My wife and I are seriously considering moving away from Minneapolis as the upcoming winter is killing our spirits. The brutal cold essentially stops us from doing what we enjoy to do 5-6 months of the year and we can’t take it anymore. Our top three so far are Nashville, KC and Charlotte, but we are open to any and all suggestions.
-We can both work remotely so any location in the US is ok.
-Would like to stay in a larger metro area, but one that has a similar or less cost of living to MSP.
-Don’t want to live somewhere that’s hot all year round. We don’t hate the cold and snow, just cannot take 8 inches of snow in October. Would like mild winters.
-No kids yet, but will in 3-4 years, so we plan on living in the burbs.
-Love to golf, hike, brewery hop, be outside. Would like to be able to do these at least 9-10 months a year.
Let’s hear some suggestions!
My wife (girlfriend at the time) and I moved to KC back in '96 shortly after college. Her parents lived in IL and mine lived in NW Iowa. I would have liked having family near to help babysit on occasion, but my parents had a "we raised our kids, you can raise yours" attitude! I sorta liked having parental autonomy anyway.
We started our careers, got married, had a kid and bought a house in the burbs. Our daughter is in a good school, and we have always felt safe. I'd recommend building off those two tenets wherever you decide to go.
Pre-kid, we spent a lot of time going to concerts and out with friends. The arts are well represented here, as well as various sports. Power and Light arrived a little past our bar days, but it's still a great venue.
Winters here are tamer than Iowa (I maybe shovel 4-5/year). There really aren't that many freeze-your-ass-off days, but there are a few. I think the DOT does a solid job clearing roads, but I can only vouch for the KS side since I've always been on the west side of town.
Property values have gone up considerably since I moved here (my house today would sell for nearly double what I originally paid). There are a lot of different varieties of neighborhoods here based on what you are looking for. They all have pros and cons, no matter what anyone says. You'll generally get more house for the money on the Missouri side, but it's still a personal preference.
People are generally friendly and helpful. Politically, the states are red, but the city itself has been trending more blue. I find it pretty easy to avoid political arguments, so it's kind of a non-issue for me.
There are some really nice parks and bike/walking trails for outdoor activities. Youth sports are abundant and have many levels of competition. There are some great breweries in KC, both large and small. Obviously, there isn't great hiking in the immediate area, but there are areas around KC that have decent trails. And the Ozarks are not far at all. Tons of people have lake houses and spend many weekends there.
I've never regretted my decision to move here. We may end up changing scenery once retirement nears, but we still have time deciding on that next step. NC, SC, VA, CO, TN and TX have all been on our list.
Good luck in your decision. In the end, you make the best or worst out of wherever you live.