September 10, 2022

When you can move anywhere, choosing a new place to live can be overwhelming. Even when you know what city you want to move to, you may have as many as 10 or more suburbs to choose from. Since every city has its own personality, it helps to have a way to zero in on the best place for your lifestyle. To help you answer the question ‘where should I live?’, we’ve taken the attributes you might be looking for in a new city and researched some of the best options for each. Just decide what’s important to you and read on to learn our recommendations in that category.

Where should I live?

If you want to live near the beach

Who can resist the beach? There’s always something to do, from sunbathing to surfing and boating. Plus, because of the water, daily temperatures are usually moderate and pleasant. Living near the beach also has health benefits. The salt air can ease asthma, and the sun helps you produce Vitamin D. Plus, the sound of the waves can reduce stress.

But you will pay for the privilege of living near the beach. Real estate costs more in beach communities as do necessities like groceries.

Sarasota, Florida

Florida has a lot of great beach towns; But Sarasota stands out for its art scene and fine dining. It is also one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities. And it boasts one of the best beaches in the world, Siesta Beach. As if that weren’t enough, six islands sit off the city’s coastline. Enjoy sunbathing, hiking, golfing, and more.

Charleston, South Carolina

Long known as a great city for foodies, Charleston also attracts water sports enthusiasts who come to surf, paddleboard, kayak, and fish in the ocean here. Folly Beach is known for its wide beaches and the East Coast’s second-largest fishing pier, but Kiawah Island, Sullivan Island, and Isle of Palms offer fun in the sun, too.

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Another great Florida beach city, Port St. Lucie boasts 21 miles of beaches, each with a unique personality. For example, Waveland Beach has a lifeguard on duty, making it great for families. Frederick Douglass Park Beach is one of the few Florida beaches that allows horseback riding. Need more reason to move here? Housing prices are reasonable for a beach community, with a median listing home price of just $390,000.

Corpus Christi, Texas

If housing prices top your list of concerns, consider moving to Corpus Christi. The median listing home price here is $274,900. Not to mention, the city provides access to more than 100 miles of sandy shores between the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. This includes Mustang Island, Padre Island National Seashore, and Whitecap Beach.

San Diego, California

With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego metropolitan area offers the ultimate in beach living. Spend your free time sunbathing on shore or surfing in the nation’s best waves. Or enjoy the sunset while dining at a beachfront restaurant. Top beaches include Coronado Central Beach, Imperial Beach, and Mission Bay. It comes at a price, though. Expect to pay close to $1 million for a home in the area, according to Realtor.com.

If you want to live near great schools

Parents usually prioritize their children’s education when searching for a new city. But you’ll pay a premium to live in communities with great school districts. And, the cost of living can be higher than other surrounding areas. It will cost more, but you’ll also have access to amenities like community parks, playgrounds, and swimming pools.

Naperville, Illinois

Naperville ranks the No. 1 in Niche.com’s Best Cities to Raise a Family in America and its Cities with the Best Public Schools in America. It has several exceptional high schools. It also claims four of the top 10 middle schools and six of the top 10 elementary schools in the state. It is also an hour from the Adler Planetarium and Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago.

Lake Oswego, Oregon

This Portland suburb earns high marks for having many of the Oregon’s best schools. Its two high schools rank among the five best in the state. And it has the state’s best public middle school and elementary schools. But that’s only part of the story. Lake Oswego is a community of walking paths and hiking trails. It also has a strong parks and recreation program. The tradeoff is a higher cost of living and homes that list at $387 per square foot.

Frisco, Texas

Dallas, Southlake, Plano, and Coppell all have outstanding schools. But when it comes to overall quality, it’s hard to beat Frisco. The suburb has 70-miles of trails, sculpture garden, museums, and sports teams. And compared to other Dallas suburbs, it’s affordable. The median home listing price in Frisco is $550,000 (or $174 per square foot). Compare that to Southlake, which has a median home listing price of $995,000.

Arlington, Virginia

A lot of cities have great school districts. Only one of these sits just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital. That means your child should have plenty of opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.’s top sites. Expect field trips to the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, and even the White House. Or visit as a family on the weekends. Arlington also has 1,759 acres of parks.

Overland Park, Kansas

Part of the Kansas City metro area, Overland Park is home to the state’s best elementary, middle, and high school. But that’s not the only reason to move here. The city has great attractions like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and National WWI Museum. Housing is also affordable. The median listing home price is $375,000, with an average price per square foot of $161.

If you want to live in a city with a great nightlife

Some cities come to life after the sun sets, with theater, live music, dance clubs, and late-night dining. That can be appealing, especially if you don’t have kids or your kids have grown up. As you search for a city with plenty to do late at night, pay close attention to its personality. Las Vegas never sleeps, but if you don’t care for the excesses of The Strip, it may not be the best choice for you.

Miami, Florida

The Miami metropolitan area offers variety when it comes to nightlife. You can go salsa dancing in Little Havana one night and sip a cocktail on a rooftop bar downtown the next. Follow that up by dancing at a club in Miami Beach yet another night. The city also celebrates diversity, with many venues catering to the LGBTQ+ community. Although its cost of living is 11 percent above the national average, it’s much more affordable than New York City or San Francisco.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sure, there are the nightclubs, like Hakkasan at the MGM Grand or Drai’s at the Cromwell. But the city also attracts some of the biggest names in music, from Lady Gaga to Lionel Richie. Love great food? Your favorite celebrity chef likely has a restaurant here. Kick off—or end—the evening with drinks at renowned cocktail bars or a party bar like Cabo Wabo Cantina.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The birthplace of jazz and many of your favorite cocktails, New Orleans knows how to party. Bourbon Street is the epicenter of the fun, with live music venues and free-flowing cocktails. But you’ll get great music, food, and cocktails throughout the French Quarter. Look for the same on Frenchmen Street and in the Garden District.

Austin, Texas

Music lovers will appreciate Austin. The capital of Texas has more than 250 live music venues featuring rock, blues, jazz, hip hop, and more. Throughout the year, the city hosts tons of events, including South by Southwest. It also holds music festivals. Living in Austin can be pricey, though. The median home listing price is $620,000. Its cost of living is 9 percent higher than the national average.

If you crave a big city life

Big cities have a lot going for them. Most have a great nightlife scene as well as good public transportation, things to do on the weekends, and good jobs. But they can also be expensive. Still, the high cost of living may be the price you have to pay for the joys of big city living.

New York City, New York

New York City tops the list when it comes to big city life. It’s home to Wall Street and has more than 50 Fortune 500 companies. After work, you can watch a show on Broadway. Or eat at some of the nation’s best restaurants, and party in the city that never sleeps. The Big Apple is also one of the most expensive places to live. Its cost of living is 61 percent higher than the national average and its median home listing price is $859,000.

San Francisco, California

On the West Coast, San Francisco offers impressive restaurants and cocktail bars. It has historic music venues and one of the nation’s strongest LGBTQ+ communities. San Francisco’s cost of living is more than double the national average. Additionally, its median listing home price is $1.3 million.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has a little of everything. It has a theater district, superb museums, and extensive public transportation. It’s also home to legendary sports teams like the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, and Bears. The median home price in this market is $350,000.

Los Angeles, California

Besides its world class museums, LA is close to attractions like Disneyland. It also has access to more than 75 miles of coastline and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The weather is moderate: temperatures average between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit much of the year. The median home price is $985,000.

If you want to live in a small town

Small town living has its advantages. It’s quieter, the pace is slower, and you can develop a real sense of community over time. What exactly constitutes a small town is up for debate, though. Some say small towns have less than a 1,000 while others bump it up to as high as 50,000. We kept our search to those under 10,000.

Hood River, Oregon

Roughly one hour from Portland, Hood River has a population of 8,000. It is the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Oregon wine country. Agriculture and outdoor adventure jobs are common but don’t always support Hood River’s high cost of living. The median home listing price is $672,000. And you will pay 28 percent above the national average to live here. Schools in Hood River boast above average scores.

Whitefish, Montana

Whitefish has a population of 9,225 that enjoys world-class skiing, fly fishing, and access to Glacier National Park. It has a similar cost of living to Hood River and boasts the second best public high school in the state. But real estate is very expensive. Expect to pay $1.4 million to buy a house in Whitefish.

Bar Harbor, Maine

This historic tourist town of almost 3,000 residents is the point of entry for Acadia National Park. While you’ll have to contend with park tourists, it’s a quiet and safe community with excellent schools. Plus, the town has great dining and nightlife. Considering all this, home prices are reasonable for the quality of life.

Petoskey, Michigan

If you’re looking for a scenic yet affordable small town, Petoskey may fit the bill. Located on Lake Michigan, this city has a population of 5,808. It is home to Hemingway haunts and the beaches of Petoskey State Park. Although its median household income of $58,197 falls below the national average of $67,521, it is affordable. The cost of living is 10 percent below the national average, and the median house listing price is $325,000.

McCook, Nebraska

Set on the banks of the Missouri River, this Nebraska city has a population of roughly 7,500. But it bursts at the seams during its annual AppleJack Festival when it attracts 60,000 to 80,000 people. The rest of the year, the city pursues hunting, golfing, birdwatching, and rodeo sports. Unfortunately, high-paying jobs are scarce. But the cost of living is 19 percent below the national average. And housing costs are 51 percent below the national average. The median home listing price is $156,0000 or $90 per square foot.

Original Post: Where Should I Live? Finding the Best City for Your Lifestyle