Where can I move that is warmer, slightly cheaper, somewhat liberal with good schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest either St. John's County (St. Augustine) or Sarasota County (40 min south of Tampa) which have the top two FL school districts according to Niche, they also appear on other top schools lists.

The price of housing is skyrocketing in FL because so many people, both red and blue, are moving there. However, relatively cheap housing can still be found in these areas if you are comparing to the DC area.

Despite many ignorant opinions to the contrary on DCUM I find FL to be a delightful place to live and I am staunchly democrat. Like other states (Virginia for example) the rural areas are almost completely red and the urban areas are almost completely blue. Registered Republicans in FL just recently started to barely outnumber registered Democrats after many years of the opposite. So it's pretty purple basically.

With the warm climate, decent schools in certain areas, and lower COL it's not too tough to ignore or tolerate whatever politics or political opinions you have a problem with and just live your own life.

You all are forgetting about HURRICAINES. Florida has 2-3 that roll over every year, usually just a fright but if you are not used to having a natural disaster come toward you, you will develop some major anxiety from it. Then you will get used to it and become a little crazy, but that's okay because everyone else is too down there. lol

Hurricanes can be scary and destructive but pretty much the entire east coast is subject to them as well as Florida. I have lived in FL, both east coast and west coast, at various times for 7+ years and have not experienced a hurricane. I did experience one in NoVa growing up though, a huge tree fell on our house. I have also experienced all kinds of other scary and dangerous weather in NoVa. Your amusing conclusion that everyone in Florida is a little crazy is moronic and stereotypical and ignorant. That's like saying everyone in DC is corrupt, power hungry, and consumed with politics. Partly true, but also, not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have or plan to have a family, refer to 2021 Realtor.com's Top 11 Family Friendly Suburbs based on affordable housing and quality of life. Some of them are in the south, with excellent schools, one near ocean (Pembroke Pines near Miami) or near lake (Peachtree City near Atlanta).


https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/family-friendly-suburbs-where-parents-will-want-to-live-post-pandemic/

We are moving from DC to Peachtree City. Peachtree City is evenly split with conservatives and liberals, so if OP is looking for a more liberal atmosphere, I recommend looking one town over at Fayetteville, or just south in Senoia. This area is experiencing a large influx of migrants from California and that is pushing up real estate prices, but it is still less expensive than the DC area. The schools are excellent and additionally, the state of Georgia covers college education for kids who score 3.70 and 26 or higher on the ACT.

The lakes in Peachtree City are stunning, as are the neighborhoods. But the vibe is not Takoma Park. It has a preppy, slightly churchy feel. Senoia feels like a liberal small town. OP, you may want to check out Trilith in Fayetteville. Trilith is really, really nice and has the best Gelato I've ever tasted, even over the real stuff in Italy. The schools assigned to Trilith are meh but the Forest School, the private school there, is well priced. The people are very friendly.

https://www.trilith.com/development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have or plan to have a family, refer to 2021 Realtor.com's Top 11 Family Friendly Suburbs based on affordable housing and quality of life. Some of them are in the south, with excellent schools, one near ocean (Pembroke Pines near Miami) or near lake (Peachtree City near Atlanta).


https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/family-friendly-suburbs-where-parents-will-want-to-live-post-pandemic/

We are moving from DC to Peachtree City. Peachtree City is evenly split with conservatives and liberals, so if OP is looking for a more liberal atmosphere, I recommend looking one town over at Fayetteville, or just south in Senoia. This area is experiencing a large influx of migrants from California and that is pushing up real estate prices, but it is still less expensive than the DC area. The schools are excellent and additionally, the state of Georgia covers college education for kids who score 3.70 and 26 or higher on the ACT.

The lakes in Peachtree City are stunning, as are the neighborhoods. But the vibe is not Takoma Park. It has a preppy, slightly churchy feel. Senoia feels like a liberal small town. OP, you may want to check out Trilith in Fayetteville. Trilith is really, really nice and has the best Gelato I've ever tasted, even over the real stuff in Italy. The schools assigned to Trilith are meh but the Forest School, the private school there, is well priced. The people are very friendly.

https://www.trilith.com/development

Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't also include Serenbe in the list. Very liberal, has a Takoma Park on the farm feel. Schools not as good. https://serenbe.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest either St. John's County (St. Augustine) or Sarasota County (40 min south of Tampa) which have the top two FL school districts according to Niche, they also appear on other top schools lists.

The price of housing is skyrocketing in FL because so many people, both red and blue, are moving there. However, relatively cheap housing can still be found in these areas if you are comparing to the DC area.

Despite many ignorant opinions to the contrary on DCUM I find FL to be a delightful place to live and I am staunchly democrat. Like other states (Virginia for example) the rural areas are almost completely red and the urban areas are almost completely blue. Registered Republicans in FL just recently started to barely outnumber registered Democrats after many years of the opposite. So it's pretty purple basically.

With the warm climate, decent schools in certain areas, and lower COL it's not too tough to ignore or tolerate whatever politics or political opinions you have a problem with and just live your own life.

Funny you should suggest that part of Florida. I recently met new neighbors who moved back to Bethesda after retiring to the same area you recommend. They said they were sick of being mocked for wearing masks in stores, and even had some scary moments on the roads when Trumpsters saw their Dem bumper stickers. This couple bought an old, pre-war bungalow in walking distance to downtown Bethesda and metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don’t go and ruin another area with overpriced NIMBY housing policies and defunding the police stupidity. DC people need to stay in DC and wallow in the idiotic situation they helped create by continually electing impractical/unhinged progressives. Don’t step in the human sidewalk poo!

Why do you post here? Leave DC people to themselves.

To make sure you stay there and don't infect our perfectly good areas with your failed progressive politics. For example, we house our homeless and provide subsidized housing for the poor. You let your homeless sleep on streets and put the poor in crowded hotels with no kitchen facilities.

I honestly don't know of a single place in the US that does this, but I haven't lived in the north east yet though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Liberal
Warm
Low cost of living.

Pick 2. You can't have all 3

Unfortunately this.

Sadly, true. If you can accept three months of serious winter (Jan-March), Rochester, NY would be great. The suburb of Brighton, in particular, is very liberal with excellent public schools, and minimal pressure/drama. Housing prices are ridiculously low compared to the DC area (though higher property taxes eat some of that savings.)

yea the weather is opposite of warm-- but this is my hometown and my partner and I frequently discuss moving there. We could buy a house in cash for the price that our home has increased since 2020. Quality of life is excellent-- everything is just easy and close.

You’ve intrigued me.

[Anonymous]

Loved my visit to Rochester when we were doing college visit for DC. But not warm. A place for those that enjoy changing seasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have or plan to have a family, refer to 2021 Realtor.com's Top 11 Family Friendly Suburbs based on affordable housing and quality of life. Some of them are in the south, with excellent schools, one near ocean (Pembroke Pines near Miami) or near lake (Peachtree City near Atlanta).


https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/family-friendly-suburbs-where-parents-will-want-to-live-post-pandemic/

Great list, even for those of us near retirement. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Interesting to see Olney on that list. We are looking to move there for a change of pace as a young family and all of the write ups make it sound idyllic.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Beach is a no go if you're wanting to avoid Trumpism. I am here and wanting to get out

[Anonymous]

Muskogee, Oklahoma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College towns for sure. The state most likely won’t be liberal but the town will. Usually good public schools too.

Gainesville, FL (I lived there and went to UF for grad school) great town
Athens, GA
Knoxville, TN
Tallahassee, FL

and nice little towns but less likely to be liberal…
Oxford, MS
Tuscaloosa, AL
Clemson, SC

Also savannah, GA and Charleston, SC maybe

Ugh. Tuscaloosa is a sh*thole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liberal
Warm
Low cost of living.

Pick 2. You can't have all 3

The closest you'll get to all three are blue cities in red states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest either St. John's County (St. Augustine) or Sarasota County (40 min south of Tampa) which have the top two FL school districts according to Niche, they also appear on other top schools lists.

The price of housing is skyrocketing in FL because so many people, both red and blue, are moving there. However, relatively cheap housing can still be found in these areas if you are comparing to the DC area.

Despite many ignorant opinions to the contrary on DCUM I find FL to be a delightful place to live and I am staunchly democrat. Like other states (Virginia for example) the rural areas are almost completely red and the urban areas are almost completely blue. Registered Republicans in FL just recently started to barely outnumber registered Democrats after many years of the opposite. So it's pretty purple basically.

With the warm climate, decent schools in certain areas, and lower COL it's not too tough to ignore or tolerate whatever politics or political opinions you have a problem with and just live your own life.

Funny you should suggest that part of Florida. I recently met new neighbors who moved back to Bethesda after retiring to the same area you recommend. They said they were sick of being mocked for wearing masks in stores, and even had some scary moments on the roads when Trumpsters saw their Dem bumper stickers. This couple bought an old, pre-war bungalow in walking distance to downtown Bethesda and metro.

Funny that you think your one anecdotal second hand story about your neighbors means much about Florida. I have experienced nothing like that, that's my anecdotal evidence, so I guess all of Florida is like me right?

[Anonymous]

I would think that moving to most cities in the sunbelt would be cheaper than DC. And cities tend to be more liberal than rural areas. But as previous posters pointed out that the schools may not be good. It takes higher wages and tax dollars to maintain good schools.