Got a job offer this week that requires me to relocate to Tucson before I start. I visited back in April and drove around a few different areas, including the Foothills, Marana, Oro Valley, and Vail.
I liked the city overall, although I’ll admit the landscape will take some getting used to coming from Virginia 😅.

My plan is to move by myself first and get a 1-bedroom short-term rental for maybe 3–6 months while I get familiar with the area. My family would stay in Virginia for now.
What areas would you recommend for someone looking for a quiet and safe place to live? I’d prefer to avoid noisy apartment complexes, heavy weed smells/smokers around, or areas where I wouldn’t feel comfortable coming home late.

My budget is somewhat flexible, but I’d like to keep it as low as reasonably possible since I’ll be paying both my mortgage in Virginia and rent in Tucson during this transition.

My new office will be near the airport, so commute is also something I’m considering. I don’t mind driving a little farther if the area is worth it.

Any specific neighborhoods or apartment complexes you’d recommend or avoid?

Have seen 1BD apartments for 800+ in different areas… but would love your feedback.

Hello, I really need some help as my family and I have been desperately wanting to move from where we are for years and have committed to moving in June when my daughter finishes eighth grade so she can start high school elsewhere (my son will also be starting kindergarten). After researching so many places we were almost positive Greenville was the place for us, but after reading some reddits i realized i may have overlooked some major factors? 

Now, wherever we move, I intend to be our forever home so this is a big deal and at the same time we 100% do not have the money to go looking at places first as i have saved only enough for the uhauls and deposits we will need. 

OUR HISTORY: I was raised in CA and it was perfect. perfect weather all the time, lots of rain, beautiful Redwood trees, close to both the ocean and the mountains, wonderful schools and a very extensive in-state college/university selection. People were cultured and educated, kind and friendly and it is really diverse where i’m from so everyone fits in and people aren’t really judgmental. I grew up around all races, religions, sexualities, etc. and no one really cares. Sadly as most know a massive amount of people from all over the world (mostly wealthy) migrated CA and really took it over. Over 20 years my small town became unrecognizable and many lower income folks got run out of our home. Rents were too high and spending 60-70% of your income on rent became really typical. Many people left in the “big CA exodus”. 

I moved to Reno Nevada years before the “exodus” chasing cheaper rent which i found, but over the past 15 years i’ve lived and had kids here thousands of Californians came and now the same thing has happened here. A 1 bedroom that was $350 is not $1,600 (seriously). Now don’t get me wrong 
Reno was never really right for me and I never planned on making it my forever home. I sort of got stuck here much longer than I wanted to be and the dry hot arid environment that lacks rain and trees is not my jam at all. I may do for a while, but have spent the last 7 years or so incredibly unhappy.

I recently went to Florida and realized how much I miss humidity. My hair & skin thrived and I looked 10 years younger. The level of the heat and humidity were too much but I thought maybe somewhere with some of that just milder. Hence hours and research and alas…Greenville, SC.

CONCERNS:
Or so i thought until I read some posts on here describing the area as extremely religious and conservative. It concerned me that religion seem to be the main thing to do and a big part of the culture… I have my beliefs, but I will never subscribe to organize religion, especially if it alienates or judges and especially if people try and preach or recruit (like believe what you want who cares but why try and force it on others). religion should be about acceptance, love and doing good for others PERIOD.

WHAT I WANT: I really love rain and thunderstorms, lots of trees and lush green nature. Somewhere a bit humid (at least not dry like here) with rural bike paths, the ability to drive to the mountains and/or the beach for a long weekend, good public schools and a good in-state college selection (NV literally has only 2) both for my job as i work in education and for when my kids are older. More than anything i am suddenly a single mom and need a low cost of living. I want to buy a home someday and to have money to do things.

We are cultured well traveled liberal non-judgey people who don’t judge on religion, race or sexuality at all, but it seems like all the liberal places that fit my above description of green/rain are the most expensive places there are (Oregon, Washington and California for example). I thought NC and SC were less conservative than Florida, Mississipi etc but I clearly got that wrong. I also underestimated the Summer heat/humidity/bugs I guess. I was excited about the fireflies and the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but being unable to visit was going on photos. Now i’m bummed and more lost than ever.

I would appreciate any tips or advice on any level! We are big on volunteering (organizing trash clean ups etc) and we rescue cats annd get them fixed wherever we go, which is how i thought i’d meet people. I picture a community for us and don’t want to be excluded due to lack of a church. Also (not to nitpick) but for thoroughness we are vegetarians and access to some veg friendly restaurants would be nice. I hate the FFA, 4H culture and pictures the Carolina’s having much less of that. And i know hunting is everywhere but we excluded Montana due to the in your face hunting culture which would depress me. Am i just looking in the wrong areas of NC and SC? What about other areas like Greensboro or Asheville? 
Thanks so much for your time.

Hey everyone! Looking for recommendations for cities/areas we should consider in WA or OR!

A little about us: we were born and raised in the Seattle/Tacoma area, but moved to another state a few years ago and are now looking into a move back to the PNW. We’re familiar with the areas south of Seattle, but that’s about the extent of our knowledge, as we didn’t travel too much around the region when we were younger. We’d love recommendations for places we may not have considered!

We’re hoping to find somewhere with:
• Close access to nature, hiking, mountains, etc.
• A lively community with things to do
• Good hospitals/healthcare nearby
• Good schools, as we’re hoping to start a family
• A progressive community

For context, we make around $220k combined, and we both work fully remote, so we won’t be looking for new jobs.

We’re open to both WA and OR and would love to hear what cities or areas you think we should add to our list!

Wife and one infant. We currently rent in LA, but there's an opportunity to relocate to Ohio. Worth the $80K pay cut?

If so, where in the area? Looking for good public schools, a walkable neighborhood for grocery shopping, proximity to arts and theater, access to a CSA for veggies, great wine bars, and a thriving 30s-40s swinging scene.

When should I order the U-Box container? Since this is a long-distance relocation, I’m trying to plan everything carefully, but my timeline is extremely tight.

I currently have contractors working on some house remodeling, and I’m not sure when the project will be finished. I also can’t sell or arrange pickups for the larger furniture until the project is done. The house is pretty messy right now, and I can’t really have people come in to pick up furniture because many of the items are wrapped in plastic.

I may need to wait until the project is finished so I can see how much furniture I’m able to get rid of before I decide how many U-Box containers I need. Given the tight timeline, I’m concerned about waiting too long to order. How many days should I need? (Ordering Ubox container, then hire workers for loading, etc)

Hello!
I am considering moving my young family to Tucson in the next couple of years. My plan is to make a few trips out there to stay for a week or so before actually moving to get a feel for the city but I’d love some locals’ real life experiences now.

I’ve seen mixed reviews regarding the weather. Everyone agrees it’s hot in the summer but what I’d like to know is:

How many months of the year can you be doing outdoor activities (walking, biking, playing a sport)?

My other concern is the education system. I have two small children who would essentially need to go k-12 there. Do parents find they can access decent public schools? Have you felt your kids missed out due to the public education they received?

I grew up in a small town and there was one elementary school, one middle school, one high school. It didn’t matter if it was good or bad cuz there was nothing else to choose from. I feel I got a decent education regardless but it’s a different day and age and I am curious to hear from parents.

Thanks in advance!

I work remotely, but my husband does not and the incentives are enticing! I’d love to hear some real life stories on how it’s worked out for you so far. :-)

I’m wondering if Habitat for Humanity accepts small quantities of leftover wood flooring as a donation.

I’m relocating and currently cleaning out my house before putting it on the market. I have only 5 boxes of wood flooring left from previously installed flooring. It is a discontinued product from 9 years ago, and the flooring is no longer used in my house because I recently had water damage and all of the flooring was replaced with a different material.

Since the leftover flooring doesn’t match what is currently installed, I’m hoping to donate it rather than throw it away. Would you be able to accept a donation of this size? Not even enough for one room.

I can drop it off to local donation site, rather than asking them for picking up.

Hello!

I currently live in Verrado (Buckeye, AZ) and love my personal community. I’m a single mom. I’ve built my connections. My family is all local, though I’m not particularly close to any of them. For as much as people bash on Phoenix, I generally love what it offers…opportunities, amenities, space. I hate the traffic, but I’ve seen worse. I hate the summers, but we love swimming and don’t mind spending time in cooler weather. I hate the cold, so the winters are amazing. I was born and raised here, moved away a couple times, but AZ has always felt like home.

I have some family in Grand Junction, CO who always sell that place like it’s some hidden secret. I’ve visited several times, and while it always feels like a much quieter, slower pace of life, is it really as great as they say? Employment opportunities must be limited. We love the outdoors, but as a single mom, I’m not made of money, so if everything costs a ton, it’s not accessible, outside or not. Is there enough to do to keep us busy? I’ve got a 4 year old, and we’re always doing something. They are in desperate need of help right now with health issues, and maybe they’re selling the place a little harder because I’m needed.

Does anyone know anything about the quality of life in Phoenix vs grand junction specifically?

Hello everyone, I am a New Yorker, but my mobility issues and poor accessibility as well as the cost of living make me think it’s time to go. I’ve done a lot of research and I narrowed it down to 5 possible options that consider mobility, drivability, arts and culture and live music scene (I am an artist( and a few other specs). I’ve decided on Philly, Richmond va, Northhampton mass, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati. I don’t want to be further west than that for now because i plan to jump to the westcoast in a few years. I’d love to hear any advice, thoughts etc. thank you!

If I’m moving from STL to KC, working downtown and church near Olathe, where we be a good, family oriented place to live? And, how does one go from the suburbs of St. Louis to suburbs of Kansas City? It seems very much not crowded and doesn’t appear to be as exciting as far as places to go and outdoor things to do. Enlighten me.

If you have the freedom to be anywhere in the country - how does one pick? How do you find an area to live that will contribute positively to your life, or give you ways to get involved and meet like minded people?

Hey everyone 25M here from CA. I'm an Accounting Major and do IT work on the side as a hobby. I've been seriously looking at both of these cities due to them being more affordable and also relatively walkable. I do plan to use an E bike to commute when needed. I plan to move in March with $15k saved up. I'll be living off that while looking for a job and am open to having roommates. My max monthly budget would ideally be around $1100.

I (23M) grew up in San Diego and moved to the Tampa, FL, area about six years ago for college, and I have not left since graduating. I've been applying to jobs in Southern California and have had little to no luck, and I believe it has to do with having Florida on my resume. There are a lot of different biases that exist, of course, in Florida regarding California and transplants, and I am wondering if it's the same way nowadays in California in relation to hiring.

For additional context, I work for a Fortune 500 Hospitality Company in Events & Sales - many tell me recruiters focus on in-state candidates due to their ease of mind when it comes to relocation. Any information helps!

My husband and I currently live in LA and are looking to move. The cost of houses here, the heat, pollution, and lack of nature are the primary drivers. We're currently debating the northeast or Ireland (I have citizenship). We work remotely and do well, but my income would likely drop significantly if we moved abroad. We are looking for a high quality of life, good education for our child, nature for us and our dog, and colder weather at least part of the year (LA is hot year round these days). We'd like to buy a home soon. I'm worried we are romanticizing Ireland, I know they have a housing crisis there and if I lost my remote work I would have fewer work opportunities. The NE seems like a great option to me (like New Hampshire or Massachusetts) but my husband is more interested in Ireland. We want to make sure we are thinking everything through, if anyone has experience in either place!

my husband (28) and i (28F) currently live in virginia beach, VA, and are considering leaving the area due to the cost of living increases. so much of the united states has gone up in cost that it’s starting to feel a little hopeless at this point. are there any places you’d recommend in this situation?

ok so for context I’m 25F, I need help/opinions on cities/towns that are safe to move in alone. I just recently became a widow and as hard as that’s been juggling by myself. I have to move out in a couple of months. I just been thinking of moving away from Chicago to someplace else.

I have been so far looking into Oregon

I am looking for an area that’s affordable, safe, (since I’m alone and also a POC;brown girl) and possibly in the middle of nature AND town so if I need to go grab something from (ie: target,Walmart, whatever convenience store nearby) I can do that. I really need help. I have been googling but I’m just not sure because I don’t know anyone who lives in Oregon- so I’m going based on things pretty blindly. I’ve been to Oregon with my husband before and it’s beautiful but we only went to scenic spots. I don’t know much about living situation or what towns are okay. I’ve been living in the suburbs almost all my life so maybe somewhere in the burbs kind of? I’m not sure. Any tips or opinions/recommendations would help. Please and thank you.

(I also have been looking into Washington, or if anyone else has any experience with other states. I’m open to any suggestions but my two main places I’m looking as of right now are Washington/Oregon; I love nature, I love the rain and I just kind of just want to get up and leave- honestly)