Thinking about moving out of Iowa

[mschmitty17]

Just got out of a long-term relationship a few months ago and I've been thinking about moving out of Iowa now that I have nothing tying me down.
I wanted to hear from others who have left where you ended up, if you have any advice about picking a place to live, etc.
I'm thinking somewhere with mild winters, relatively close to mountains or beaches, good job market and lots of people around my age (30s). My current job is as a Product Owner at an insurance company so thinking it would be relatively easy to find something similar in a bigger city.
Thanks!

 

[madguy30]

I'd recommend Denver area but the sprawl out there has made it kind of miserable, depending on what you like doing. Also living has gotten super expensive and it's really dry.

 

[jcf817]

Just got out of a long-term relationship a few months ago and I've been thinking about moving out of Iowa now that I have nothing tying me down.
I wanted to hear from others who have left where you ended up, if you have any advice about picking a place to live, etc.
I'm thinking somewhere with mild winters, relatively close to mountains or beaches, good job market and lots of people around my age (30s). My current job is as a Product Owner at an insurance company so thinking it would be relatively easy to find something similar in a bigger city.
Thanks!

Charlotte, NC fits that bill almost exactly. Just over an hour to the mountains, 3 hours from the beach. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild. A large percentage of Charlotteans are transplants, too.

 

[NWICY]

I worked out in the PNW 2 yrs ago for 2 months. Only place I've visited and thought I could live here. I was between Seattle and the Canadian Border. Ocean or mountains take your pic great fresh sea food. The downside housing is EXPENSIVE. Gas is about a buck higher then Iowa at that time. Downside I was told is winter has a lot of rain.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

The Carolina's is where you should be looking, close to the mountains, and the ocean, mild winters, and the cost of living in many parts of the states are equal too or less than living in Des Moines or Ames.

 

[Gonzo]

Raleigh/Durham

 

[cytor]

I'd recommend Denver area but the sprawl out there has made it kind of miserable, depending on what you like doing. Also living has gotten super expensive and it's really dry.

My brother moved to Denver in 1998. and cannot wait to leave there. For the same reasons you stated: Very dry, super expensive, Downtown isn't as safe anymore, etc...

 

[Cybone]

I lived in Colorado for 15 years. Miss it terribly, mostly the weather. However, the cost of living, sprawl and escalating crime makes it a hard no for me to consider going back. Maybe the western slope?

Austin was alright. I joke that central Texas has two seasons, hot and surface of the sun. At least in Iowa, the two weeks of bitter cold, you can put on a blanket or dress for the cold, in the heat, you cannot get anymore naked. I miss HEB down there, those who know, know. Texans are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, until they get behind the wheel, then they want to kill you.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Raleigh/Durham

The Golden research triangle, and Ashville are beautiful areas, in South Carolina, Columbia is very nice and cheaper prices, feels much like a bigger version of Ames because its the state capital, but also the home of the Gamecocks. South Carolina does get humid, especially along the coast, but towards the west by Clemson is very nice weather wise.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I'm in western WA, about halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border. I could not recommend it more from a quality of life perspective. Perfect weather - the winter rain is overblown, but the clouds do bother some people. Summers are sunny and warm but not hot as we only usually have a few days above 90°F all year. AC is less common though so when it's hot it can be hard to escape until it cools down in the evenings. Biggest downside weather-wise is the potential for wildfire smoke every summer but you guys have been dealing with that lately too. I can drive 90 minutes and be at 5000' on a snow-capped mountain, or I can drive 20 minutes and be on a saltwater beach. But you shouldn't swim at our beaches because the water is hypothermia cold all year round. Lake beaches are nice though.

Biggest problem out here is housing and fuel cost. Even far outside Seattle housing is expensive. And our gas is some of the most expensive in the country. Home insurance is cheaper because we don't have crazy midwest storms. And the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanos (yes, really, volcanos) is much lower. Our electricity is cheaper too because it's mostly hydroelectric.

In all, I don't imagine myself ever moving back to Iowa outside of some major family issue that requires I move back. I love Iowa and all our extended family is there, but we like WA too much.

 

[Dandy]

The Carolina's is where you should be looking, close to the mountains, and the ocean, mild winters, and the cost of living in many parts of the states are equal too or less than living in Des Moines or Ames.

A cousin of mine moved from Iowa to Charleston, South Carolina a couple of years ago and she loves it.

 

[CRCy17]

I grew up in Cedar Rapids and a few years after graduating from ISU I decided I wanted to move out of state. Started out “temporary” as I did my Masters degree in Ohio, but then moved to NY/NJ for a few years before coming back to the Midwest being in Chicago the past 10.

Everyone has their own preferences about where they want, but what I have missed most is the ease of coming back to Ames for a game. Not impossible, but definitely takes more planning (currently impossible for me with 3 yo twins).

Wherever you do end up, look into the alumni association for gamewatch locations. I made great friends at those in each of the places I’ve lived. If there isn’t an official one, reach out to the alumni association and you may be able to start one (I helped found the Columbus location many years ago)

 

[BACyclone]

One of our considerations for retirement is definitely Colorado. The weather is generally great and the outdoor opportunities are amazing...especially because we love hiking and backpacking.

I concur that I wouldn't consider the Denver metro, though. I'm thinking more in the Colorado Springs area. A bit further south, more of a smaller town feel, and just an hour from DIA if you want to travel out...and a great hub airport.

 

[apiaryaviary1]

Probably important to qualify what your budget is, but NOVA is the best place I've ever lived. This summer we've done weekend outings to mountains, beaches, Shenandoah, world class museums, James Beard restaurants, all while using America's best public transportation system. We currently reside in the 9 year running fittest city in America, one of the safest and best places to live anywhere in the world. You'll pay out the ass but live a good life.

 

[mramseyISU]

I'm in western WA, about halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border. I could not recommend it more from a quality of life perspective. Perfect weather - the winter rain is overblown, but the clouds do bother some people. Summers are sunny and warm but not hot as we only usually have a few days above 90°F all year. AC is less common though so when it's hot it can be hard to escape until it cools down in the evenings. Biggest downside weather-wise is the potential for wildfire smoke every summer but you guys have been dealing with that lately too. I can drive 90 minutes and be at 5000' on a snow-capped mountain, or I can drive 20 minutes and be on a saltwater beach. But you shouldn't swim at our beaches because the water is hypothermia cold all year round. Lake beaches are nice though.

Biggest problem out here is housing and fuel cost. Even far outside Seattle housing is expensive. And our gas is some of the most expensive in the country. Home insurance is cheaper because we don't have crazy midwest storms. And the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanos (yes, really, volcanos) is much lower. Our electricity is cheaper too because it's mostly hydroelectric.

In all, I don't imagine myself ever moving back to Iowa outside of some major family issue that requires I move back. I love Iowa and all our extended family is there, but we like WA too much.

My wife and I have talked about a move to WA state after our youngest graduates next year. We've spent a few days in Seattle and liked it but didn't like the sticker shock on housing. We might get a little more serious about looking at it next year but every time we say **** this we're leaving the midwest we get housing sticker shock and decide it isn't so bad.

 

[JP4CY]

SLC could maybe foot the bill.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Charlotte, NC fits that bill almost exactly. Just over an hour to the mountains, 3 hours from the beach. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild. A large percentage of Charlotteans are transplants, too.

I've looked into the weather in North Carolina and it sounds appealing. Doesn't seem like it would be much worse in the summer, but the winters sound a ton better.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Charlotte, NC fits that bill almost exactly. Just over an hour to the mountains, 3 hours from the beach. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild. A large percentage of Charlotteans are transplants, too.

Another advantage of living in Charlotte or close by is its a major hub airport, you can get to almost anywhere directly flying out of there, but it's kind of a cluster for a setup. Regular Charlotte to Des Moines flights daily.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I worked out in the PNW 2 yrs ago for 2 months. Only place I've visited and thought I could live here. I was between Seattle and the Canadian Border. Ocean or mountains take your pic great fresh sea food. The downside housing is EXPENSIVE. Gas is about a buck higher then Iowa at that time. Downside I was told is winter has a lot of rain.

It doesn't have "a lot" of rain, it's just a grey, misty drizzle from like November to March. The no sun thing is legit though and it really bothers some people, it just doesn't bother me personally.

 

[Gonzo]

I've looked into the weather in North Carolina and it sounds appealing. Doesn't seem like it would be much worse in the summer, but the winters sound a ton better.

Good friend of mine moved there many years ago, she was used to Midwest winters. One of their first winters down there they got maybe 1 inch of snow and it was almost like the entire city shut down. Schools were cancelled. People were freaking out about driving in it. She found it very funny.