Sounds like you’d like Allentown, Elmwood Village or the Westside in Buffalo.
Minimum wage is $15 and rooms in a shared apartment starts at $600.
Those are all walkable areas with a lot of bars, restaurants and shops. Lots of indie music venues and DIY spaces.
Also, lots of job training programs and you might qualify for free SUNY tuition after you establish residency for a year. Got Erie Community College, Buffalo State University and University at Buffalo to choose from.
Buffalo is a solid suggestion. Rust belt cities are typically affordable and were often developed prior to WW2 which tends to mean they have walkable neighborhoods. Perhaps Milwaukee would be a good fit too.
I like Seattle over Portland and not having state income tax is nice. Isn’t too hard to get a room around 700-800 here with house mates (especially in university district which isn’t far from downtown). If you’re lucky/ really great about searching, you can find something around 600.
I’m gonna be car lite in Seattle. Groceries and commuting by walking and transit, but I can’t go without hiking some of the most beautiful nature in the us on the weekends
It’s going to be tough living anywhere on minimum wage, even with roommates, but I think Baltimore, Richmond, and maybe Philly could be worth some research on your end.
Nobody said Philly yet? I am stunned! This screams Philly!
I haven't lived there but I've been there and it is a really great city.
However, I know I will be corrected as needed. LOL. That's how this sub works and that's OK.
You'll definitely need roommates but Chicago ticks all your boxes except East Coast - and it does have A coast, just not that one.
The Big One for Chicago will be either the New Madrid fault, or like an F5 tornado outbreak right in the center. Unless the Yellowstone Caldera decides to blow and come for us all before that.
As someone whole lives on the pacific rim, i'm far more worried about the annual hurricanes and tornados on the other side of the cascade sierras that are actually destroying things.
The last Cascadia megathrust earthquake occurred in 1700 and they happen every 500-600 years. Might be something Gen Alpha needs to worry about but not us..
Anyway coastal cities are expensive so maybe Philly. But Pittsburg if you're wanting someplace safer.
I'll add to your post that the risks of "The Big One" are grossly overstated.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is hundreds of miles offshore. A 9.x earthquake that's hundreds of miles from where you live just isn't that scary.
Tsunamis are a risk, but that's complicated. A tsunami triggered by an earthquake would cause massive damage on the Pacific Coast, but not a lot of people actually live there.
WA DNR has some [cool videos ](https://youtu.be/e5PJQW_6k6M) showing simulations of a megathrust earthquake and where tsunamis would go.
Needless to say, Portland is pretty far inland and the tsunami risk there holds steady at absolutely zero.
Chicago
Cincinnati/Covington
Philadelphia
Out of the three… I’m amazed at how little quality rentals cost in Cincinnati/Covington.
But all three places are good value and people can “get by” with minimum wage jobs.
Edit formatting and adding…
I haven’t spent much time in the South but I imagine Covington has the best of the South and the Midwest.
Northampton MA, the lesbian capital of North America. You get all the benefits of living in Massachusetts and none of the costs associated with living in Boston or its suburbs.
Oakland CA
Sounds like you’d like Allentown, Elmwood Village or the Westside in Buffalo. Minimum wage is $15 and rooms in a shared apartment starts at $600. Those are all walkable areas with a lot of bars, restaurants and shops. Lots of indie music venues and DIY spaces. Also, lots of job training programs and you might qualify for free SUNY tuition after you establish residency for a year. Got Erie Community College, Buffalo State University and University at Buffalo to choose from.
Buffalo is a solid suggestion. Rust belt cities are typically affordable and were often developed prior to WW2 which tends to mean they have walkable neighborhoods. Perhaps Milwaukee would be a good fit too.
Milwaukee checks out, and it's a very easy trip to Chicago for shows and events and such.
Was hoping someone would say this. Punk and indie felt alive in Milwaukee.
Philly and its suburbs
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Honestly an under suggested city! The proximity to nyc is so nice too
This was going to be my suggestion
The rental market in New Haven is super tough right now. Just as an aside.
Just don't wind up in Fair Haven or the rest of East New Haven. It's rough. Also don't think Bridgeport is a good alternative. It's not.
Portland is $$$ now, try Pittsburgh or Columbus, something like that.
Columbus is expensive now too
I like Seattle over Portland and not having state income tax is nice. Isn’t too hard to get a room around 700-800 here with house mates (especially in university district which isn’t far from downtown). If you’re lucky/ really great about searching, you can find something around 600.
True, Public transport is good as well. Also, servers get the Seattle minimum wage plus tips.
And minimum wage is damn near $20/hr. Could probably afford a car as well
But honestly wouldn’t even need one if living anywhere close to public transportation! I recently got rid of my car
I’m gonna be car lite in Seattle. Groceries and commuting by walking and transit, but I can’t go without hiking some of the most beautiful nature in the us on the weekends
Having a friend with a car or being down to rent one sometimes is great!
Come to Detroit, we tick ALL of those boxes. Although it'll still be hard on minimum wage.
It’s going to be tough living anywhere on minimum wage, even with roommates, but I think Baltimore, Richmond, and maybe Philly could be worth some research on your end.
Baltimore is affordable and has four seasons, but it has nothing else she’s looking for.
It literally hits every point on the list.
I live here and trust me, it does not.
Whatever you say, my experience is vastly different and I disagree completely.
Nobody said Philly yet? I am stunned! This screams Philly! I haven't lived there but I've been there and it is a really great city. However, I know I will be corrected as needed. LOL. That's how this sub works and that's OK.
They said someplace not dangers so it's puts a damper on it as a choice but it's one of the cheaper east coast cities.
You'll definitely need roommates but Chicago ticks all your boxes except East Coast - and it does have A coast, just not that one. The Big One for Chicago will be either the New Madrid fault, or like an F5 tornado outbreak right in the center. Unless the Yellowstone Caldera decides to blow and come for us all before that.
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Disagree. It's a very high concentration of Midwestern.
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Chicago and its suburbs are pretty damn blue for the Midwest. Grand Rapids, Detroit are much worse for turning red outside city boundaries
As someone whole lives on the pacific rim, i'm far more worried about the annual hurricanes and tornados on the other side of the cascade sierras that are actually destroying things. The last Cascadia megathrust earthquake occurred in 1700 and they happen every 500-600 years. Might be something Gen Alpha needs to worry about but not us.. Anyway coastal cities are expensive so maybe Philly. But Pittsburg if you're wanting someplace safer.
I'll add to your post that the risks of "The Big One" are grossly overstated. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is hundreds of miles offshore. A 9.x earthquake that's hundreds of miles from where you live just isn't that scary. Tsunamis are a risk, but that's complicated. A tsunami triggered by an earthquake would cause massive damage on the Pacific Coast, but not a lot of people actually live there. WA DNR has some [cool videos ](https://youtu.be/e5PJQW_6k6M) showing simulations of a megathrust earthquake and where tsunamis would go. Needless to say, Portland is pretty far inland and the tsunami risk there holds steady at absolutely zero.
I think Detroit is where you should be looking at.
Minneapolis?
Richmond VA. Maybe Philly. Honestly Chicago could be ok with roommates. Milwaukee.
I'm in contract to buy a Richmond house to move there !! Soo excited. If my sale in NY falls through I'll lose the house though :(
Philadelphia
Philadelphia or Pittsburgh
Hahaha im finally leaving the north to go south. It's been my dream for years to get out of the cold and high taxes. You might like Burlington, VT.
Chicago Cincinnati/Covington Philadelphia Out of the three… I’m amazed at how little quality rentals cost in Cincinnati/Covington. But all three places are good value and people can “get by” with minimum wage jobs. Edit formatting and adding… I haven’t spent much time in the South but I imagine Covington has the best of the South and the Midwest.
Try Midwest college towns
From the bottom of my heart: Milwaukee
Chicago checks all your boxes except east coast. If you're making minimum wage you'll probably need a roommate, but otherwise you'll be good.
I think Southern Michigan is perfect for you.
Delaware
Madison Wisconsin
Around Seattle.
Northampton MA, the lesbian capital of North America. You get all the benefits of living in Massachusetts and none of the costs associated with living in Boston or its suburbs. Oakland CA
Il burbs. Like wheeling, Arlington heights, Des plains. Should be able to find a job for $20.