowice are just not tolerable.

 

[Snypr]

I almost forgot, GO WOLVERINES!!!

 

[Razorguns]

nycgirl said it best: it just is.

NY is the city that built this country. The first fortunes were made there and invested there. People moved there are found their American dream there.
NY is just where it's at. If you're into laid-back, NY will eat you.

NYC is the capital of the world. It happened for a few reasons: great natural harbors made it north america's shipping capital. Once the money started coming in, it stayed in. NYC actually has the ideal conditions for building skyscrapers - natural bedrock is easily accessible.

It was the first American city, it is the greatest concentration of wealth in the US, and the sophstication of 300+ years as North America's first city can be found nowhere else.

If you wanna live like a sardine, park your car 1 mile away (if u even have a car), have to earn 6 figures just to live like a 5 figure, and take 45 minutes just to get a bottle of milk -- then i guess you got a point.

Most people i know who work in NYC, live outside. Where it's more open, relaxing and costs are less. I coudl never live IN nyc. Would drive me nuts. I appreciate my serenity and openness.

 

[nycgirl]

If you wanna live like a sardine, park your car 1 mile away (if u even have a car), have to earn 6 figures just to live like a 5 figure, and take 45 minutes just to get a bottle of milk -- then i guess you got a point. Most people i know who work in NYC, live outside. Where it's more open, relaxing and costs are less. I coudl never live IN nyc. Would drive me nuts. I appreciate my serenity and openness.

It doesn't take 45 minutes to get anything in NYC. Everything you need is a short walk away from your home. I never waited more than 10 minutes for anything. Most people that live in Manhattan likely park their cars in a garage or don't have one (you don't need one if you live in Manhattan; a license yes (maybe), but a car, no.). I grew up in Queens, so my parents cars were parked in our driveway.

It may be expensive, fast and packed, but the opportunity cost of not being exposed to many different things and having an open mind is too much for me.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I truely don't know why people are moving in droves to Vegas. It used to be a decent place - you could get cheap housing. In 2000, the average price of a moderate sized house in a good neighborhood was around 130k. Now, it is around 300k. My very basic 1500 sq ft house is worth over 300k. Are you kidding?

The price of housing is getting ridiculous here ..... no, not CA or NYC ridiculous .... but for what you get it is silly to spend this much for a house. You get NO land. I mean NO land. I have a SIDE yard that is about 6 feet wide and about 20 feet long. That is it. Oh, and I have a GORGEOUS view of a storage unit center. And a 2 car garage that won't fit my Corolla and my husband's truck - so he parks on the street because the drive way is about 2 feet long. And for this people are paying over 300k?

My husband and I have looked at other new housing in the area (just for fun) and there are some 1500-2000 sq ft houses (3-4 BR) that are now selling for over 500k. Again - NO yard. No space for even a pool.

Yes, our unemployment is low, property tax isn't outrageous, and there is no state income tax. But the population of Vegas is mostly comprised of the uneducated - not that education equals good neighbors or good people - but by uneducated I mean the neighbors you do NOT want to socialize with. Often, it is the whitest of white trash.

But what is the draw? Weather is pretty nice year round - I'll admit that. And there are many nice restaurants - although most are on the strip . There are clubs - if you are into that - but locals often still have to pay cover and drinks are silly expensive. Shows - again, there are many, but tickets are expensive and you can only go to so many and be surrounded by Joe Tourist in his bermuda shorts and his 5 fussy children. It ain't Broadway.

Ahhh, the weather though ... I do love that most of the year.

 

[Razorguns]

It doesn't take 45 minutes to get anything in NYC. Everything you need is a short walk away from your home. I never waited more than 10 minutes for anything. Most people that live in Manhattan likely park their cars in a garage or don't have one (you don't need one if you live in Manhattan; a license yes (maybe), but a car, no.). I grew up in Queens, so my parents cars were parked in our driveway.

It may be expensive, fast and packed, but the opportunity cost of not being exposed to many different things and having an open mind is too much for me.

Pffft. Sure if you somehow figure out a way to buy a house that's close to wall street, or wherever it is you work. Good luck on that.

Heck it takes me 30 mins just to go a few blocks at rush hour.

And i enjoy driving. Riding stinky subways with ghetto losers is not my cup of tea.

Furthermore, I just don't enjoy the task of getting to work being an over-glorified video game. And it's corresponding atrocious car insurance rate. Live for me in CT was just as lucrative financially and 10x more enjoyable. NYC was quite accessible for me on weekends to enjoy.

Besides - being a musician with 200lbs of gear -- riding subways isn't an option.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Pffft. Sure if you somehow figure out a way to buy a house that's close to wall street, or wherever it is you work. Good luck on that.

Heck it takes me 30 mins just to go a few blocks at rush hour.

And i enjoy driving. Riding stinky subways with ghetto losers is not my cup of tea.

Furthermore, I just don't enjoy the task of getting to work being an over-glorified video game. And it's corresponding atrocious car insurance rate. Live for me in CT was just as lucrative financially and 10x more enjoyable. NYC was quite accessible for me on weekends to enjoy.

Besides - being a musician with 200lbs of gear -- riding subways isn't an option.

You clearly know little to nothing about NYC. Thanks for staying away.

 

[nycgirl]

Pffft. Sure if you somehow figure out a way to buy a house that's close to wall street, or wherever it is you work. Good luck on that. Heck it takes me 30 mins just to go a few blocks at rush hour.
And i enjoy driving. Riding stinky subways with ghetto losers is not my cup of tea.
Furthermore, I just don't enjoy the task of getting to work being an over-glorified video game. And it's corresponding atrocious car insurance rate. Live for me in CT was just as lucrative financially and 10x more enjoyable. NYC was quite accessible for me on weekends to enjoy.
Besides - being a musician with 200lbs of gear -- riding subways isn't an option.

I live in the D.C. area now for the same reasons why I would live in New York or Philly.

Many people of different economic backgrounds ride the subway. I take it you have never been on the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 trains that run along Lexington Avenue and the East Side. Or the Nos. 1 & 9 that run on the Upper West Side and make their way to the village & then Battery Park. Your comment is exactly why the opportunity cost (to me) of living in a city not similar to NYC (i.e., full of different cultures, income levels, ethinicities, levels of knowledge, etc.) is high for me.

Living in New York (especially if you were born and raised) is far different than commuting in for work and leaving. You were nothing but a tourist.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Charlotte is a watered down Atlanta with even less class and taste (yes it's possible).

MATT - what are your thoughts (if you have any) on the Raleigh-Cary NC area? I am from the area, but havn't been back in YEARS. We are thinking of moving back there - housing is pretty reasonable and family is within a couple hours. Family close by is a HUGE thing for us right now, with the baby and all.

 

[Razorguns]

You clearly know little to nothing about NYC. Thanks for staying away.

Pffft #2.

I did live in NYC for awhile. Was spending more time just living with ny, instead of living in ny.

I'm home in 15 mins from work. Try doing that in nyc.

I enjoy driving. NYC living ain't an option unless i live out a bit.

I'm with Lestat. LA people suck. But driving along the ocean, top-down on a sunday afternoon makes it all worthwhile.

 

[Razorguns]

(i.e., full of different cultures, income levels, ethinicities, levels of knowledge, etc.) is high for me.

Living in New York (especially if you were born and raised) is far different than commuting in for work and leaving. You were nothing but a tourist.

True. But riding a subway is just a commute. Getting from point a to point b. I got no enjoyment out of staring at people or being shaken from side to side. It's not exactly a social club. Besides i'm a zombie in the morning anyways.

I'd rather drive a nice car, listening to my mp3 tunes, top down. I only have XX amount of time in my day, so i try whatever i can to limit my commute, not extend it.

 

[mekannik]

I almost forgot, GO WOLVERINES!!!

Quiet down. There is no way you are entering this discussion, unless you can somehow swing Pontiac as a selling point.

Another point for Philly (suburbs) would be an hour to Edison, NJ (little hottie from college I know) and a nice 5 hour drive back across I-80 to see my dad. But damn if I did not want to skip at least one winter north of the Mason-Dixon line.....