Where should I move?

Good morning Tech Examers,

I'm coming to realize I need to move out of Iowa. I love Iowa, I just need to get away from it for a few years to experience something else. Where should I move? The following are important:

-IT jobs. Gotta have a job.
-Cost of living. I realize Iowa has one of the lowest costs of living in the US. Something manageable
-Weather. Not a big deal, but I really hate dealing with snow.
-Education. I have a 1 year old son. My wife will be an elementary teacher.
-Sports. I'm a huge football and basketball fan.
-Nightlife/Things to do: Some place not as boring as Iowa.
-Commute: I don't want to spend half a day commuting.

Looking at moving in about 2 years, but want to start preparing. Should I look at suburbs of bigger cities like Chicago, LA, or New York?

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Mike-Mike

Mishra wrote: »

Well look at this, another Louisvillian.

hey sweet, i thought I was alone here

subl1m1nal

Miami is out (my spanish sucks). I don't want to really deal with hurricanes either. Seattle, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis are in. Any thoughts on these cities?

Grrr...I need to start making a list. Good input guys. Thank you, the more info the merrier. I have no idea where I even want to go.

Heres what I'm thinking: Phoenix, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle?, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Carolinas (probably around columbia), Washington DC, Chicago, Columbus Ohio (even though I despise the Buckeyes and would probably be mugged for my Hawkeye loyalty).

Edit: Lets put Raleigh NC on the list as well. I need to do more research.

Edit2: Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio on there too.

veritas_libertas

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Miami is out (my spanish sucks). I don't want to really deal with hurricanes either. Seattle, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis are in. Any thoughts on these cities?

Grrr...I need to start making a list. Good input guys. Thank you, the more info the merrier. I have no idea where I even want to go.

Heres what I'm thinking: Phoenix, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle?, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Carolinas (probably around columbia), Washington DC, Chicago, Columbus Ohio (even though I despise the Buckeyes and would probably be mugged for my Hawkeye loyalty).

Edit: Lets put Raleigh NC on the list as well. I need to do more research.

Just to warn you, the humidity is insane in St. Louis. I lived there for a summer and hated it.

subl1m1nal

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Just to warn you, the humidity is insane in St. Louis. I lived there for a summer and hated it.

Probably pretty comparable to Iowa summers. Its not the heat, it's the humidity. Then come winter time, it's -10 degrees. Too extreme.

veritas_libertas

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Probably pretty comparable to Iowa summers. Its not the heat, it's the humidity. Then come winter time, it's -10 degrees. Too extreme.

Exactly...

[Deleted User]

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Probably pretty comparable to Iowa summers. Its not the heat, it's the humidity. Then come winter time, it's -10 degrees. Too extreme.

We definitely do get a variety of weather here.

Claymoore

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Miami is out (my spanish sucks). I don't want to really deal with hurricanes either. Seattle, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis are in. Any thoughts on these cities?

I would rather deal with hurricanes than tornadoes, ice storms or blizzards. Getting caught in a hurricane is like being run over by a steamroller - you saw it coming a long way off and you could have gotten out of the way.

I moved from Kansas City to Tampa 7 years ago because Sprint imploded and killed the IT job market in KC. I don't know how well the market has recovered since. KC has good schools in several of the 'burbs and housing is probably still affordable.

If you don't like -10 in Iowa, how will you like -30 in Minneapolis?

Paul Boz

How can you leave San Diego off your list? It's the best suggestion so far.

Therhino

Have you considered WV at all. IF you can obtain a security clearance WV due to a couple of government facilities is definitely beginning to rise. WVU is about a 30 minute drive from a bunch of the facilities and also has its own hot bed of tech.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested in this area.

subl1m1nal

Claymoore wrote: »

If you don't like -10 in Iowa, how will you like -30 in Minneapolis?

I wouldn't. But as I said earlier, I'm a huge Twins and Vikings fan. I could live with -30 in Minneapolis.

subl1m1nal

Therhino wrote: »

Have you considered WV at all. IF you can obtain a security clearance WV due to a couple of government facilities is definitely beginning to rise. WVU is about a 30 minute drive from a bunch of the facilities and also has its own hot bed of tech.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested in this area.

I'll loop WV in with Washington DC. I don't have a security clearance. I'm not sure how hard they are to get, but I could see that as a possibility.

Sure, I'll also throw San Diego in. I'd like the weather, as long as IT is strong around there.

Paul Boz

phoeneous wrote: »

Also the most expensive?

Bull. I've been to just about every major city in America and feel comfortable saying that while the cost of living may be higher, so is the salary. I can take a job in San Diego doing the same thing I do in Baton Rouge and make twice as much. it may cost marginally more to live out there but the salary will be proportional.

Besides, there are places on the list, such as south florida, that are just-as if not more expensive than southern California.

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Sure, I'll also throw San Diego in. I'd like the weather, as long as IT is strong around there.

San Diego has an incredibly strong IT market.

powerfool

subl1m1nal wrote: »

Good morning Tech Examers,

I'm coming to realize I need to move out of Iowa. I love Iowa, I just need to get away from it for a few years to experience something else. Where should I move? The following are important:

-IT jobs. Gotta have a job.
-Cost of living. I realize Iowa has one of the lowest costs of living in the US. Something manageable
-Weather. Not a big deal, but I really hate dealing with snow.
-Education. I have a 1 year old son. My wife will be an elementary teacher.
-Sports. I'm a huge football and basketball fan.
-Nightlife/Things to do: Some place not as boring as Iowa.
-Commute: I don't want to spend half a day commuting.

Looking at moving in about 2 years, but want to start preparing. Should I look at suburbs of bigger cities like Chicago, LA, or New York?

Well, other than snow, you might want to look at Indianapolis. Indiana has been minimally impacted by this recession and has a good cost of living. The suburbs to the north have been rated as some of the best places to live in the country, for many of your criteria.

Mishra

powerfool wrote: »

Well, other than snow, you might want to look at Indianapolis. Indiana has been minimally impacted by this recession and has a good cost of living. The suburbs to the north have been rated as some of the best places to live in the country, for many of your criteria.

I never see that many IT jobs in Indianapolis. There are definitely jobs, but nothing like Texas/DC/New York/Carolinas/California.. and so on.

GAngel

If i had to take a job in the states #1 would be texas there is no number 2 as the only other markets that can compete with where I am in toronto currently is in norcal which is rediculously expensive (san fran is too f'n cold with that wind). New york would come in right behind but it's way too beverly hills for me (leave manhatten and you'd think it was third world). Boston would be right behind ny but i find it to be utterly boring.

If cost of living is not a factor miami would be my true #2.
My criteria are weather, population (1mil +), then cost of living.

powerfool

Mishra wrote: »

I never see that many IT jobs in Indianapolis. There are definitely jobs, but nothing like Texas/DC/New York/Carolinas/California.. and so on.

My company is hiring 9 IT people right now.

Therhino

subl1m1nal wrote: »

I'll loop WV in with Washington DC. I don't have a security clearance. I'm not sure how hard they are to get, but I could see that as a possibility.

Sure, I'll also throw San Diego in. I'd like the weather, as long as IT is strong around there.

The cool thing here is the process has been a lot more streamlined for a clearance takes less than 6 months to be able to further your career for a long time...well 5 to 10 years

subl1m1nal

Indianapolis will be on my list of cities to research. I like the Colts. They have a few former Hawkeyes on their team. Weather...meh.