Thinking about moving out of Iowa

[isucy86]

I want to end up in the mountains eventually. It's most likely that we'll just end up renting a house for a month a year or something like that when we retire. But I really want to spend a lot of time in the mountains. Trying to figure out where to do that but NOT in Denver. At that age, we'll want to be relatively close to healthcare.

I moved to SW Colorado about a year ago. Great area from a weather & access to mountains perspective. But it is remote if shopping/retail/jobs/large airport are important. Sante Fe is closest "city" over 3 hours away. I'm in early 60's and healthy, so being close to healthcare facilities was a bit down on filter when I moved here. But can definitely see it might be a concern in a decade or if I develop problems.

If mountains is important and close to bigger city, I enjoy the area north of SLC- Logan/Ogden areas. Also enjoy Arizona, but not a fan of Phoenix. Tucson is OK, but I'm not a fan 110 in the summer. If I were to move to Arizona would consider Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott or White Mountains. Can get to Phoenix within a few hours.

 

[Texbudman]

Hot take: I would love toll roads everywhere if the roads were actually nice.

Recently drove through Kansas down to OKC and the Kansas Tollway was incredibly well maintained and smooth. Hell I don't even mind the tolls in IL because the roads are in better shape than IA's.

Kansas Turnpike is awesome. I take it several times a year coming back to Iowa from DFW area. Very seldom see any highway patrol

 

[Peter]

Many Iowa refugees have fled to Madison, WI (where I live). It has neither mountains nor mild winters, but generally is a decent place to live. Surrounded by lakes and lots of good hiking/camping nearby. Demographics skew young. Like everywhere, the cost of living is going up, but maybe not as bad as in a large city.

 

[Tailg8er]

I spent a week out there for work a while back. It was really cool being surrounded by mountains on 3 sides. It was weird though all the laws out there from being mostly Mormon though. The weirdest one was you can't just go buy a beer in a bar, you had to buy food so most bars had a bowl of rice on the menu that you had to order first before you could get a beer.

Pretty sure that only applies to restaurants. I don't recall having to order food at any of the SLC bars or the 1 Provo bar we went to went our football team played there a couple years ago.

 

[Texbudman]

I don't care for tolls, I just generally want roads taken care of better. Especially here where they tend not to last long. Throw proportionally-more state money at roads.

Is it Kansas that has gas stations in between the interstate directions? That's genius stuff going on there.

Yes

 

[Derek Duke]

Many Iowa refugees have fled to Madison, WI (where I live). It has neither mountains nor mild winters, but generally is a decent place to live. Surrounded by lakes and lots of good hiking/camping nearby. Demographics skew young. Like everywhere, the cost of living is going up, but maybe not as bad as in a large city.

Went to Madison in May. Very nice city and the lakes are incredible. Downtown was very nice as well. Only complaint was parking was a bit chaotic.

 

[MeanDean]

**** that. My first month in South Florida. $150 in tolls. I turned tolls off on my map app immediately.

I spend more in the 6 months I'm in Iowa for tolls going to Chicago (which I hate... because as I said earlier, I hate traffic) than I do in Florida. Unless you're in Orlando vicinity there aren't that many. Yes, you can choose the express lanes on I-95 and they hit you, but most times it's not even any faster.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I spend more in the 6 months I'm in Iowa for tolls going to Chicago (which I hate... because as I said earlier, I hate traffic) than I do in Florida. Unless you're in Orlando vicinity there aren't that many. Yes, you can choose the express lanes on I-95 and they hit you, but most times it's not even any faster.

In Ft Lauderdale there's a private toll highway. It saved me 40 minutes a day in commute but I refuse to pay that much. Normal commute was 2 - 2 1/2 hours daily. Their roads are pretty nice down there but they don't go through the freeze like we do.

 

[0u812]

I have lived in Oregon since 1997. One of the most beautiful states, and so much to see and do outdoors. I dont think there is a comparison at all to any state in the midwest, although I miss the people of Iowa. Most people do not realize that most of Oregon is not rain forest, but high desert. East of the Cascades are pretty dry, and beautiful humidity free summers here!

 

[AuH2O]

As a Minnesotan, just sell your house and go please. Don't pull that ********. You may find out that you get what you pay for. Sorry, not trying to be an ass but I'm sick of this opinion.

State taxes need to be part of the evaluation of a place, but yeah, I don't get people putting this at the top of the list. In the most extreme cases state income taxes go from 0 to what, maybe 9%? That's obviously important, but by the time you weigh in things like housing, insurance, other cost of living items, and balance the amenities, services and quality of life, I see state income tax levels being one relatively small piece of the overall evaluation. Most states are in the 2-6% range. While it matters, that probably largely ends up in the details of overall cost of living.

 

[apiaryaviary1]

State taxes need to be part of the evaluation of a place, but yeah, I don't get people putting this at the top of the list. In the most extreme cases state income taxes go from 0 to what, maybe 9%? That's obviously important, but by the time you weigh in things like housing, insurance, other cost of living items, and balance the amenities, services and quality of life, I see state income tax levels being one relatively small piece of the overall evaluation. Most states are in the 2-6% range. While it matters, that probably largely ends up in the details of overall cost of living.

There's also a weird perception that your income taxes are being thrown into a giant cartoon blender instead of, say, the community that you live in

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I don't live there but this is a solid choice. Very nice area. A lot of things to do. Lot's of historical places. The cost of living is not bad compared to places like Denver. Quick drive to Mountains or Beach. Lot's of sports to go to. I love that area of the country

The more I see of the area visiting our son in SC, the more I like about it. Plenty of trees, the mountains, you can be at the beach in two or three hours from most places. Cost of living is low compared to many places, much like Iowa. The fall is just beautiful and they get snow from time to time, but it never last long. SC gets humidity, but NC is not bad at all around Ashville going north. Beats the hell out of Dallas where are youngest son lives, no way in hell would l live there.

 

[cytor]

As a Minnesotan, just sell your house and go please. Don't pull that ********. You may find out that you get what you pay for. Sorry, not trying to be an ass but I'm sick of this opinion.

I understand your thoughts about this. In my case, I am a high income earner... so moving out will save me a lot of $ annually. It's ok for me to have a house to come back to and see friends. TBH, there's a good chance I'll be back only 4 or 5 months tops. Maybe that puts me in the "snowbird" classification.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Hot take: I would love toll roads everywhere if the roads were actually nice.

Recently drove through Kansas down to OKC and the Kansas Tollway was incredibly well maintained and smooth. Hell I don't even mind the tolls in IL because the roads are in better shape than IA's.

Love that every 25 or 30 miles they have a place for gas and fast food, right in the middle. It's getting more expensive on the Kansas Turnpike that it used to be. 6 years ago or so it was about $12 dollars the entire one way from right outside the racetrack in KC to the Oklahoma border, now its getting up to about $18 for the same trip. We don't go enough to get one of the quick tags, so you get the bill in the mail a couple of months later. I liked it better before it was automated.

 

[apiaryaviary1]

I understand your thoughts about this. In my case, I am a high income earner... so moving out will save me a lot of $ annually

Lol, did you understand his thoughts? I thought this was pretty obvious. It's an ******* thing to do

 

[somecyguy]

I scanned the posts and didn't see it mention, but Boise is an area I would consider when I retire. Basically it's a high elevation desert. A former business partner of mine lives there and it's a beautiful area. It gets more rain than snow in the winter and often gets up into the 50s. Boise itself has started to get a little more expensive, but still no where near Denver or Seattle.

 

[CyCrazy]

I scanned the posts and didn't see it mention, but Boise is an area I would consider when I retire. Basically it's a high elevation desert. A former business partner of mine lives there and it's a beautiful area. It gets more rain than snow in the winter and often gets up into the 50s. Boise itself has started to get a little more expensive, but still no where near Denver or Seattle.

Boise is great, have a buddy who lives there and loves it. If I get rich maybe I can do Coure DeAlene.

 

[pourcyne]

Been all over Europe.... If I were to buy a place over there it would be anywhere in Ireland, or Prague.

Prague?

Was there last year. I didn't like it much. Too much leftover Soviet vibe.



Vienna is more beautiful (but more expensive) and I loved Budapest for its metropolitan atmosphere. Since Orban was booted, it would be even better to live there, in my opinion.



I guess if I had to pick somewhere in that area, I would go for Gyor in Hungary or maybe Bratislava - the old section is much smaller, walkable, not pricey. Population of Gyor is about 130,000 but downtown really had a smaller-town European atmosphere.

 

[mschmitty17]

Sorry in advance for the novel.
Wow, didn't think this would get so many replies lol, but I've read all of them and appreciate the input.
It might be a dumb reason, but I have been trying to stay away from the Eastern time zone because I watch a lot of sports and don't want them to start even later.
I think I would have to find a new job because the company I work for wouldn't let me do my role fully remotely.
I have been thinking it'd be nice to go somewhere that I already know at least one person, so my options would be
-Tennessee (near Memphis, which I've heard mixed opinions about)
-Boise (I have been and it's beautiful, but not sure about the dating scene for non-Mormons lol)
-Colorado Springs (love Colorado but don't think their winters are much milder)
-Dallas (pretty open to Texas, have been several times and enjoyed it. Have a few college friends in Austin)
-South Carolina (have been once but eastern time zone lol)
-Minneapolis (I like Minnesota but climate would not be better)

Idk, I've also been thinking maybe Sacramento area because I just visited a friend there a few weeks ago and it was awesome, and seems less congested and crazy than SoCal. But he's moving to Vegas next year so wouldn't know anyone then. I've been trying to find some good guides/quizzes that will help me narrow it down but haven't had a ton of luck.

 

[bpmdu]

That sounds right. I moved to the South End of Charlotte 5 years ago. I've lived outside of Charlotte for 3 years now, and I barely recognize the South End when I go there. The number of apartment buildings that have been built or are being built is honestly staggering. I think the NODA area is similar. Housing going up literally everywhere. And I'm not convinced the city has a strong growth strategy in place.

Agree, I live in south end currently. Avg age is like 25, rail trail is great - you really do have to go out for things to do.
Lots of ppl who move to CLT expecting loads of things to do are typically disappointed.
Feels like apt pricing has hit a critical mass and prices seem to have calmed a bit. Around 2023 or so you got wait listed for a number of south end apts. inventory def up