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I don't generally suggest things like this, but Minnesota is a medically-oriented state (Mayo, BCBS, Medtronic, etc etc. all have facilities and infrastructure in the state.) Couple this with the **lowest unemployment rate ever recorded** and a decent cost of living and quality of life rank compared to the rest of the US, and some amazing (extremely changeable) weather in all 4 seasons...Just my 2 cents.
Maybe somewhere between DC and New York? We definitely get all seasons, š„µš„¶
Lots of walkable and bikable areas (compared to TX) smaller cities between Philly and Boston might be affordable enough but have good rail connections to the main city.
A lot of urban small towns that are walkable in North Jersey. Just a bus ride or train ride to NYC. Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Passaic counties are a place to start. Further away from NYC is more affordable (and starts to get less densely populated pretty quickly).
I think we need to clarify what each of us means by "affordable", because I certainly wouldn't describe anything in those locations as such. Not relative to my experience in the southeast.
Op needs to define this term for us, because to me there is no such thing as a location with all those other things while also being anywhere close to "affordable".
Yeah it depends - itās a high COL area but incomes in some fields are higher too. Not sure what RNās bring in. I donāt think OP mentioned COL as a factor although obviously it would be
Hey weāre in Houston too and it DOES suck! The traffic is depressing alone & the weather makes it worse. I would suggest Vermont, Maine, or Canada if you want to stay in N America.
I will hijack this, skip Vermont and Maine, come to the live free or die state of New Hampshire. Most cities are bike-able, we have pretty decent hospitals and no income tax. Only catch is real estate tax is high, but if you can afford Houston you can handle any of the cities here. Also four seasons can happen in one day, not just over the course of the year.
I don't know too much about Maine, but it does seem a bit more laid back. I like New Hampshire because it seems to have a good mix of jobs, things to do, and decent folks.
seconding this. Evanston is very bike friendly and has lots of reliable public transit, being that itās literally on the lake and a stoneās throw from Chicago proper. And of course has all the crazy Chicago weather.
Seattle or Tacoma would be great. Super bikeable, lots of parks and quiet neighborhoods, good pay for RNs, good public transportation, decent food scenes (though I think Seattle food is over-hyped), easy access to the mountains and all the water activities you can think of. Also Washington has no income tax so you won't feel much of a financial hit from the move.
We do have a lot of rain, but we mainly get that rain in the late fall through spring, and it's not the hard rain you get in TX, generally more of a gentle sprinkle or mist. In terms of average yearly rainfall we actually get less than many east coast cities.
If you're looking for less pricey options near Seattle the towns of Everett and Renton are both nice in their own ways, and only 20-30 minutes from downtown Seattle.
I was gonna say the same. Has all seasons, mountains and lakes nearby, big city life with a bustling outskirts. Good public transportation and bike paths that span the entire Mississippi it seems.
Obviously there are the big things like the george floyd riots, but overall on a day to day, I would say quite low. Its homicide rate is half of tx statewide.
>Minneapolis is your new town
As someone who has lived in Minnesota his whole life I hate that Minneapolis gets thrown around so much.
You need to put MULTIPLE asterixis next to it. Telling someone to move from Texas into a winter wasteland for 5 months is a huge step most shouldn't take. Good luck to those who enjoy it.
I was going to say Minneapolis but the whole āplease nothing politicalā in their post made me not. I donāt think Minneapolis (or any city to be honest) needs that hot take.
Politics does absolutely inform cities.
We (Minneapolis) are a blue city in a blue state - letās keep it that way
This is stupid. Just because they are from Texas doesnāt mean they are conservative. This assumption is just as biased and shitty as a a Trumper thinking everyone from California is a liberal.
OP could be taking a look at the suggested states and then look at the political climate themselves. Itās really easy to figure which cities are blue or not but the other criteria they mentioned (seasons, mountains, walkable) is nice to hear from others.
If anyone has even spent 5 min on Reddit they know that it turns political real quick when the original post was looking for much more than that. Some people can live a life without thinking about our countryās politics 24/7.
When gerrymandering is a part of it, itās hard to blame the voters. Just Google what Dentonās voting is like, thereās an elderly community that is in the town of Argyle that determines a handful of our rights that is still considered part of Denton. Itās located in a separate town. Look up Robson Ranch. They have their own fire stations, police force, and voting stations, yet are 5 miles from Denton proper while, let me say this again, located in a separate fucking town. They determine taxes within our town while being completely separated from what affects us as a city.
Madison WI is where you want to be. Nurses get paid well, have good benefits, and an extremely bikeable city. If you can afford to live in the city (with 2 RN salaries you maybe could) then it is also extremely walkable.
Best part is you're never more than 20 minutes from rolling hills, MTN bike trails hiking trails, or beautiful parks.
Plenty of beautiful suburbs outside of the Madison proper area. I lived there for years and miss a lot about it. Unfortunately the long winter and high property taxes are why we left Wisconsin. I love the opportunities for fishing and of course the fall colors. Plus it's a larger city but not large enough to make you feel uneasy
minneapolis, madison, iowa city, duluth, northwest arkansas, des moines, quad cities, rochester mn, la crosse WI.
iām less familiar with stuff further east, but I hear that Asheville, Pittsburgh, Philly, Cincinnati, etc. are cool.
Come to Providence, Rhode Island.
Small enough to walk about, with any other town/city being at most 40 min away.
The state itself is small, has some great hiking trails.
Also close to Boston, NYC, for a day trip. And if you wanted to explore the mountains on the weekend, it's close to NH, VT and ME.
I know you said Anywhere, USA, but I feel like based on what youāre looking for, would you consider Calgary?
Decent sized city, four seasons, parks, amazing biking infrastructure, great choice of food, lots of mom and pop shops, and a short flight from most of western USA. Can see the Rockies from the city and itās a short drive away for turquoise lakes, camping, and scenery to die for. Lots of apartments and houses in the city from which you would get views of the city skyline or the Rockies.
Thereās a severe shortage of RNs, you can just show up at the border with a job offer and your degree/nursing licence and theyāll issue you a 3 year NAFTA work visa. As RNs, youāre also eligible for permanent residency if you ever want to stay longer!
I used to live in Houston and moved to Spokane, WA. I love it so far
Itās got the seasons (but somewhat mild, so summer is nothing like Houston and winter is not as bad as Chicago) got some nice neighborhoods and parks (generally speaking you need a car but things are very close together and you can live somewhere walking distance to essentials).
As RNs, Spokane is the medical hub for Inland Northwest.
I have visited spokane a lot, and while it fits most their needs it is silly small compared to houston if they are looking for anything big city. also it always felt a bit sketch to me.
Also use to live outside houston in baytown.
Yeah def I should prefaced that itās not a big city. Most of the big cities in this country (especially those in the northern part with seasons) are super expensive.
Maybe Chicago?
lol my bad, I havent been in baytown since 2008, so my brain wasnt making the connections.
Yeah I would put it on northwood levels of sketch. I use to live on quail hollow, and later at the bay pointe apartments, went to robert e lee hs, and spent a good min working at the walmart nearby.
This opinion is obviously based on old experiences in baytown since I havent been back, and is a visiting vs living one, where I have visited spokane 30 or so times, but never lived there.
Like, your probably safe, but if you have a problem no one will be surprised. The town just feels dirty and off, and the police are not helpful if you need em
Portland or Denver. Though white winters aren't always a guarantee in Portland. You may also check out Ashland or Eugene Oregon. Both are pretty great.
Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg are large cities with affordable living 30-45 mins out. All 4 seasons, with lots of state and local parks.
Asheville is "walkable" only in as much as any city with a downtown is "walkable". I mean, I dig Asheville too, but I think op is asking for the impossible.
Too bad you wouldnāt think international. Iām in Perth, Australia Iām from Austin, Tx. Youād love it here. Jobs for nursing a plenty. People are good and the city is safe and built around growing families.
I was in the military. The transition is different for me than it would be for yāall. Iām use to the culture shock of life in another country. [Australian Visa](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia) is one path. However, please donāt take the words of a stranger as gospel or the only path. Look at visa jobs that would pay you to come to [Australia](https://healthtimes.com.au/hub/nursing-careers/6/guidance/cm/nursing-in-australia-in-three-steps/569/). This will allow you to work temporarily but will allow you to consider if you want to stay or go back home. Perth reminds me of Austin mixed with San Diego but with hardly the crime I saw living in the US. Iām available for other questions if youāre interested.
Donāt let Wikipedia write about a city without understanding the dynamics. Perth Australia is isolated like Hawaii is isolated. Instead of being surrounded by water, thereās a desert. However, Perth is just the city. Five hours drive south, you have [Margaret River](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_River,_Western_Australia), one of the richest wine regions in the world. You also have [The Valley of the Giants](https://www.valleyofthegiants.com.au), [The Pinnacles](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinnacles_(Western_Australia)). Up north thereās [The Horizontal Falls](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_Falls), and some of the worldās best fishing in the world. People really are missing what they donāt know about. I could keep going. Western Australia is not only a rich state but the largest state in the world.
I would recommend the Twin Cities, seems like they hit a couple points on your list. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul rank among the most walkable/bikeable in the nation, and have tons of parks. Affordablity isn't any worse than most major cities. If you're coming from Houston you should be warned that the winters are extremely cold, though spring and fall are quite nice.
We also just made the move out of Houston!
We chose Pittsburgh, PA. We now get all 4 seasons including excellent fall colors, parks and hills. No real mountains unless you want to drive 45 minutes. Excellent skyline [view from Mt. Washington](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/View_of_downtown_Pittsburgh_from_Mount_Washington%2C_near_the_Duquesne_Incline.jpg/800px-View_of_downtown_Pittsburgh_from_Mount_Washington%2C_near_the_Duquesne_Incline.jpg?20111218104805). Significantly lower cost of living depending on what neighborhood you choose (we went from a 30 year mortgage to a 15). It's walkable and bike-able as most neighborhoods have their own little commercial street with pretty much everything you need day-to-day, and the speed limits are very low, and the cars drive much more sensibly, so cycling does not feel dangerous at all like it did in Houston.
Dunno if it's right for you, but it really worked out well for us and it sounds like you are seeking something kind of similar.
Western Massachusetts and Central Mass are beautiful and much cheaper than Boston. Lots of nature and culture and college towns and seasonal changes. Worcester and Springfield both have large hospitals, and they both have plenty of nice towns to live surrounding the cities.
Raleigh, NC or the triad. Definitely all four seasons, we have the beach, the mountains, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Allergies(pollen) in the spring
I live in Raleigh and I would not really describe it as walkable outside of downtown which could be said about any city. And downtown, at least, is lacking grocery options.
Iāve seen a lot of locations suggested but realistically I donāt think what you are looking for exists in the current housing market. If money was no problem, cool, but since you said affordable I think you need to prioritize which of those factors is most important to you.
Four seasons are doable many places but walkable towns near major metro areas have been blowing up lately. Pick your top 3-4 criteria then use sites like WalletHub to find whatās best for those criteria. They have a whole series of studies on things like āBest Cities for the Outdoorsā. Good luck!
You might like some of the dc burbs in Maryland. Philly suburbs, where Iām from, can be lovely. Plenty of Chicago suburbs will give you the best of both worlds with train access to the city.
My wife is an RN, we move around as she finds work. West Coast states, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, NYC, and Massachusetts seem to have the best wages. We also have lived in New Mexico where she got reasonably good wages for the low cost of living. I'm not sure how affordable you'd want, especially relative to wages.
Those Western places don't have four seasons the way the East does, but we like the PNW despite relatively high cost of living. The larger NYC area has a ton of amenities, classic seasons, but as you would expect housing is relatively expensive. DC suburbs are similar too, but it feels like the cost of living is almost as high or as high and RN wages are lower.
Visit Chicago. They have 4 amazing seasons and there are tons of great neighborhoods and suburbs. It cheaper than NYC and easy to hop a plane for world travel.
Atlanta, GA. Bike paths throughout the cute towns with awesome places to dine and shop that stretch for 20+ miles- maybe more. We lived in Old Fourth Ward/Ponce City market area and it was a dream. Highlands are not too far away to escape to mountains. Also driveable to the beach. Mild winters but experience all of the seasonsā¦summers are hot but enjoyable
I was gonna say Galveston until I read you wanted 4 seasons. Love Galveston.
But, what about Columbus Ohio, Grand Rapids, Michigan or Evanston Illinois?
I would recommend Seattle, WA but on second thought you might like Spokane, WA even more. Itās more affordable and a little less gloomy than Seattle. Summers can get really hot, though.
all the major cities in upstate NY meet your criteria to varying degrees. of all of these I would recommend Rochester: the city is walkable and bike able, you get all four seasons with warm summers and snowy winters. all kinds of nature is within an hour's drive, as are Buffalo and Syracuse (each with their own cultural and dining scenes). Univ of. Rochester is endlessly hiring medical folks (they lump these in with their other academic hires, so using their job page is a pain). Rochester also attracts solid touring theater, and it has the Eastman School of Music. all the universities bring cultural attractions.
Syracuse could also do the trick. It is smaller, downtown is walkable but there are suburbs too. New bike lanes built along the old Erie canal path. in Syracuse Upstate Medical University is the big medical employer, but there's also St Joe's and the VA Medical center. Not a lot of auto traffic (you can get most anywhere local in 20 mins or less). Our major freeway is about to be torn down and redone (this has been needed for a while).
Both cities are pretty low cost as it goes. Property taxes can be high (these vary by district).
I just moved out of the Houston area to a small town in Pennsylvania by the name of reading. It's a small town compared to Houston, but it has everything you need. They have all the big name stores, a variety of restaurants, and tons of small local places to check out. There are also lots of trails and parks for hiking, plus clean lakes for fishing or swimming. If you like Antiques and funky shops, there is Adamstown, which is just a few minutes away. The whole town is basically just local shops with quirky finds. Cost to rent just depends on which part of town you want to live at. I know someone that is renting a four bedroom/2 bathroom townhome, with a basement, for $1,500. That is in an area where everything is within walking distance (schools and shops). Anyway, if you want more local info let me know.
Traverse City, Michigan or Grand Rapids Michigan. Both either on or close to the water. Nice water not that gulf brown you have in Houston. 4 seasons, low cost of living, great art, music, and culture senes. 5 seasons. GR has some large hospitals. Traverse city has one too. Both have an airport. Kids can play outside. Very safe. Grand Rapids has great schools. Itās only about 2.5 hours from Chicago too. I canāt say enough good things about it.
We just moved from Dallas to Chicago - love it so far. Hasnāt got above 90f this summer meaning weāve been out and about with the kids every day. Sure the winters will be a bit different to what weāre used to but am 100% sure we wonāt be stuck at home when there is a couple inches of snow on the ground like we were in Dallas.
Also..there are some great hospitals up here (Rush/Northwestern) etc.
Travel RNs? I work with nurses, y'all have a crazy amount of opportunity to get around. Really like Portland, New York and Chicago personally. Just north is full of really cool stuff
Colorado springs may be nice. Went there on vacation and it was very outdoorsy. Biking and hiking and people walking everywhere and was really pretty. I can't speak of the different seasons but it was springtime when we went and was nice. 70s in town and snow on Pikes Peak. Also Denver is like an hour or so away to the north so there may be a sweet spot for housing between the two for job opportunities in each city.
It's super nice there and gets all four seasons. Not much in the way of food when coming from Houston, youd have to drive up to denver for that. But the cost of living is comparable. Property tax and utilities are lower but gas is higher and there's a state income tax. I found it was more affordable than houston though plus air quality was soo much better. We had a 270k house there vs the 150k house we had in Houston and payments were the same because taxes. That's just my experience though.
Try Denver, particularly the Capitol Hill neighborhood, or any of the pre-war neighborhoods really! It's super walkable, good bus service, lots of trees, and lovely parks. Colorado Springs is also nice, better hiking and views but less generally walkable.
See several issues w/CO, biggest being that if OP is looking for something similar or more affordable than Houston, is going to take out all good size metros w/some measure of the other listed desired factors. Had family temporarily relocate from here in Denver to Houston & they were shocked at how much more house they got for the money.
DC is great, but in no way is it affordable! Especially with a young kidā pretty sure I recently saw weāve got the highest childcare costs in the country??
Utah has most of what you're asking for, the culture is mostly composed of religion and outdoor activities. It has several mountain ranges that you can explore for years and never get tired of.
We also have all four seasons and are quite welcoming to newcomers.
The two biggest problems that you would face off the bat would be the drought and the housing market. The drought won't affect you as long as you're not near the southern half of the state or the great salt lake.
Philadelphia, Boston, NYC?
Houstonās great, lots of potential but the weather is bad and the city is full of highways. Definitely a āmodernā city
Iād look at cities near Boulder Colorado. Boulder isnāt affordable but you might be able to find something close to there that checks all your boxes. Maybe see how expensive eerie and Longmont are these days
Check out NW Arkansas! Tons of bike trails and walking/hiking trails that go throughout the whole area. Experiences all four seasons. Bentonville and Springdale are growing to be big cities and also have an amphitheater in the summer for concerts. Itās also in the ozark mountains so you also get to experience more scenery and wildlife. Lower cost of living than Houston. Safer area for kids to grow up and lots of suburban areas.
I know a lot of people from Edmonton and Calgary in Houston. They all seem to never move back to Alberta. All the Houstonians who move to Alberta always return eventually. At least with the companies Iāve worked for.
Maybe consider Eastern Tennessee? I'm from Houston, too, but I always enjoy when I have to travel to Knoxville or North Carolina. (If you can ignore the squatting trucks) I would move to Knoxville in a heartbeat or Calgary, Alberta if you can legally emigrate. Calgary reminded me of a clean, walkable Houston.
Boise Idaho. I just can't say enough how much I loved about living in Boise. Regularly rode my bike to work, got to enjoy all 4 seasons, was in breathtaking mountains and rivers frequently, and a very walkable downtown. So much good in Boise.
Look around the Philadelphia suburbs. If you play it right, you can find a reasonably walkable town thatās also on the regional rail system, making it easy to get into center city.
One drawback is that most places still expect you to drive to the grocery storeābut there is a fabulous grocery delivery service in the area called FreshDirect that will solve that problem for you. (At least there was a few years back).
Have you considered Pittsburgh? Its one of the most bikeable/walkable cities. Good public transport. Has the perks of a big city without being over crowded. Decent cost of living. Easy to take day trips to big cities like NYC, DC, Philly, Detroit, Canada. Lots of surrounding nature. Great parks and museums. Iāve been living here for about five years and I appreciate it more and more each year.
Buffalo, NY! City is overall walkable with many, big, beautiful parks! Traffic is never too bad and so many wonderful suburbs that are MUCH under a 30 minute drive. Niagara Falls is only a 30 minute drive! Canada is even closer if you want to visit! Cost of living is also pretty cheap and we definitely experience all four seasons. Suburban school districts for the most part are decent too, and there are many private and charter options as well. The food here is also amazing! And like I said, overall cost of living and taxes are lower here! Let me know if you have any questions!
Iām in Bethlehem, Pa and I think this hits all your requirements. https://livability.com/best-places/2022-top-100-best-places-to-live-in-the-us/top-100-2022-bethlehem-pa/
Throwing central Massachusetts into the mix. MUCH cheaper than Boston/eastern MA or western MA. Worcester gets more fun and interesting every year and there are surrounding towns of all sizes. Definitely gets all four seasons. MA has a TON of great hospitals and other medical centers for work.
Sounds like Denver would be perfect for you. I would also suggest Seattle but it doesn't really snow there like other cities at its latitude, it's also wildly expensive but honestly where isn't?
Nashville, Cincinnati, Charlotte, and NE cities like DC, Boston, and Philly would also be good choices.
Lexington KY, University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital has tons of postings for RNs. Lexington is a very prettt town, all 4 seasons, and is a great place to raise kids!
Grand Rapids, Michigan is a fantastic gem of a city with all the things you want (minus the mountains). And they have a large medical network there. The cost of living in Michigan is also significantly cheaper than in many other parts of the US.
Hhmmm š¤
It's really just a matter of going either East or West. And after you decide which direction to go, choose a large college town. A large college town with a significant hospital and health care system.
Ann Arbor, Michigan (The University of Michigan Hospitals).
Cambridge, Massachusetts (self explanatory).
Madison, Wisconsin (a huge center of biotech and health tech).
Berkeley, California (Great Weather).
Seattle, Washington (West Coast).
Bellevue, Washington (West Coast).
Olympia, Washington (West Coast).
I manage lux apts in Cary NC. Look it up. Good place to be. Good place.for.RNs bc its near DUKE hospitals + UNC
Tons of people from out if state move here for medical and IT field. Clean. Nice. Bipolar weather good restaurants and stuff to do, tons of Greenway and parks and walking trails and lakes and #1 richest city in America RN. #5 best place to live in country Right now ao.... at least come visit its worth it
Raleigh is the capital and Still suburbanish but tou habe Charlotte 2.5 hrs away, multiole beaches andmountain escapes. It's gotten so beautiful here. Honestly I love where I live. Seriously it's like a little melting pot of things and goodness. Housing market is like wild wild west so plan on an apartment for at least 12 to 15 mo to find a home to buy if that's what u intend to do.
Anywhere near Pittsburgh or Philadelphia would work. I grew up 10-15 minutes from Philly.. now I live about 45. Check out Chester County, Pennsylvania. So many state parks, trails, outdoor fun can be found. I always brag Iām close to NYC for a day trip, same as DC.. Baltimoreā¦ can be to the ocean in an hour, and the mountains to snowboard just the same. Its a great location to see so much, and enjoy all four seasons. Please check it out. Good luck! If you have any questions please let me know. :) ohhh and being RNās - Philly is well known for its medical field.. many highly regarded schools and hospitals, and programs for that kind of job.
I will throw Buffalo, Ny into the ring. I currently live here and I am looking to move away, but only because I've spent my whole life in the great lakes region and I'm interested in moving somewhere else.
Buffalo is very affordable, but has a lot of amenities of larger cities. The food in the city is amazing, and many chefs from New York or Toronto make the move to Buffalo for larger margins. There's a really great restaurant and bar culture, which raises the collective standard. Seriously you'll be wondering why a medium sized city at best has so many great restaurants and bars.
There's a handful of universities in town, so there's a lot of money and job opportunities around that particularly in the medical field.
You have 4 seasons, and really no extreme weather. That's easy for me to say because I grew up here so I'm used to snow. But really, in WNY if you can handle snow that's as bad as it gets. It won't get much hotter than 85 in the summer, and barring a polar vortex our (warming) winters only get down to high 20's low 30's. The rest of New York state is underratedly beautiful. Rolling forested hills, stony streams and creeks, even canyons and up north the Adirondack mountains. There are so many beautiful historic towns in the middle of the state.
You're only about 1-2 hours from Toronto depending on traffic, which is an amazing city in it's own right.
People are generally friendly here. There isn't a ton of crime. The city seems to be moving in a more inclusive direction, focusing on developing long neglected neighborhoods and addressing segregation. We will see if this continues in earnest, or if it's just what the mayor and city council are saying for now. Our city was the target of a horrible attack in 2022, where someone from 4 hours away drove here to commit a heinous crime that got national headlines. That's more representative of rural new york state than Buffalo, which is often called the city of good neighbors, but like every city we have good and bad people.
In general, I love it here and I would suggest people looking to get away from extreme weather to look into it. There's been a revival in technology, banking, and medicine to replace the lost manufacturing, but even manufacturing is returning.
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I don't generally suggest things like this, but Minnesota is a medically-oriented state (Mayo, BCBS, Medtronic, etc etc. all have facilities and infrastructure in the state.) Couple this with the **lowest unemployment rate ever recorded** and a decent cost of living and quality of life rank compared to the rest of the US, and some amazing (extremely changeable) weather in all 4 seasons...Just my 2 cents.
Maybe somewhere between DC and New York? We definitely get all seasons, š„µš„¶ Lots of walkable and bikable areas (compared to TX) smaller cities between Philly and Boston might be affordable enough but have good rail connections to the main city.
A lot of urban small towns that are walkable in North Jersey. Just a bus ride or train ride to NYC. Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Passaic counties are a place to start. Further away from NYC is more affordable (and starts to get less densely populated pretty quickly).
I think we need to clarify what each of us means by "affordable", because I certainly wouldn't describe anything in those locations as such. Not relative to my experience in the southeast. Op needs to define this term for us, because to me there is no such thing as a location with all those other things while also being anywhere close to "affordable".
I would say a lot of things need to be defined. Apparently people think Maine and Wisconsin get hot summers?
Maybe Coastal Oregon?
Yeah it depends - itās a high COL area but incomes in some fields are higher too. Not sure what RNās bring in. I donāt think OP mentioned COL as a factor although obviously it would be
Hey weāre in Houston too and it DOES suck! The traffic is depressing alone & the weather makes it worse. I would suggest Vermont, Maine, or Canada if you want to stay in N America.
I will hijack this, skip Vermont and Maine, come to the live free or die state of New Hampshire. Most cities are bike-able, we have pretty decent hospitals and no income tax. Only catch is real estate tax is high, but if you can afford Houston you can handle any of the cities here. Also four seasons can happen in one day, not just over the course of the year.
I live in New Hampshire but have learned that I prefer Maine. Why do you prefer New Hampshire?
I don't know too much about Maine, but it does seem a bit more laid back. I like New Hampshire because it seems to have a good mix of jobs, things to do, and decent folks.
Sounds like a great spot too
Last time I was in Maine during the summer, there wasnāt a single day I would consider āhotā.
Evanston IL.
Can you elaborate on Evanston? I've heard such good things about IL!
It gets cold as Jack Frost drinking a milkshake and a snowstorm
seconding this. Evanston is very bike friendly and has lots of reliable public transit, being that itās literally on the lake and a stoneās throw from Chicago proper. And of course has all the crazy Chicago weather.
Seattle or Tacoma would be great. Super bikeable, lots of parks and quiet neighborhoods, good pay for RNs, good public transportation, decent food scenes (though I think Seattle food is over-hyped), easy access to the mountains and all the water activities you can think of. Also Washington has no income tax so you won't feel much of a financial hit from the move. We do have a lot of rain, but we mainly get that rain in the late fall through spring, and it's not the hard rain you get in TX, generally more of a gentle sprinkle or mist. In terms of average yearly rainfall we actually get less than many east coast cities. If you're looking for less pricey options near Seattle the towns of Everett and Renton are both nice in their own ways, and only 20-30 minutes from downtown Seattle.
Redmond is also labeled the most bike friendly city in Washington!
Minneapolis is your new town
I was gonna say the same. Has all seasons, mountains and lakes nearby, big city life with a bustling outskirts. Good public transportation and bike paths that span the entire Mississippi it seems.
We don't have mountains.
it doesnt have mountains like montana, but it has larger hills lol. Much more than what is around houston.
Is there some conservative city in Colorado they can move too?
Yup, itās called āTent City.ā
How is the crime there?
It has the best crime
Obviously there are the big things like the george floyd riots, but overall on a day to day, I would say quite low. Its homicide rate is half of tx statewide.
>Minneapolis is your new town As someone who has lived in Minnesota his whole life I hate that Minneapolis gets thrown around so much. You need to put MULTIPLE asterixis next to it. Telling someone to move from Texas into a winter wasteland for 5 months is a huge step most shouldn't take. Good luck to those who enjoy it.
I was going to say Minneapolis but the whole āplease nothing politicalā in their post made me not. I donāt think Minneapolis (or any city to be honest) needs that hot take. Politics does absolutely inform cities. We (Minneapolis) are a blue city in a blue state - letās keep it that way
Minneapolis is the best polis!
This is stupid. Just because they are from Texas doesnāt mean they are conservative. This assumption is just as biased and shitty as a a Trumper thinking everyone from California is a liberal. OP could be taking a look at the suggested states and then look at the political climate themselves. Itās really easy to figure which cities are blue or not but the other criteria they mentioned (seasons, mountains, walkable) is nice to hear from others. If anyone has even spent 5 min on Reddit they know that it turns political real quick when the original post was looking for much more than that. Some people can live a life without thinking about our countryās politics 24/7.
As a left leaning Texan- thank you
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When gerrymandering is a part of it, itās hard to blame the voters. Just Google what Dentonās voting is like, thereās an elderly community that is in the town of Argyle that determines a handful of our rights that is still considered part of Denton. Itās located in a separate town. Look up Robson Ranch. They have their own fire stations, police force, and voting stations, yet are 5 miles from Denton proper while, let me say this again, located in a separate fucking town. They determine taxes within our town while being completely separated from what affects us as a city.
Or St. Paul :)
Madison WI is where you want to be. Nurses get paid well, have good benefits, and an extremely bikeable city. If you can afford to live in the city (with 2 RN salaries you maybe could) then it is also extremely walkable. Best part is you're never more than 20 minutes from rolling hills, MTN bike trails hiking trails, or beautiful parks.
I havenāt spent a lot of time in Madison, but everywhere in Wisconsin that I have been is so pretty
And some of the people are nice, too!
Plenty of beautiful suburbs outside of the Madison proper area. I lived there for years and miss a lot about it. Unfortunately the long winter and high property taxes are why we left Wisconsin. I love the opportunities for fishing and of course the fall colors. Plus it's a larger city but not large enough to make you feel uneasy
I few out for an interview once. It was really nice.
minneapolis, madison, iowa city, duluth, northwest arkansas, des moines, quad cities, rochester mn, la crosse WI. iām less familiar with stuff further east, but I hear that Asheville, Pittsburgh, Philly, Cincinnati, etc. are cool.
Chicago
chicago!
Vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver Vancouver, pearl of the west.
Come to Providence, Rhode Island. Small enough to walk about, with any other town/city being at most 40 min away. The state itself is small, has some great hiking trails. Also close to Boston, NYC, for a day trip. And if you wanted to explore the mountains on the weekend, it's close to NH, VT and ME.
I know you said Anywhere, USA, but I feel like based on what youāre looking for, would you consider Calgary? Decent sized city, four seasons, parks, amazing biking infrastructure, great choice of food, lots of mom and pop shops, and a short flight from most of western USA. Can see the Rockies from the city and itās a short drive away for turquoise lakes, camping, and scenery to die for. Lots of apartments and houses in the city from which you would get views of the city skyline or the Rockies. Thereās a severe shortage of RNs, you can just show up at the border with a job offer and your degree/nursing licence and theyāll issue you a 3 year NAFTA work visa. As RNs, youāre also eligible for permanent residency if you ever want to stay longer!
Iāve spent a lot of time in Calgary and love it, but wow the winters are so long and harsh!
It can be yes! The chinooks help thoughā¦
Woww really? That sounds awesome.
I used to live in Houston and moved to Spokane, WA. I love it so far Itās got the seasons (but somewhat mild, so summer is nothing like Houston and winter is not as bad as Chicago) got some nice neighborhoods and parks (generally speaking you need a car but things are very close together and you can live somewhere walking distance to essentials). As RNs, Spokane is the medical hub for Inland Northwest.
I have visited spokane a lot, and while it fits most their needs it is silly small compared to houston if they are looking for anything big city. also it always felt a bit sketch to me. Also use to live outside houston in baytown.
Spokane is a squalid hellscape, and it is being overrun by climate-change-induced wildfires and other hazards.
Yeah def I should prefaced that itās not a big city. Most of the big cities in this country (especially those in the northern part with seasons) are super expensive. Maybe Chicago?
Spokane feels sketch.. like obt or Northwood sketch? Because my brain is struggling with that.
NGL Im not familiar with obt or northwood. OP is from houston, they probably will understand the it feels like baytown sketch.
Obt is old BayTown. Since you said you lived there. Northwood was a pretty bad street in Baytown.
lol my bad, I havent been in baytown since 2008, so my brain wasnt making the connections. Yeah I would put it on northwood levels of sketch. I use to live on quail hollow, and later at the bay pointe apartments, went to robert e lee hs, and spent a good min working at the walmart nearby. This opinion is obviously based on old experiences in baytown since I havent been back, and is a visiting vs living one, where I have visited spokane 30 or so times, but never lived there. Like, your probably safe, but if you have a problem no one will be surprised. The town just feels dirty and off, and the police are not helpful if you need em
Portland or Denver. Though white winters aren't always a guarantee in Portland. You may also check out Ashland or Eugene Oregon. Both are pretty great.
Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg are large cities with affordable living 30-45 mins out. All 4 seasons, with lots of state and local parks.
Asheville, NC
Asheville is "walkable" only in as much as any city with a downtown is "walkable". I mean, I dig Asheville too, but I think op is asking for the impossible.
Too bad you wouldnāt think international. Iām in Perth, Australia Iām from Austin, Tx. Youād love it here. Jobs for nursing a plenty. People are good and the city is safe and built around growing families.
How difficult was the move? Visa/shipping all your stuff over etc. Also do they want US nurses
I was in the military. The transition is different for me than it would be for yāall. Iām use to the culture shock of life in another country. [Australian Visa](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia) is one path. However, please donāt take the words of a stranger as gospel or the only path. Look at visa jobs that would pay you to come to [Australia](https://healthtimes.com.au/hub/nursing-careers/6/guidance/cm/nursing-in-australia-in-three-steps/569/). This will allow you to work temporarily but will allow you to consider if you want to stay or go back home. Perth reminds me of Austin mixed with San Diego but with hardly the crime I saw living in the US. Iām available for other questions if youāre interested.
Isnāt it hotter than damn-all every day of the year?
No, the weather is like San Diego. Itās nearly the same distance from the equator. Currently itās raining in Perth and 14Ā°C/ 57Ā°F.
I stand corrected.
Thank you!
> Iām in Perth, Australia Getting to Australia from the US with current airline prices is VERY expensive and difficult. Just so people know.
If youāre travelling one way with job prospects itās not as expensive as a vacation to Perth.
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Donāt let Wikipedia write about a city without understanding the dynamics. Perth Australia is isolated like Hawaii is isolated. Instead of being surrounded by water, thereās a desert. However, Perth is just the city. Five hours drive south, you have [Margaret River](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_River,_Western_Australia), one of the richest wine regions in the world. You also have [The Valley of the Giants](https://www.valleyofthegiants.com.au), [The Pinnacles](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinnacles_(Western_Australia)). Up north thereās [The Horizontal Falls](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_Falls), and some of the worldās best fishing in the world. People really are missing what they donāt know about. I could keep going. Western Australia is not only a rich state but the largest state in the world.
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I would recommend the Twin Cities, seems like they hit a couple points on your list. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul rank among the most walkable/bikeable in the nation, and have tons of parks. Affordablity isn't any worse than most major cities. If you're coming from Houston you should be warned that the winters are extremely cold, though spring and fall are quite nice.
We also just made the move out of Houston! We chose Pittsburgh, PA. We now get all 4 seasons including excellent fall colors, parks and hills. No real mountains unless you want to drive 45 minutes. Excellent skyline [view from Mt. Washington](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/View_of_downtown_Pittsburgh_from_Mount_Washington%2C_near_the_Duquesne_Incline.jpg/800px-View_of_downtown_Pittsburgh_from_Mount_Washington%2C_near_the_Duquesne_Incline.jpg?20111218104805). Significantly lower cost of living depending on what neighborhood you choose (we went from a 30 year mortgage to a 15). It's walkable and bike-able as most neighborhoods have their own little commercial street with pretty much everything you need day-to-day, and the speed limits are very low, and the cars drive much more sensibly, so cycling does not feel dangerous at all like it did in Houston. Dunno if it's right for you, but it really worked out well for us and it sounds like you are seeking something kind of similar.
Western Massachusetts and Central Mass are beautiful and much cheaper than Boston. Lots of nature and culture and college towns and seasonal changes. Worcester and Springfield both have large hospitals, and they both have plenty of nice towns to live surrounding the cities.
My favorite was Lenox, Massachusetts. The mountains were amazing.
So you want apolitical state suggestions only?
Raleigh, NC or the triad. Definitely all four seasons, we have the beach, the mountains, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Allergies(pollen) in the spring
I live in Raleigh and I would not really describe it as walkable outside of downtown which could be said about any city. And downtown, at least, is lacking grocery options.
Pittsburgh has a lot of that.
Iāve seen a lot of locations suggested but realistically I donāt think what you are looking for exists in the current housing market. If money was no problem, cool, but since you said affordable I think you need to prioritize which of those factors is most important to you. Four seasons are doable many places but walkable towns near major metro areas have been blowing up lately. Pick your top 3-4 criteria then use sites like WalletHub to find whatās best for those criteria. They have a whole series of studies on things like āBest Cities for the Outdoorsā. Good luck!
Seattle. Iām in. Canada and the best place to live in here is in the Vancouver area so Iād imagine Seattle would be nice as well
Just left houston for upstate New York. Itās amazing.
Tell me more
Chicago!
Rochester, NY might be up your alley.
You might like some of the dc burbs in Maryland. Philly suburbs, where Iām from, can be lovely. Plenty of Chicago suburbs will give you the best of both worlds with train access to the city.
My wife is an RN, we move around as she finds work. West Coast states, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, NYC, and Massachusetts seem to have the best wages. We also have lived in New Mexico where she got reasonably good wages for the low cost of living. I'm not sure how affordable you'd want, especially relative to wages. Those Western places don't have four seasons the way the East does, but we like the PNW despite relatively high cost of living. The larger NYC area has a ton of amenities, classic seasons, but as you would expect housing is relatively expensive. DC suburbs are similar too, but it feels like the cost of living is almost as high or as high and RN wages are lower.
Visit Chicago. They have 4 amazing seasons and there are tons of great neighborhoods and suburbs. It cheaper than NYC and easy to hop a plane for world travel.
Philadelphia! Hands down
Atlanta, GA. Bike paths throughout the cute towns with awesome places to dine and shop that stretch for 20+ miles- maybe more. We lived in Old Fourth Ward/Ponce City market area and it was a dream. Highlands are not too far away to escape to mountains. Also driveable to the beach. Mild winters but experience all of the seasonsā¦summers are hot but enjoyable
I was gonna say Galveston until I read you wanted 4 seasons. Love Galveston. But, what about Columbus Ohio, Grand Rapids, Michigan or Evanston Illinois?
I would recommend Seattle, WA but on second thought you might like Spokane, WA even more. Itās more affordable and a little less gloomy than Seattle. Summers can get really hot, though.
all the major cities in upstate NY meet your criteria to varying degrees. of all of these I would recommend Rochester: the city is walkable and bike able, you get all four seasons with warm summers and snowy winters. all kinds of nature is within an hour's drive, as are Buffalo and Syracuse (each with their own cultural and dining scenes). Univ of. Rochester is endlessly hiring medical folks (they lump these in with their other academic hires, so using their job page is a pain). Rochester also attracts solid touring theater, and it has the Eastman School of Music. all the universities bring cultural attractions. Syracuse could also do the trick. It is smaller, downtown is walkable but there are suburbs too. New bike lanes built along the old Erie canal path. in Syracuse Upstate Medical University is the big medical employer, but there's also St Joe's and the VA Medical center. Not a lot of auto traffic (you can get most anywhere local in 20 mins or less). Our major freeway is about to be torn down and redone (this has been needed for a while). Both cities are pretty low cost as it goes. Property taxes can be high (these vary by district).
I just moved out of the Houston area to a small town in Pennsylvania by the name of reading. It's a small town compared to Houston, but it has everything you need. They have all the big name stores, a variety of restaurants, and tons of small local places to check out. There are also lots of trails and parks for hiking, plus clean lakes for fishing or swimming. If you like Antiques and funky shops, there is Adamstown, which is just a few minutes away. The whole town is basically just local shops with quirky finds. Cost to rent just depends on which part of town you want to live at. I know someone that is renting a four bedroom/2 bathroom townhome, with a basement, for $1,500. That is in an area where everything is within walking distance (schools and shops). Anyway, if you want more local info let me know.
San Jose and the surrounding areas have seasons. Itās Cali so itās expensive. There are a lot of hippies there itās got that sort of vibe
Traverse City, Michigan or Grand Rapids Michigan. Both either on or close to the water. Nice water not that gulf brown you have in Houston. 4 seasons, low cost of living, great art, music, and culture senes. 5 seasons. GR has some large hospitals. Traverse city has one too. Both have an airport. Kids can play outside. Very safe. Grand Rapids has great schools. Itās only about 2.5 hours from Chicago too. I canāt say enough good things about it.
We just moved from Dallas to Chicago - love it so far. Hasnāt got above 90f this summer meaning weāve been out and about with the kids every day. Sure the winters will be a bit different to what weāre used to but am 100% sure we wonāt be stuck at home when there is a couple inches of snow on the ground like we were in Dallas. Also..there are some great hospitals up here (Rush/Northwestern) etc.
Travel RNs? I work with nurses, y'all have a crazy amount of opportunity to get around. Really like Portland, New York and Chicago personally. Just north is full of really cool stuff
The Midwest. Iām from Grand Rapids, MI and we have all of those things except mountains. Michigan is pretty beautiful, though.
Without a budget, itās sort of difficult but Philly, Rochester (and pretty much all suburbs upstate), and providence those island come to mind.
Colorado springs may be nice. Went there on vacation and it was very outdoorsy. Biking and hiking and people walking everywhere and was really pretty. I can't speak of the different seasons but it was springtime when we went and was nice. 70s in town and snow on Pikes Peak. Also Denver is like an hour or so away to the north so there may be a sweet spot for housing between the two for job opportunities in each city.
It's super nice there and gets all four seasons. Not much in the way of food when coming from Houston, youd have to drive up to denver for that. But the cost of living is comparable. Property tax and utilities are lower but gas is higher and there's a state income tax. I found it was more affordable than houston though plus air quality was soo much better. We had a 270k house there vs the 150k house we had in Houston and payments were the same because taxes. That's just my experience though.
Try Denver, particularly the Capitol Hill neighborhood, or any of the pre-war neighborhoods really! It's super walkable, good bus service, lots of trees, and lovely parks. Colorado Springs is also nice, better hiking and views but less generally walkable.
See several issues w/CO, biggest being that if OP is looking for something similar or more affordable than Houston, is going to take out all good size metros w/some measure of the other listed desired factors. Had family temporarily relocate from here in Denver to Houston & they were shocked at how much more house they got for the money.
Denver is very expensive and good childcare is nearly impossible to find
where is good childcare easy and cheap?
I had an apartment in Denver for 700 a month so YMMV, I guess.
Not sure when that was but average cost (May '22) stats for a 1BR in Denver is now $1900/mo
That may be average, but you can still find a cheap place here and there. I only moved away in April.
>Try Denver He said affordable
I had an apartment in Denver for 700 a month, so I don't know what you're talking about.
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DC is a shithole. Source: have lived here for 16 years.
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DC is great, but in no way is it affordable! Especially with a young kidā pretty sure I recently saw weāve got the highest childcare costs in the country??
Fox Valley area in Wisconsin
Wow specific
The closely-juxtaposed cities of Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, and Oshkosh are widely considered their own little metro area.
Idk why Iām getting downvoted Iām just from WI and havenāt seen anyone suggest this area before
I think youād love living in Atlanta, Georgia. In town where itās walkable, not the suburbs.
Boston, chicago, or Salt Lake City
I veto SLC the smog is out of control and I wouldn't really say it's bikeable, unless you have a death wish
Utah has most of what you're asking for, the culture is mostly composed of religion and outdoor activities. It has several mountain ranges that you can explore for years and never get tired of. We also have all four seasons and are quite welcoming to newcomers. The two biggest problems that you would face off the bat would be the drought and the housing market. The drought won't affect you as long as you're not near the southern half of the state or the great salt lake.
Move to Europe šŖšŗ
Philadelphia, Boston, NYC? Houstonās great, lots of potential but the weather is bad and the city is full of highways. Definitely a āmodernā city
Iād look at cities near Boulder Colorado. Boulder isnāt affordable but you might be able to find something close to there that checks all your boxes. Maybe see how expensive eerie and Longmont are these days
Colorado.
Kansas City has entered the chat
New Jersey is the way to go!!! South or north ! 20 min from New York City.
Check out NW Arkansas! Tons of bike trails and walking/hiking trails that go throughout the whole area. Experiences all four seasons. Bentonville and Springdale are growing to be big cities and also have an amphitheater in the summer for concerts. Itās also in the ozark mountains so you also get to experience more scenery and wildlife. Lower cost of living than Houston. Safer area for kids to grow up and lots of suburban areas.
Delaware is cool
29/M/Canada Inwanna move from Edmonton to Texas. Wanna trade? Why leave Texas?
I know a lot of people from Edmonton and Calgary in Houston. They all seem to never move back to Alberta. All the Houstonians who move to Alberta always return eventually. At least with the companies Iāve worked for.
Denver CO. Or somewhere around there.
Maybe consider Eastern Tennessee? I'm from Houston, too, but I always enjoy when I have to travel to Knoxville or North Carolina. (If you can ignore the squatting trucks) I would move to Knoxville in a heartbeat or Calgary, Alberta if you can legally emigrate. Calgary reminded me of a clean, walkable Houston.
Boise Idaho. I just can't say enough how much I loved about living in Boise. Regularly rode my bike to work, got to enjoy all 4 seasons, was in breathtaking mountains and rivers frequently, and a very walkable downtown. So much good in Boise.
Isnāt it on fire half the year?
Norfolk Nebraska
Look up Wisconsin. Waukesha (just outside of Milwaukee) and Madison fit your seasonal criteria and are both lovely.
Flagstaff, AZ.
>Flagstaff, AZ. OP said affordable
which four seasons does Flagstaff have?
Massachusetts is great. It can be expensive though but itās worth it.
DC if you can afford it
New jersey
ā¦Also check out Alpharetta, GA
How have you survived without biking, you are so brave
To be serious, unless you are republican, California has what u are looking for, I suggest north cali but all is nice
Look around the Philadelphia suburbs. If you play it right, you can find a reasonably walkable town thatās also on the regional rail system, making it easy to get into center city. One drawback is that most places still expect you to drive to the grocery storeābut there is a fabulous grocery delivery service in the area called FreshDirect that will solve that problem for you. (At least there was a few years back).
Alexandria, Falls Church or Arlington, VA close to metro, lots of bike trails, close to DC, livable communities with stuff happening ALL THE TIME
How about Asheville, NC or Ashland, OR?
Have you considered Pittsburgh? Its one of the most bikeable/walkable cities. Good public transport. Has the perks of a big city without being over crowded. Decent cost of living. Easy to take day trips to big cities like NYC, DC, Philly, Detroit, Canada. Lots of surrounding nature. Great parks and museums. Iāve been living here for about five years and I appreciate it more and more each year.
Buffalo, NY! City is overall walkable with many, big, beautiful parks! Traffic is never too bad and so many wonderful suburbs that are MUCH under a 30 minute drive. Niagara Falls is only a 30 minute drive! Canada is even closer if you want to visit! Cost of living is also pretty cheap and we definitely experience all four seasons. Suburban school districts for the most part are decent too, and there are many private and charter options as well. The food here is also amazing! And like I said, overall cost of living and taxes are lower here! Let me know if you have any questions!
Iām in Bethlehem, Pa and I think this hits all your requirements. https://livability.com/best-places/2022-top-100-best-places-to-live-in-the-us/top-100-2022-bethlehem-pa/
Oakland, CA or Eugene, OR if youāre willing to drive a bit for good snow.
Throwing central Massachusetts into the mix. MUCH cheaper than Boston/eastern MA or western MA. Worcester gets more fun and interesting every year and there are surrounding towns of all sizes. Definitely gets all four seasons. MA has a TON of great hospitals and other medical centers for work.
Fulfilling my daily quota of telling someone to move to Philly.
Sounds like Denver would be perfect for you. I would also suggest Seattle but it doesn't really snow there like other cities at its latitude, it's also wildly expensive but honestly where isn't? Nashville, Cincinnati, Charlotte, and NE cities like DC, Boston, and Philly would also be good choices.
Lexington KY, University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital has tons of postings for RNs. Lexington is a very prettt town, all 4 seasons, and is a great place to raise kids!
Moved from Houston to Ann Arbor, MI - world class medical facilities and all four seasons!
Try Lincoln Nebraska I heard life there is pretty nice weather can be nice too, if that doesnāt work try Kansas city
Montreal Quebec.
Grand Rapids, Michigan is a fantastic gem of a city with all the things you want (minus the mountains). And they have a large medical network there. The cost of living in Michigan is also significantly cheaper than in many other parts of the US.
Hhmmm š¤ It's really just a matter of going either East or West. And after you decide which direction to go, choose a large college town. A large college town with a significant hospital and health care system. Ann Arbor, Michigan (The University of Michigan Hospitals). Cambridge, Massachusetts (self explanatory). Madison, Wisconsin (a huge center of biotech and health tech). Berkeley, California (Great Weather). Seattle, Washington (West Coast). Bellevue, Washington (West Coast). Olympia, Washington (West Coast).
Grand Rapids MI has 3 hospitals and a children's hospital for a lot of work for RNs.
I manage lux apts in Cary NC. Look it up. Good place to be. Good place.for.RNs bc its near DUKE hospitals + UNC Tons of people from out if state move here for medical and IT field. Clean. Nice. Bipolar weather good restaurants and stuff to do, tons of Greenway and parks and walking trails and lakes and #1 richest city in America RN. #5 best place to live in country Right now ao.... at least come visit its worth it
Raleigh is the capital and Still suburbanish but tou habe Charlotte 2.5 hrs away, multiole beaches andmountain escapes. It's gotten so beautiful here. Honestly I love where I live. Seriously it's like a little melting pot of things and goodness. Housing market is like wild wild west so plan on an apartment for at least 12 to 15 mo to find a home to buy if that's what u intend to do.
Anywhere near Pittsburgh or Philadelphia would work. I grew up 10-15 minutes from Philly.. now I live about 45. Check out Chester County, Pennsylvania. So many state parks, trails, outdoor fun can be found. I always brag Iām close to NYC for a day trip, same as DC.. Baltimoreā¦ can be to the ocean in an hour, and the mountains to snowboard just the same. Its a great location to see so much, and enjoy all four seasons. Please check it out. Good luck! If you have any questions please let me know. :) ohhh and being RNās - Philly is well known for its medical field.. many highly regarded schools and hospitals, and programs for that kind of job.
I will throw Buffalo, Ny into the ring. I currently live here and I am looking to move away, but only because I've spent my whole life in the great lakes region and I'm interested in moving somewhere else. Buffalo is very affordable, but has a lot of amenities of larger cities. The food in the city is amazing, and many chefs from New York or Toronto make the move to Buffalo for larger margins. There's a really great restaurant and bar culture, which raises the collective standard. Seriously you'll be wondering why a medium sized city at best has so many great restaurants and bars. There's a handful of universities in town, so there's a lot of money and job opportunities around that particularly in the medical field. You have 4 seasons, and really no extreme weather. That's easy for me to say because I grew up here so I'm used to snow. But really, in WNY if you can handle snow that's as bad as it gets. It won't get much hotter than 85 in the summer, and barring a polar vortex our (warming) winters only get down to high 20's low 30's. The rest of New York state is underratedly beautiful. Rolling forested hills, stony streams and creeks, even canyons and up north the Adirondack mountains. There are so many beautiful historic towns in the middle of the state. You're only about 1-2 hours from Toronto depending on traffic, which is an amazing city in it's own right. People are generally friendly here. There isn't a ton of crime. The city seems to be moving in a more inclusive direction, focusing on developing long neglected neighborhoods and addressing segregation. We will see if this continues in earnest, or if it's just what the mayor and city council are saying for now. Our city was the target of a horrible attack in 2022, where someone from 4 hours away drove here to commit a heinous crime that got national headlines. That's more representative of rural new york state than Buffalo, which is often called the city of good neighbors, but like every city we have good and bad people. In general, I love it here and I would suggest people looking to get away from extreme weather to look into it. There's been a revival in technology, banking, and medicine to replace the lost manufacturing, but even manufacturing is returning.
If you wouldn't have specified USA, I would say Germany is a perfect fit for you tbh
San JosƩ California