Okay.
Out of the cities you listed, i would suggest Pittsburg.
Not too massive. Still has weather. Lot of variety. Economy is doing okay. Population pressure is not too bad, you can live in town or on the fringes.
As much as I hate to admit it out of that list Pittsburgh is pretty darn good! We sure could use good postal inspectors here as well as more conservstives.
Actually the conservative community is growing here. The weather isn’t all that bad, nice seasons. Taxes aren’t the best and the corrupt ratz will be annoying but it ain’t that bad.
We do have our own language and food and YOU WLL have to be assimilated into Stiller Nation as well as the Pirates and Pens groups.
We have hills and rivers and hills. Did I mention hills? They can be a problem a few times in the winter.
We get nice thunderstorms and the occasional tornado.
Oh also driving can be interesting as roads are not layed out in a grid but more cattywumpus like. Penndot is always repairing roads and bridges so no matter where you go you WILL have to deal with that as well as huge potholes.
Choose wisely...
Hollywood guy here. If you like seeing full billboards of AIDS HIV and fag marriage in your daily ride, then you are welcome here in L.A.
and guess what? You have to play the “spot the sign in English” here as L.A. is like mexico now. Other than hat, our weather is awesome.
I’d echo the Cleveland and Pittsburgh comments. Pittsburgh in particular has remade itself, Cleveland wants to but has a nasty entrenched leftist crowd. Housing is very reasonable, lots of outdoors activities, good sports area, strong second amendment constituencies. Of the two, I’d go with Pittsburgh. I’ve flown in twice in the past year for business and been very impressed. West PA is a tough, smart place where civic leadership still has some meaning. Just damn good people up there. And git yo’sef some of that Rooney’s Irish Ale. Not bad.
Quick story: went diving several years ago in the Caymans, which are three islands. Went off the smallest of the islands, which is nothing but a coral rock. Got done diving, went ashore for some chow. Only one restaurant on the place, and it was run by a guy from Pittsburgh. Had a great meal and laughed my ass off- who else but a Pittsburger could make a go of a restaurant on a rock in the middle of the Caribbean?
Having lived in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina came ashore, and having a Freeper mindset, it would be an interesting run. There are a lot of things and places for ‘day trips’. There are a lot of different houses of worship in town, and in the Greater New Orleans Metroploitan Area, which includes the towns on the northside of the lake, 26 miles across a causeway, also rebuilt after that storm. You might like to keep a little bit of prepping, as a part of summer life in lower Louisiana, since that is also hurricane season. Just what for, Mary Landrieu’s brother, Mitch, the former AG of Louisiana, is the current mayor of New Orleans.
I have been searching for a place to retire. I made a list of criteria and then ranked each for importance. Some of the things I looked for were the percent of population voting republican (indicator of conservatives), lack of population density, lack of government, lack state taxes, local taxes, school taxes, sales taxes, lack of ethnic diversity, lack of crime, people who speak English, no Muslims, no or few Mormons and basic health care services. Using that criteria, that excluded every city in the Union - so you may want to come up with a slightly different list.
First of all, how do you look in Black and Gold? Can wave a Towel (high above your head)? Can you master eating a sandwich that uses come slaw as a condiment?
If yes...seriously consider Pittsburgh. It’s a BIG small town.
Four defined seasons (big snows stay north or go easy-yeah Alleghdny Plateau!)
Low housing costs (nice, updated 3 bedroom 2 bath ranches/split entries go in the 130-150 range-if your handy the same sq ft home, in original post WW2 condition 90s). Property taxes in Allegheny (where Pgh is seat) high; surrounding counties, much lower.
Great medical care (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). Great culture (Pgh Symphony, Ballet, Carnegie Museums of Natural History, Modern Art, Science Center, Warhol Museum, et).
Great skiing in the Laurel Highlands (east of Pgh). Fishing, boating—many lakes, rivers.
Coming from flat KC, the hills, valleys, bridges, tunnels will be a departure. Our roads are NOT grid patterned (dues to hills, valleys, bridges, tunnels) so driving (for a new arrival) can be interesting. But if you are into photography. Those hills, valleys, and bridges offer fantastic views, photo ops.
Great sports venues...IF you can get a ticket, go to a Steeler game—Heinz Field is great (Pitt-easy ticket-plays there too). PNC Park IS one of MLB’s “Cathedral’s of the Game.” The outfield opens to the view of the skyscrapers across the river. It’s is breathtaking (and the Buccos are now a WINNING team). The Penguins play at ConsolEnergy (a new facility) and the Lemieux Group keeps they place in showcase condition. And they are winning too (Lord Stanley’s Cup may be back!!!)
Politics can be frustrating (we now have a Dem Governor) but the “blue” is Pittsburgh (and Philly) but the surrounding counties (here in the west) are red.
Good luck!
Another vote for Pittsburgh with an honorable mention for Cleveland. Your dollar will go far in both of those places. Both have inclement weather at times, but no tornados/hurricanes and temperate summers. Both have culture, although Cleveland is above Pittsburgh in that regard.
Neither city is especially difficult to drive in and around.
I’ve been to both cities many times and like them.
I’m partial to my hometown of Pittsburgh. People are nice here and in general have conservative social values (though sadly they tend to vote Democrat thanks to 75 years of continuous union propaganda)
Cost of living here is also low by East Coast standards.
The Bay area is nice but there are only two seasons. If you’re used to four you probably won’t be thrilled with it.
I looked at that job posting and they will not pay relocation expenses, but I assume you already know and are okay with that.
It also looks like you’ll be getting around a 14% COLA if you went there.
Global Cooling is coming so get ahead of the stampede southbound.
You wouldn’t like Boston.
Trust me.
And FORGET ABOUT Philadelphia.
That’s a non-starter.
I love living near the Reno, NV area (I love my small town!) but, barring that, I’d choose Dallas/Fort Worth area. Used to live there and would have again if family had been close.
FMCDH(BITS)