A friend of mine is giving serious thought to leaving NY for a southern city. The cost of living in the NY/NJ area is very high and he's being cost-conscious. Employment isn't an issue. He doesn't know much about the South so he doesn't know which places to consider. He doesn't want rural. He's still a big city guy - just a less expensive city. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
A Southern City Fit for a New Yorker?
- Thread starter TstebinsB
- Start date
Atlanta has a LOT of northern transplants. It has a high cost of living for the region, but nothing like the BosWash megalopolis. I lived in the ATL for ten years and found a lot to like, and I would go back. It's not without its warts, but it's a solid contender.
Runner-up: Charlotte. A great city. I lived north of Charlotte for four years in college.
Runner-up: The NC research triangle (Raleigh-Durham): one of the largest concentrations of PhDs and research in the US.
Runner-up: Charlotte. A great city. I lived north of Charlotte for four years in college.
Runner-up: The NC research triangle (Raleigh-Durham): one of the largest concentrations of PhDs and research in the US.
I'm a native BaltiMoron, and can't wait to move back there.
Although its not often thought of as a Southern city, it *IS* below the Mason-Dixon line. Maryland was neutral during the Civil War, although many of its residents sympathized with the Confederacy. Even today, the cultural climate leans more towards the South than it does to the North.
There's plenty of cultural activities, lots of free events, the cost of housing is reasonable but not cheap, and its got that urban feel without being over-crowded. Although some parts of B'more are sketchy, overall, its a safe city to live in.
If your friend wants more space, he can live in Baltimore County, but still be downtown in 15 minutes.
You can easily get around without a car, but if you have one, its not that hard to find a parking place.
You've got Philly to the north, and DC to the south, both about an hour away by car. Even NYC and is only a couple of hours away via Amtrak.
Although its not often thought of as a Southern city, it *IS* below the Mason-Dixon line. Maryland was neutral during the Civil War, although many of its residents sympathized with the Confederacy. Even today, the cultural climate leans more towards the South than it does to the North.
There's plenty of cultural activities, lots of free events, the cost of housing is reasonable but not cheap, and its got that urban feel without being over-crowded. Although some parts of B'more are sketchy, overall, its a safe city to live in.
If your friend wants more space, he can live in Baltimore County, but still be downtown in 15 minutes.
You can easily get around without a car, but if you have one, its not that hard to find a parking place.
You've got Philly to the north, and DC to the south, both about an hour away by car. Even NYC and is only a couple of hours away via Amtrak.
Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston are places I would recommend he consider.
Charlotte, North Carolina is the best choice, in my opinion. We have a mix of New Yorkers and Floridians here. We are half way between NY and Florida and have receive a mix of both states' weather.
We have awful public transportation, though. Do not expect anything like NY has. Otherwise, Charlotte is a great city.
We have awful public transportation, though. Do not expect anything like NY has. Otherwise, Charlotte is a great city.
I played in a band that did a bunch of east coast touring a few years back. As a New Yorker, I really enjoyed a few areas in North Carolina, but my favorite city was Birmingham, Alabama. So many of the things you're used to in New York are also readily available, and there's plenty of southern hospitality. The food and nightlife were great, and the living is very affordable. Just to give you an idea, we made some friends in the area and stayed with them for a night. They rented a brand new condo inside of a gated community you'd swear was in some ritzy Long Island neighborhood. 3 bath, 5 bedrooms, spacious yard, paid landscaping and sprinkler system. If memory serves me correctly, rent plus utilities added up to about 1250 dollars a month.
I grew up in Alabama, and I've lived all over the world. I can highly recommend Huntsville, and Atlanta for you Yankees that want a taste of southern living without giving up big city life all together. Birmingham is great too, but it's not all that big of a city really... but Dreamland BBQ... man it's worth the trip for that alone. (The original is in Tuscaloosa... Mmm ribs, loaf-a-bread and beer)
I spent quite a bit of time in Florida as well, which is where most if the snowbirds end up. Miami is a happening place, but Tampa is a little more middle speed. Orlando is nice, but it's so damn hot and humid there vs. the coastal cities. Can't speak for Jacksonville or Tallahassee, I've only been through them, never really stopped for anything.
Nashville is nice too...
I spent quite a bit of time in Florida as well, which is where most if the snowbirds end up. Miami is a happening place, but Tampa is a little more middle speed. Orlando is nice, but it's so damn hot and humid there vs. the coastal cities. Can't speak for Jacksonville or Tallahassee, I've only been through them, never really stopped for anything.
Nashville is nice too...
War Eagle!
It's certainly a matter of perspective, isn't it? I guess that, to a New Yorker, Newark is a southern city ... or Baltimore ... 
From my personal geographic point of view, "southern" cities with a reasonable cost of living (at least when compared with New York) and good quality of life include, but aren't limited to:
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Biloxi
Birmingham
Dallas / Fort Worth (my personal #1)
Houston
Miami (Florida - but Miami, Texas is an awfully nice place if you're into raising families)
Mobile
Phoenix
San Antonio
San Diego
Tampa / St Pete
From my personal geographic point of view, "southern" cities with a reasonable cost of living (at least when compared with New York) and good quality of life include, but aren't limited to:
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Biloxi
Birmingham
Dallas / Fort Worth (my personal #1)
Houston
Miami (Florida - but Miami, Texas is an awfully nice place if you're into raising families)
Mobile
Phoenix
San Antonio
San Diego
Tampa / St Pete
Richmond, VA.
I'll cast my vote for the Triangle area in NC too. Chapel Hill is nice, Durham has gotten really interesting too. I'm not a huge fan of Raleigh, but it has its proponents. Lots of pleasant smaller towns around too--Hillsborough, Pittsboro. Also some boring northern-style suburbs like Cary. The cost of living is not inexpensive, but it is certainly better than NYC. Culturally dynamic, diverse, green. Not cold.
It's certainly a matter of perspective, isn't it? I guess that, to a New Yorker, Newark is a southern city ... or Baltimore ...
From my personal geographic point of view, "southern" cities with a reasonable cost of living (at least when compared with New York) and good quality of life include, but aren't limited to:
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Biloxi
Birmingham
Dallas / Fort Worth (my personal #1)
Houston
Miami (Florida - but Miami, Texas is an awfully nice place if you're into raising families)
Mobile
Phoenix
San Antonio
San Diego
Tampa / St Pete
Not sure about the cost of living, but Austin, TX is a pretty great place.
I'm considering it as well. My main problem with the South is that I don't know how kindly they'll take to my complete inability to refrain from continuously mentioning how the Yanks won the war. 
Maybe I'll do better out West.
Maybe I'll do better out West.
I'm considering it as well. My main problem with the South is that I don't know how kindly they'll take to my complete inability to refrain from continuously mentioning how the Yanks won the war.
Maybe I'll do better out West.
You could always move to non-panhandle Florida. Even the most dedicated Johnny Rebs have ceded that territory back to the North.
I'm considering it as well. My main problem with the South is that I don't know how kindly they'll take to my complete inability to refrain from continuously mentioning how the Yanks won the war.
Are you talking about the Civil War or the 1996 World Series?
+1. Good recommendations.
I'm considering it as well. My main problem with the South is that I don't know how kindly they'll take to my complete inability to refrain from continuously mentioning how the Yanks won the war.
Maybe I'll do better out West.
No worries. It is all cool as long as you don't make fun of all the dudes in high-heeled boots.
No it's not. It's a horrible city. Stay away. We don't need any more Northerners or Kalifornians.
I'm considering it as well. My main problem with the South is that I don't know how kindly they'll take to my complete inability to refrain from continuously mentioning how the Yanks won the war.
Maybe I'll do better out West.
Kalifornia is for you.
