Advice of relocating, what tools to use?

[Legacykid]

Ive been throwing the idea around for a while, and recently started to get more serious.

I guess I am looking for ideas everyone has used or knows for looking for an area with exactly what they are looking for.

I am up in NJ and would like to move somewhere warmer. Have thrown around FL, GA, Carolina's, AZ, NM.

Ive looked at the data reports here New Jersey QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html)
Median Income
Median Age
Cost of living

Trying to find an area on the outskirts of a big city, Cheaper to live, but still have opportunity I would like to have a possible area I could open a shop even. Ive even went as far as looking on Google maps to see how rural the areas are. whats around, etc.

[dsg03gt]

I've been throwing around this idea too. I keep getting drawn back to Arizona. I'm getting tired of the crazy cost of living in New Jersey and this depressing weather.

I've been using Google search to research certain areas in AZ. After I find an area that looks nice I research that area and can find tons of data. My criteria for a location I'm sure is different than yours. I've been looking for low crime cities that are family oriented with good schools.

[tuscarora dave]

Ive been throwing the idea around for a while, and recently started to get more serious.

I guess I am looking for ideas everyone has used or knows for looking for an area with exactly what they are looking for.

I am up in NJ and would like to move somewhere warmer. Have thrown around FL, GA, Carolina's, AZ, NM.

Ive looked at the data reports here New Jersey QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html)
Median Income
Median Age
Cost of living

Trying to find an area on the outskirts of a big city, Cheaper to live, but still have opportunity I would like to have a possible area I could open a shop even. Ive even went as far as looking on Google maps to see how rural the areas are. whats around, etc.

Come over here to my neck of the woods, buy a shop and give me a job as a mechanic/detailer/consultant. It's not exactly warm but it's not on the ocean either. We could put "the rooms" off to the side, and as they "come to" we can put them to work to learn some work ethic, build a skill / learn a trade and transition back into being usefully whole.

We can both practice what we're best at.

[jarred767]

I went through this dilemma a couple years ago with my wife, we felt like we needed a change and that we needed to get away from the rainy Seattle area. After countless hours of research and a few family vacations, we decided on Bend, OR. Not near your list, (it's cold and snowy in the winter, but overall quite dry and sunny). We move in a month and a half and can't wait!

Good luck with your move, wherever it may end up. Hopefully it all goes well for you!

[eaglefan]

I lived in south jersey for my first 25 yrs and now in florida for the last 20. There are a lot of things to consider before moving. The biggest one being money.
My experience only: I was a union diver and made great money. Down in florida it's not even close. The cost of living is cheaper but it still isn't close. Florida is a right to work state, last I checked which most of the south is, which is a whole other topic.
In NJ, the winters were cold so I didn't spend that much time outside unless I was working. Down here it is so hot that I can't just hang outside. Call that one even.
A less people where I live now but the traffic is more frustrating. Traffic lights are not synced up.
Where I am now is a great place to raise kids, but the schools aren't nearly as good as compared to up north.
Get your info and select wisely! So many factors

[Legacykid]

I've been throwing around this idea too. I keep getting drawn back to Arizona. I'm getting tired of the crazy cost of living in New Jersey and this depressing weather.

I've been using Google search to research certain areas in AZ. After I find an area that looks nice I research that area and can find tons of data. My criteria for a location I'm sure is different than yours. I've been looking for low crime cities that are family oriented with good schools.

I feel you, what part of Jersey?


Come over here to my neck of the woods, buy a shop and give me a job as a mechanic/detailer/consultant. It's not exactly warm but it's not on the ocean either. We could put "the rooms" off to the side, and as they "come to" we can put them to work to learn some work ethic, build a skill / learn a trade and transition back into being usefully whole.

We can both practice what we're best at.

Dave lets back our bags and head south!


I went through this dilemma a couple years ago with my wife, we felt like we needed a change and that we needed to get away from the rainy Seattle area. After countless hours of research and a few family vacations, we decided on Bend, OR. Not near your list, (it's cold and snowy in the winter, but overall quite dry and sunny). We move in a month and a half and can't wait!

Good luck with your move, wherever it may end up. Hopefully it all goes well for you!
Awesome best of luck to you as well


I lived in south jersey for my first 25 yrs and now in florida for the last 20. There are a lot of things to consider before moving. The biggest one being money.
My experience only: I was a union diver and made great money. Down in florida it's not even close. The cost of living is cheaper but it still isn't close. Florida is a right to work state, last I checked which most of the south is, which is a whole other topic.
In NJ, the winters were cold so I didn't spend that much time outside unless I was working. Down here it is so hot that I can't just hang outside. Call that one even.
A less people where I live now but the traffic is more frustrating. Traffic lights are not synced up.
Where I am now is a great place to raise kids, but the schools aren't nearly as good as compared to up north.
Get your info and select wisely! So many factors

its always the little things you never think of. My area is high traffic at times ( for no reason).

[dsg03gt]

I live in Sussex county and commute to Bergen county for work.

[2black1s]

Consider this... AZ (Phoenix, Tuscon) heat is almost unbearable in the summertime. Between 110 and 120 is the norm and it cools off to nice comfortable 100 in the middle of the night. It's nice for the other 8 or 9 months but the summers are brutal.

I know they say the cost of living in So Cal is higher than other places but that is mostly attributed to housing costs and maybe gasoline.

If you can afford to buy a house in So Cal, it's hard to beat. Near perfect climate.

I live in Simi Valley. Summer temp averages are in the 80s & 90s, winter 60s & 70s. And in all the years I've lived here (since 1980) I can only recall a handful of times that it rained during the summer months.

[Legacykid]

I live in Sussex county and commute to Bergen county for work.
O looking at your name I believe we've met before at Daves!


Consider this... AZ (Phoenix, Tuscon) heat is almost unbearable in the summertime. Between 110 and 120 is the norm and it cools off to nice comfortable 100 in the middle of the night. It's nice for the other 8 or 9 months but the summers are brutal.

I know they say the cost of living in So Cal is higher than other places but that is mostly attributed to housing costs and maybe gasoline.

If you can afford to buy a house in So Cal, it's hard to beat. Near perfect climate.

I live in Simi Valley. Summer temp averages are in the 80s & 90s, winter 60s & 70s. And in all the years I've lived here (since 1980) I can only recall a handful of times that it rained during the summer months.

I wouldn't have thought to look at Cali for the reasons of how strict some of their regulations are (Inport/export). Plus they don't have 93 octane lol

[dsg03gt]

I've was at Dave's and Monica's for the detail day.

[Ebg18t]

We moved our primary residence from outside Boston to the central gulf coast of Florida (Sarasota). It has been a great move. We get cheap flights to Denver, Boston & NYC as needed to visit family and while the cost of living is lower, the pay scale is much lower. The drivers are not as predictable as up north. The public education is so-so, but there are plenty of good private schools.

[Kamakaz1961]

California does have its rules and regulations, however, not knowing New Jersey I would assume the rules and regulations would be about the same.

California is an expensive place to live....A shack in a nice area is around $500K

[eaglefan]

We moved our primary residence from outside Boston to the central gulf coast of Florida (Sarasota). It has been a great move. We get cheap flights to Denver, Boston & NYC as needed to visit family and while the cost of living is lower, the pay scale is much lower. The drivers are not as predictable as up north. The public education is so-so, but there are plenty of good private schools.
After moving to florida I worked in a different field pipe welder, also union. Great guys, great workers. Only problem was that there is no union work where i live. So, For the next 3 yrs I spent traveling across this great country working big time overtime jobs. Made really really good money. Major problem was that my kids were young then 5 and 3, and my future ex wife had a very good RN job, so she had the kids full time all the time until I came home. I could have been gone for 2 weeks or 3 months, thats were I drew the line. I wanted to recognize my kids when I get back from a job. I live in a resort, military base town. It is a GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. However, it also is a difficult place to make a good living.My same job that I have here now, the pay is 2X more from the NJ town where Im from.
After my marriage went down the can, the ex kept the house. So I found a 1580 sq ft house, all brick built in 2006. no problems at all in over 2 years and the house was inspected. Paid 92000 for it. That is a plus. As of cost of living don't believe the hype. Visit and spend a weekend driving around to get a feel for it. You will know if the move is the right thing for you. Good Luck

[bulldog shine]

I moved down to Florida almost ten years now. if you have kids do research on the schools. I had 2 graduate from Pennsylvania and am going to have 3 graduate down here. I wish I would have made the move earlier. The kids in the schools mine went to have more opportunity than up north. The oldest down here graduated with a high school diploma and an AA degree. The next 2 are the same.

I feel it is cheaper down here but right now that is starting to change as far as housing goes as prices are starting to go back up. The way the houses are made down here I feel it is cheaper to cool the house than it is to heat it in the north. Just don't turn the heat on down here, I have had heat on in my house for over 5 years.

It is all in what you want. :dblthumb2:

[John_k]

Arizona is a lovely place if you can handle the heat. The first two months of our summer season aren't that bad, but the later two are full of wind, rain, dust. All while still averaging 110. That temperature and 25-40% humidity makes some days rough. My girlfriend and I still find ourselves running to California anytime we get. Wages haven't gone up to much here either, but other expenses have.