Posted on 10/11/2021 7:30:22 AM PDT by Dundee
Just a quick one. A work friend of mine here in Australia has been offered a job in the US (when the borders open here in Oz) with a base salary of a bit over $100,000 US. From what I can gather between the lines, it's something to do with the new AUKUS agreement (knowing this bloke's skill sets and experiences).
He's got a pretty wide choice of locations where he can work from, his preference sounds like pretty much everything west of the Mississippi but avoiding the west coast (he's a strong Christian and very conservative, makes Trump look like AOC). He's married with kids in the 4-14 years range.
Over to you Freepers, what would be a good place for him? Being stuck here in Oz deep behind enemy lines (the People's Republic of Canberra - think the Australian Washington DC with the politics of the most lefty parts of Seattle), I'm not across the current local political trends in the US in a state by state sense.
Nearly anywhere, outside of the cities.
If he can stand it, St George UT or Mesquite NV.
Tell him to push the accent “eh Mate” to avoid looking like his is from SoCal.
Gulf coast of Texas sounds like a good bet. Avoid major urban areas unless you can live on the far edge of them. I live on the far edge of the Atlanta metro zone and life is good here but we are trending blue. Texas is a safer bet
Tell him anywhere in the south or Wyoming
Pick a red state. Then, select a town of about 10-25k population. Those are generally going to be the most conservative, safe and good place to raise a family, people involved in their Church.
Without knowing more about him, Texas might be a good fit, outside of Dallas and Houston. Based on the climate he is coming from, I wouldn’t recommend Montana or the Dakotas
If you tell us the potential choices of locations we can give you the pros and cons of each location.
I am personally on the east coast in southern NH. If you are going to live in New England, it is probably the best choice of the northeastern states.
Idaho is probably the best in the mountain west based on what I know from customers and friends I speak to. However, it is also one of the fastest growing locations in the USA. Finding a house to buy can be difficult.
$100K isn’t a bad salary, but with flights, moving expenses from OZ, establishing a new household, buying a car, everything new - he is going to face a ton of expenses. He’s got several young children also - which will mean a lot of costs. If he’s a strong Christian, public schools may also be an issue, which means possibly the cost of private schools. Will $100K cover all that?
Just avoid states like CA, NY, NJ, IL entirely. There’s no way to escape bloated, evil progressive government and taxes anywhere within their borders.
Missouri, Oklahoma, or Texas would all be good choices. Red states, and lower cost of living.
NW Arkansas is growing and is still conservative. A few more liberal hippies have been retiring there lately, though.
Beautiful area. Lakes, woods, Ozark Mountains. National airport (XNA) that can take you anywhere in the country.
And he can become a Razorback fan.
Refugees from California filling it up, just like they're doing in western Montana and Wyoming?
North central Arkansas. Say Mountain View. He could live like a king on that salary around there.
That 100k will go a long way in Arkansas or similar Places
I wouldn’t go to UTAH, it’s run by Mormons.
But parts of Texas and Louisiana are nice and Conservative Christian. South Lousiana is Catholic, North Lousiana is protestant. Oklahoma is conservative and Christian. Some nice lake properties in all three.
I am in North Texas.
He would do just fine in Allen or Frisco or McKinney.
I make around that much and do pretty good here.
Good churches, good housing, good schools, good PEOPLE...
The Ticks here are the size of mice. And the Chiggers are the size of Bumble Bees...
And we have F5 tornados all the time....
It's below zero in the winter...and hotter than Marfa, TX in the summer!!!
Tell him NOT to move to Oklahoma....
Florida Panhandle. Climate should be agreeable. Politics should be agreeable. State taxes are agreeable. Religiosity should be agreeable. Schooling should be agreeable.
It is called the “Redneck Riviera.” An Auzzie should fit in easily and the accent will make the locals swoon. Nice area.
Mormons are pretty nice.
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