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.

I think you need to pick 2/3 because you can't have it all.

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.

Selling your home to pay for college tuition?

State schools offer the best bang for your buck. Remember to time your move so you are not paying OOS prices.

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.

Omaha
Twin Cities
Des Moines
Kansas City
Knoxville
North Dallas suburbs
Oklahoma City
Chicago exurbs

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?

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

Cleveland has diversity, great health care, water and an airport. It has horrible winter weather. My child in his 20s was able to buy a home there. My older child in Arlington, lives in a studio apartment. Both have similar compensation packages.

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).

Tucson, AZ
Omaha, NE

Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Buffalo, Little Rock

Pretty sure you can find this in all the big cities in the midwest -- cleveland, cincinnati, minneapolis, indianapolis.

What places would you recommend in the US that have a low/reasonable cost of living, good healthcare facilities and diversity? Any experiences here where people sold their Northern Virginia home to pay for kids college tuition and relocated to a place that has low cost of living?