Decent places to live in the US with low cost of living

[Anonymous]

It’s low cost of living for a reason: either no jobs, poverty with constant loose dogs that will come at you if you try to go for a walk, middle of nowhere or no natural beauty. Pick what you care least about

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just pick a Midwestern city with a population above 500k in the metro out of a hat and go visit and chances are it's decent and affordable. Emphasis on decent. These places aren't "great" but a lot of them aren't bad. Biggest culture shock might be the lack of an intellectual culture. Was chatting to a friend whose sibling moved out there and their sibling was surprised when they wanted to setup a book club but the other parents at school PROUDLY exclaimed that they don't read. Also when they were talking about colleges and programs, many of the parents were more concerned about the football team and its record so take with that as you will.

Maybe they're just more honest about their interests? Judging from what my work colleagues talk about (we're all lawyers), they seem singularly obsessed with the athletic pursuits of their kids - seemingly using the bulk of their free time to travel and attend games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just pick a Midwestern city with a population above 500k in the metro out of a hat and go visit and chances are it's decent and affordable. Emphasis on decent. These places aren't "great" but a lot of them aren't bad. Biggest culture shock might be the lack of an intellectual culture. Was chatting to a friend whose sibling moved out there and their sibling was surprised when they wanted to setup a book club but the other parents at school PROUDLY exclaimed that they don't read. Also when they were talking about colleges and programs, many of the parents were more concerned about the football team and its record so take with that as you will.

Maybe they're just more honest about their interests? Judging from what my work colleagues talk about (we're all lawyers), they seem singularly obsessed with the athletic pursuits of their kids - seemingly using the bulk of their free time to travel and attend games.

Why does this happen in UMC areas? My lawyer colleagues all they talk about is how they have to drive their kids to practice. I wasn’t driven to any sports, I played in the nearby park with friends. They all sound miserable and exhausted and always kill the vibe when socializing at work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the below have solid healthcare available, the usual range of retail and restaurants, more affordable housing, and are visibly lower cost of living.

The grocery market in SE Virginia is one of the most competitive in the country and has lower prices, because so many people in that area have the option of buying from the on-base Commissary.

Henrico County, near Richmond VA.
Virginia Beach, VA
Chesapeake, VA
Williamsburg, VA

Richmond (and Henrico which is basically Richmond, I grew up there) is not significantly cheaper than NOVA. People seem very shocked when they look into moving there that it isn’t a bargain.

It’s still significantly less expensive (sibling lives there), but it’s not the steal that it was before so many DC-area residents started moving there for a lower cost of living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s low cost of living for a reason: either no jobs, poverty with constant loose dogs that will come at you if you try to go for a walk, middle of nowhere or no natural beauty. Pick what you care least about

People in the DC area want gated communities. Sometimes the gates are physical but more often they are economic.

Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Richmond all have neighborhoods that seem infinitely cooler to me than anything in the uptight DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just pick a Midwestern city with a population above 500k in the metro out of a hat and go visit and chances are it's decent and affordable. Emphasis on decent. These places aren't "great" but a lot of them aren't bad. Biggest culture shock might be the lack of an intellectual culture. Was chatting to a friend whose sibling moved out there and their sibling was surprised when they wanted to setup a book club but the other parents at school PROUDLY exclaimed that they don't read. Also when they were talking about colleges and programs, many of the parents were more concerned about the football team and its record so take with that as you will.

Maybe they're just more honest about their interests? Judging from what my work colleagues talk about (we're all lawyers), they seem singularly obsessed with the athletic pursuits of their kids - seemingly using the bulk of their free time to travel and attend games.

Any of these medium midwest cities will have a community that places a super high value on reading books and learning, with opportunities to join multiple book clubs. Your sister just happens to not be in that part of her metro area. I cannot guarantee that they will satisfy the diversity goals mentioned by OP, but they are there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh. You can own a McMansion for cheaper than one of those 40s/50s era “tear downs” around here. And in many of their areas (including areas with great schools).

Why would I want a McMansion?

Pittsburgh also has beautiful older queen annes and Victorians.

Weather sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just pick a Midwestern city with a population above 500k in the metro out of a hat and go visit and chances are it's decent and affordable. Emphasis on decent. These places aren't "great" but a lot of them aren't bad. Biggest culture shock might be the lack of an intellectual culture. Was chatting to a friend whose sibling moved out there and their sibling was surprised when they wanted to setup a book club but the other parents at school PROUDLY exclaimed that they don't read. Also when they were talking about colleges and programs, many of the parents were more concerned about the football team and its record so take with that as you will.

Maybe they're just more honest about their interests? Judging from what my work colleagues talk about (we're all lawyers), they seem singularly obsessed with the athletic pursuits of their kids - seemingly using the bulk of their free time to travel and attend games.

Any of these medium midwest cities will have a community that places a super high value on reading books and learning, with opportunities to join multiple book clubs. Your sister just happens to not be in that part of her metro area. I cannot guarantee that they will satisfy the diversity goals mentioned by OP, but they are there.

Not at all surprised that dc people would be so arrogant as to believe that all people in the Midwest don’t read books. This area is full is people who really haven’t traveled to much of the country and so they think dc is super-special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Pittsburgh. You can own a McMansion for cheaper than one of those 40s/50s era “tear downs” around here. And in many of their areas (including areas with great schools).


Why would I want a McMansion?

Pittsburgh also has beautiful older queen annes and Victorians.

If you're trying to save money and go LCOL it's not a good idea to buy a drafty old house in a cold weather area. Just saying. For that matter you might not want a McMansion that you have to heat (and cool as well).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the below have solid healthcare available, the usual range of retail and restaurants, more affordable housing, and are visibly lower cost of living.

The grocery market in SE Virginia is one of the most competitive in the country and has lower prices, because so many people in that area have the option of buying from the on-base Commissary.

Henrico County, near Richmond VA.
Virginia Beach, VA
Chesapeake, VA
Williamsburg, VA

Richmond (and Henrico which is basically Richmond, I grew up there) is not significantly cheaper than NOVA. People seem very shocked when they look into moving there that it isn’t a bargain.

It’s still significantly less expensive (sibling lives there), but it’s not the steal that it was before so many DC-area residents started moving there for a lower cost of living.

We are just going to have to disagreed. My sister, her family, my parents, and most of my high school friends all still live there and my mother is in real estate. Henrico is big (but people just call it Richmond, I have never heard anyone say I live in Henrico County, they may say the neighborhood but not Henrico). I would compare it to Fairfax in that there are real differences depending on where you are in Henrico. My family all live in 23229. That is VERY different from eastern Henrico and even different from the far western part of Henrico/Short Pump.

But it’s not significantly cheaper. The traffic IS significantly less, so much so that directional apps like Waze, that require user interaction to crowd source data to be accurate don’t work well because enough people aren’t using it. So there are some lifestyle trade offs that are definitely positive living there vs NOVA. I recommend people moving there. I love it there and wish I could move back. Hope your sibling is happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s low cost of living for a reason: either no jobs, poverty with constant loose dogs that will come at you if you try to go for a walk, middle of nowhere or no natural beauty. Pick what you care least about

Wrong! All the cities I listed in my PP have a great, diversified economy and a robust middle class. “Natural beauty” is a stupid thing to prioritize if keeping food on the table while funding your retirement is hard. You can live a great, happy and fulfilling life without Big Sur as a backdrop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just pick a Midwestern city with a population above 500k in the metro out of a hat and go visit and chances are it's decent and affordable. Emphasis on decent. These places aren't "great" but a lot of them aren't bad. Biggest culture shock might be the lack of an intellectual culture. Was chatting to a friend whose sibling moved out there and their sibling was surprised when they wanted to setup a book club but the other parents at school PROUDLY exclaimed that they don't read. Also when they were talking about colleges and programs, many of the parents were more concerned about the football team and its record so take with that as you will.

Exactly. Nobody in the Midwest reads. Only in five coastal cities do the people read. Listen to this PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the below have solid healthcare available, the usual range of retail and restaurants, more affordable housing, and are visibly lower cost of living.

The grocery market in SE Virginia is one of the most competitive in the country and has lower prices, because so many people in that area have the option of buying from the on-base Commissary.

Henrico County, near Richmond VA.
Virginia Beach, VA
Chesapeake, VA
Williamsburg, VA

Who wants to stay in va???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh. You can own a McMansion for cheaper than one of those 40s/50s era “tear downs” around here. And in many of their areas (including areas with great schools).

Why would I want a McMansion?

Pittsburgh also has beautiful older queen annes and Victorians.

Weather sucks

+1
PA is cloudy and dreary most of the time.

[Anonymous]

You can find educated people in any midsize city with one or more universities -- just figure out where the academics live. They will also be in neighbourhoods with good schools. these are not always the priciest neighborhoods with the most expensive houses either.