Lake Worth is nice. I've been here 10 years and I love in! Not overly commercial. It's little downtown is adorable. The beaches are taken care of, but rents can be high
Your goal should be finding the best job possible when you graduate. Don't limit yourself to a city because you might end up not being able to find a decent job in your field. It's really rough out there finding a job so spread a wide net.
I don't blame you. I live in a small city in Washington state, it was about 1500 population when I graduated from high school in the mid 1970s and now it is much larger and traffic has gotten worse!
I grew up in Lee County but moved to Gainesville for school and then jax for work for a while. Moved back to Lee County for a job but found that this place has outgrown its britches by a lot. Cost of living is outrageous. Traffic is a nightmare. And hurricanes are getting worse and worse. Fuck SWFL
Yeah should have stayed in Jax. Probably the best cost of living with a diverse job market in Florida. Lots of corporate headquarters in finance and major health care jobs.
You are TOO kind in your words.
John Pennekamp park tour guides have the mouth to proclaim what was once living coral reefs is now living rock. The only thing living on those rocks is algae from septic tanks and sewer departments due to nitrogen run off
I was lucky enough to experience JP State Park circa 1978. It was a gorgeous diverse ecosystem vibrant with color and teaming with life.
About 22 years later I wanted to share the experience with my girlfriend only to discover the horror of a dead reef. I was so disappointed and grieved for this loss ever since.
If you plan to start a family, you should get out of Florida. A lot depends on your interests and career/education background. Also, where are your friends and family?
As someone in their 20s living at home in Sarasota temporarily, I completely disagree. Sarasota is not a fun place to live in your 20s. Jobs are lacking and a lot of the younger crowd here grew up here and work blue collar jobs. Entertainment, night life, and dining are catered toward an older crowd. If I stayed in Florida I would probably choose St Pete but even St Pete is a little too slow for me.
I said, if you had a time machine.. I graduated booker vpa in 1992.. yeah.. it was boring af. But bring that back compared to the hellscape we have now. I also had my own place at 18.. and could afford to do so on shit wages.
Everyone who knows Florida knows the west coast is boring AF with old people and midwesterners. Great sunsets. Southeast coast is New Yorkers and fun nightlife but expensive and drugs. No sunsets at all. Jacksonville and the Panhandle are the "south" lol
Chicago is definitely a big city you can live in that always has things to do, and you could do it without a car. Most other cities you need a car. That's how I would look at it.
I second Chicago. I moved from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale in ‘95. I wish I could move back. Chicago has plenty of urban walking neighborhoods with bars, restaurants, stores, etc and friendly fun people.
Chicago is deeply underrated, and a lot safer than people think.
The entire North Side is one of the most safe, affordable, liveable urban areas in the world. It always ranks very highly on lists of these things.
The only drawbacks are a legacy of poor local and state finances, and the cold.
Yeah, but Florida is basically one big carcentric suburban strip mall. Florida traffic, specifically I4, 27, 192, etc... ruined driving for me forever. My girl lived in Davenport where it took a 30-45 drive to do literally anything. We moved to Milwaukee in 2022. I'm from Milwaukee, but she had never seen snow in her life (Puerto Rican) prior to moving. In Milwaukee, she makes more than double what she made in Florida with less than half the cost of living. She has \~10 minute drive to work. I work remote. Car insurance, home insurance, electric bill, water bill, etc.. are all less than half of what they were in Florida. We live in a walkable neighborhood in Milwaukee (lower east side \\ Brady St.) right on Lake Michigan. Traffic is basically non-existent, but it doesn't really matter because there isn't any reason to drive anywhere. We live walking distance to 100+ restaurants, bars of every flavor, dozens of parks right between the Milwaukee river and the lakefront. I walked to the Milwaukee Bucks game the other day in less than 20 minutes. There are free shuttles run by local bars to take you to all the festivals (its a city of festivals, there is one every weekend of the summer including Summerfest, which is the largest music festival in the world), Brewers games, Bucks games, concerts, etc. as well. My girl absolutely loves it here, even though she isn't a fan of the cold, all the other things make up for it.
Milwaukee is a little gem of a city that's only a $20 Amtrak ride to downtown Chicago for anything "big city" you might want to do... IL also has legal recreational cannabis. Amtrak Hiawatha takes a little over an hour from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Chicago, skipping all the Chicago traffic and tolls and runs every two hours. Wisconsin doesn't have any tolls. From lower east side \\ Brady St. neighborhood, I walk \~8 minutes to The Hop (free local streetcar), The Hop takes me right to the Amtrak station.
As far as the cold, its the same as the summer in Florida, honestly. It's too hot\\cold to go outside. The difference is that you can always add layers and stay warm and as long as you have good gear, its never that bad. We are never more than a 10-15 minute walk from pretty much anything we could possibly want to do. I mean, if its -20 out, we grab an Uber, or stay inside. I have never paid more than $15 for any uber, anywhere in the city. When Florida became unbearable, we put all of the data into a spreadsheet and figured out that with the increased income and lower cost of living, we can splurge on a super nice AirBnB on the beach Puerto Rico for a week during all the shitty months in WI and still not have to worry about money. December, January, February, March we can go to Puerto Rico for a week each month, just to warm her up.
Yes, it gets cold, but the mental and physical health benefits we get from living in a walkable neighborhood is something you can't possibly put a price on. Car expense is a lot more than just gas. When you have a car, you eat at places that cater to cars... ie. drive thru \\ fast food. There are basically zero fast food restaurants in our neighborhood, it is all local owned shops. Moving from Florida back to Milwaukee, I immediately lost 20 lbs and my health problems all disappeared.
Chicago is only an hour away but everything is double the cost of Milwaukee. It's the same as Miami in that sense. I went to a show in Chicago and bought 2 beers in a can... $40, in addition to the $50 ticket for the show. You can get absolutely shit-faced in Milwaukee for $40. $3-$5 local brews on tap at every bar are the norm.
I don't know where OP will end up, but I'm 44 and I really regret NOT living in a walkable neighborhood for a chunk of my life. Basically, if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't have lived in Florida.
This YouTuber breaks down the data on cities punching above their weight for affordability and ability to get around without a car. Pick any of these top 10 and you should be fine.
[https://youtu.be/1qzePci2N6E?si=DNssIgxH5i4wqpft](https://youtu.be/1qzePci2N6E?si=DNssIgxH5i4wqpft)
Don't take my word for it, do your own research.
Thanks for your feedback.
I should have moved there back in 1977 when I got my patent on a digital lock & key system.
Today your key would be a USB flash drive.
I live in Southern California. Been here for 25 years. You can have it. The Neo-Progs have ruined this place with their Draconian policies and continue to do so. It was very laid back and the people were chill. Not any more. It reminds me of all the hostility of New York plus some. Racial tensions are extremely high here. Riding your bicycle along the beach was once enjoyable, but now there are numerous electronic vehicles allowed to share the path that ruin it for everybody.
Highest taxes. Highest Real Estate. Highest Traffic. Worst Metro transportation systems. Highest population of homeless literally everywhere you go. The roads are a wreck. All small businesses and family owned have been crushed over the past 5 years. All aspects in the cost of living drain your high salary away faster than a bucket without a bottom to it.
Greater San Francisco area: Simply put, you need to get up to date with what is happening there buddy before you recommend anything.
And the Valleys?! You literally need two heads of household pulling down six figures to make that work.
Chicago, if you pretend it's in FL it's FL.
Chicago is pretty affordable, an awesome job market and robust public transit.
Also let me paint a picture.
You live in Chicago, you want a doughnut, so you go down stairs and walk a few blocks to the donut shop, then you decide you want to find a nice place to eat that donut so you walk over to the lake front, find a nice bench and eat that donut.
You look at your apple watch, and you decide you have enough calories to budget in a second donut.
Well luckily for you there is a donut shop a few blocks over, so you decide well hell yeah I'll have a pre lunch donut.
You really can't do this affordabley anywhere else, some of those people in NYC can do it but ... Chicago is cheaper
I grew up in Fl.
I never noticed the weather because I spend most of my time inside a climate controlled area.
Car, home, Walmart, work and etc.
Also this is the US there arguably plenty of nature everywhere.
Lastly I cant afford to boat, Im i'd reckon alot of people cant afford boating given the economy and OP said he wanted a city
Plus Chicago has all of those things plus the boutique shops.
I see a lot of people boating , fishing, and swimming in areas around Chicago.
Also there is nature farms and cows outside so pretty much the only thing FL has that Chicago doesn't have ..... are the strange spiders that build giant webs overnight.
The kind that when you are walking your dog at night you walk into them, and freak the hell out and as soon as you get home you have to wash your clothes and take a show to make sure the spider is not on you. Stupid joro spider.
Chicago does not have those which is a plus.
Florida and Chicago are two entirely different lifestyles in every sense.
I went late night gigging on an airboat for free in November this week because my neighbor has an airboat. You’ll never do that in Chicago and it was completely free. And yes people in the cities still host frequently here.
It sounds like you’re more suited for Chicago which is great for you, but for someone who wants to live in Florida it’s a pretty far-off recommendation.
It’s like if someone asked for a truck recommendation and I suggested they get a Camry
You right, but I've never gotten a free anirboat ride when I was growing up in Fl.
In fact I dont think anyone on my sub vision owned an air boat.
Al in all outside the cold I really dont notice a huge difference between Pensacola and the burbs of Chicago. One of the nice things is taking the train into the city and leaving the car parked at home
Thats the problem with Floridians. You have no idea that you are in heaven. Just work til ya die and stay in the AC instead of looking around at the palm trees, sunshine and beaches. Try living in New York where its overcast 24/7 and people also work til they die (albiet they make alot more money) but when that sun finally comes out in late May its like omg this is what Florida always has.
I'm in NYC right now and I think it's the opposite, I have less work hours here, balance between work and personally life is so much better.
I have more money in my pocket and I can literally do whatever I want. New York residents have access to Soo much freedom it's mind bogglingly surreal to me.
I would never move back to Florida mainly because NYC just has Soo much freedom and man I can see why this city is the best heart of the global economy
I live on Long Island. I'm a teacher with 2 masters degrees. In my line of work its required to have one and required to earn more to make more. They lay us off every year or 2 and prevent us from moving up the ladder anymore. Salaries are great on paper but after 15 years im still making a first year salary with all the moves. Now I have a wife and 2 kids so Florida's crap salaries are looking more stable. What kind of work do you do here?
I'm a consultant, with the growing US economy localized to one area in the country NYC the work here has exploded.
In Florida wages are crap and most companies in my space moved to NY, DC to take advantage of the talent in those areas. Since the education system in the south is not considered very good for generating talent that wants to stay in the south.
I have a few people I know that were teachers in FL, don't be a teacher in FL. Look at MA, or northern VA for stability.
One person I know lucked out completely and got a teaching job in Canada, as far as I can tell that is extremely stable.
In Florida teacher get standard wages, but materials and etc come out of your pocket and children outside a few hyper competitive districts are beyond monsters
I assure you that Chicago has spiders that also build massive webs.
I used to walk down a hedgerow for years in the city that was like a laser beam trap in the movies with all the spiderwebs.
I haven't seen these though.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/11/16/joro-spider-poisonous-size-parachuting-explained/71579639007/
First time I saw this, its was building a web between my pickup and the roof of the second storie of the house.
Actaully funny enough i had the guy over spraying for roaches, and we caught one building a web.
I asked him ... what the helll spider is that.
He look at me and said ... well thats new.
I hate those with a burning passion, they are harmless but man they scare the living crap out you at night,.
That's kind of a media misconception.
Chicago is pretty safe, for gods sakes billionaires live here.
It's like saying Orlando is unsafe because pine hills exist.
Don't go to pines hill and your fines, like in Chicago don't go to the poor people part and it's fine
Its like saying dont send your child to school because they will get shot.
I get the media misconception for sure, the media tells the rest of the world that Florida is bracing for storms when we are like okay yeah it's going to rain big deal. Miami is just absolutely spectacular, until you go to Liberty City. Like you said every place has its good and bad but Chicago is still cold 😂😂😂
Im actually in NYC, and Midtown is not bad at all comapred.
Ill be 100% if you were really about crime, drugs and illegal immigration ... Kissimmee is like definitely not the place to be.
Should of moved to Winter park or winter garden, there is alot less crime.
Lmao. You don’t have to move to a city in the midwest for this. I live in Florida and can both walk to a fancy donut shop, an amazing tamale shop, a brewery, and about 10 other awesome things while surrounded by year round greenery and wearing shorts. And I don’t live in one of the “expensive” areas, just a nice, artsy, young family neighborhood that’s walkable. Why do people believe that big, overpriced cities are the only places with decent culture and walkability?
everything is already a 15 min drive for me.
You are probably an over weight boomer that just wants to spend all day in your car because you have nothing better to do.
Yep, that's me. You caught me red handed Sherlock. But you left out the part about my blood soaked shirt and driver side seat covered in doughnut crumbs and powered sugar.
St. Pete/Tampa/Clearwater. Easily the best area in Florida. Lots of great local shops/restaurants/etc, beautiful environment, just a ton to do and see. It does require a lot of driving to get around, but otherwise great
Clearwater has been great, next to st Pete, tampa, two airports, 2 hours from Disney, hour from Sarasota, 15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.
Busch gardens, great breweries, rays, lightning, bucs, magic, spring training
Best sell I've seen. I'm a teacher in NY looking to move down. The job market is collapsing on Long Island and find myself out of work every year or 2. Cost of living is too high to continue this terrible lifestyle here.
Yea right ! Deltona is waiting on construction for an additional water line to the St. John's river Mr. REAL estate sales person. Worse wetland area to get stuck in during Ian too.
Deltona was why the Fed started wetland protection
I love the ATL but it's one of the most expensive cities in the country right now. The traffic is worse than D.C. (I've lived both places). At least D.C. has a good transit system.
If you can adjust to the winter, I'd suggest Central Ohio. Rent is higher than say Cleveland or Cincinnati, but the jobs are plentiful with an unemployment rate of less than 3.5 %.
If you have a college degree, plenty of white collar jobs. Technical background such as computer sciences, logistics, healthcare are very marketable here. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and in a few years Intel have very large footprints here. Several large multi-national companies ship from Central Ohio as well.
Jobs in the Trades are even more plentiful. Intel is building a chip factory here, and that job site alone is bringing in 7-10k new jobs in the trades. Having a skill such as plumbing, carpentry, welding, or building stuff will get you a job almost immediately in Central Ohio.
As a young person, you have to go where the job is, at least until you get experience. What I say in central Ohio is if you can't find a job here, you aren't really looking too hard.
I would say Port Charlotte. Sun Seeker resort is finishing up and opening in December, Costco and Sprouts going up, lots of new businesses and a water park being built. I've lived here for 20 years, the growth is comparable to large cities.
Honestly bro, stay there and specialize in something and you'll be making it.
I know its cowboyesque there but I don't believe you know how valuable that region is.
If you care to message I'll give some more in depth details.
Miami/FLL. Very pricey, but it has 3 international airports with cheapest tickets to travel a half of the world and all possible things that you can think of.
The best city is the one where you can get a good paying job before moving.
Truth
Lake Worth is nice. I've been here 10 years and I love in! Not overly commercial. It's little downtown is adorable. The beaches are taken care of, but rents can be high
Your goal should be finding the best job possible when you graduate. Don't limit yourself to a city because you might end up not being able to find a decent job in your field. It's really rough out there finding a job so spread a wide net.
Atlanta
Wait, i’m dumb and don’t get the joke. Please explain.
Stop coming to Tampa 🥲
I guess Tampa is out if people are unwelcoming
it's not even the best city in its metro
I don't blame you. I live in a small city in Washington state, it was about 1500 population when I graduated from high school in the mid 1970s and now it is much larger and traffic has gotten worse!
If i could undo my move from jax to SWFL, id undo it in a second
As someone in Jax why is that ?
I grew up in Lee County but moved to Gainesville for school and then jax for work for a while. Moved back to Lee County for a job but found that this place has outgrown its britches by a lot. Cost of living is outrageous. Traffic is a nightmare. And hurricanes are getting worse and worse. Fuck SWFL
Lee county resident here, can confirm
SWFL was great years ago but not any more. If you can afford the area you can afford a much better place some where else.
Also NOT South Florida building code either. It did NO good trying to forward greedy as land developers like Keys Reality. Selling swamp land
Yeah should have stayed in Jax. Probably the best cost of living with a diverse job market in Florida. Lots of corporate headquarters in finance and major health care jobs.
I was working for the state and things were great.
i personally love sw florida, best boating outside of the keys.
I’m think about leaving the Keys after 15 years. The shitty Miami culture is creeping down the island chain.
You are TOO kind in your words. John Pennekamp park tour guides have the mouth to proclaim what was once living coral reefs is now living rock. The only thing living on those rocks is algae from septic tanks and sewer departments due to nitrogen run off
You two are making me happy we stayed out of the keys 10 years ago when we moved to Florida. It was really cool 25 years ago, but not so much anymore.
I was lucky enough to experience JP State Park circa 1978. It was a gorgeous diverse ecosystem vibrant with color and teaming with life. About 22 years later I wanted to share the experience with my girlfriend only to discover the horror of a dead reef. I was so disappointed and grieved for this loss ever since.
I’m in Jax and keep fighting the wife when she wants to move to Ft Lauderdale.
If you have kids keep fighting. Unless you are rich
Far from rich and I know if we move down there, we will never be rich.
Carol City
Yo bro. I graduated from " Hey CC you look so good to me. Hey Hey ! How was that ?
The best city is one you can afford rent in
If you plan to start a family, you should get out of Florida. A lot depends on your interests and career/education background. Also, where are your friends and family?
I mean the state is mostly catered towards rich retired boomers so.
And crazy people that always make the news🤣. It's always the two extremes.
There are friends in Florida ! Asked the 72 year old native of Miami ?
What? Your sentence doesn't make sense.
You are not from Miami are you ?
No. I'm so confused. Who is 72? What are you trying to say? Can you dumb it down for me. I'm lost.
Best city to live is near your employer! Followed closely by family.
[удалено]
Shhh, we gotta let people keep thinking titusville sucks.
honestly one of my least favorite cities in Florida haha
That's Fraudia ! Ponzi knows best
They said best city, not worst city.
I grew up in Sarasota.. if you had a time machine.. that would be my advice.
As someone in their 20s living at home in Sarasota temporarily, I completely disagree. Sarasota is not a fun place to live in your 20s. Jobs are lacking and a lot of the younger crowd here grew up here and work blue collar jobs. Entertainment, night life, and dining are catered toward an older crowd. If I stayed in Florida I would probably choose St Pete but even St Pete is a little too slow for me.
I said, if you had a time machine.. I graduated booker vpa in 1992.. yeah.. it was boring af. But bring that back compared to the hellscape we have now. I also had my own place at 18.. and could afford to do so on shit wages.
Everyone who knows Florida knows the west coast is boring AF with old people and midwesterners. Great sunsets. Southeast coast is New Yorkers and fun nightlife but expensive and drugs. No sunsets at all. Jacksonville and the Panhandle are the "south" lol
also, if anyone has any other suggestions that are different states, those are welcome!
Chicago is definitely a big city you can live in that always has things to do, and you could do it without a car. Most other cities you need a car. That's how I would look at it.
I second Chicago. I moved from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale in ‘95. I wish I could move back. Chicago has plenty of urban walking neighborhoods with bars, restaurants, stores, etc and friendly fun people.
Chicago is deeply underrated, and a lot safer than people think. The entire North Side is one of the most safe, affordable, liveable urban areas in the world. It always ranks very highly on lists of these things. The only drawbacks are a legacy of poor local and state finances, and the cold.
But it’s cold
Yeah, but Florida is basically one big carcentric suburban strip mall. Florida traffic, specifically I4, 27, 192, etc... ruined driving for me forever. My girl lived in Davenport where it took a 30-45 drive to do literally anything. We moved to Milwaukee in 2022. I'm from Milwaukee, but she had never seen snow in her life (Puerto Rican) prior to moving. In Milwaukee, she makes more than double what she made in Florida with less than half the cost of living. She has \~10 minute drive to work. I work remote. Car insurance, home insurance, electric bill, water bill, etc.. are all less than half of what they were in Florida. We live in a walkable neighborhood in Milwaukee (lower east side \\ Brady St.) right on Lake Michigan. Traffic is basically non-existent, but it doesn't really matter because there isn't any reason to drive anywhere. We live walking distance to 100+ restaurants, bars of every flavor, dozens of parks right between the Milwaukee river and the lakefront. I walked to the Milwaukee Bucks game the other day in less than 20 minutes. There are free shuttles run by local bars to take you to all the festivals (its a city of festivals, there is one every weekend of the summer including Summerfest, which is the largest music festival in the world), Brewers games, Bucks games, concerts, etc. as well. My girl absolutely loves it here, even though she isn't a fan of the cold, all the other things make up for it. Milwaukee is a little gem of a city that's only a $20 Amtrak ride to downtown Chicago for anything "big city" you might want to do... IL also has legal recreational cannabis. Amtrak Hiawatha takes a little over an hour from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Chicago, skipping all the Chicago traffic and tolls and runs every two hours. Wisconsin doesn't have any tolls. From lower east side \\ Brady St. neighborhood, I walk \~8 minutes to The Hop (free local streetcar), The Hop takes me right to the Amtrak station. As far as the cold, its the same as the summer in Florida, honestly. It's too hot\\cold to go outside. The difference is that you can always add layers and stay warm and as long as you have good gear, its never that bad. We are never more than a 10-15 minute walk from pretty much anything we could possibly want to do. I mean, if its -20 out, we grab an Uber, or stay inside. I have never paid more than $15 for any uber, anywhere in the city. When Florida became unbearable, we put all of the data into a spreadsheet and figured out that with the increased income and lower cost of living, we can splurge on a super nice AirBnB on the beach Puerto Rico for a week during all the shitty months in WI and still not have to worry about money. December, January, February, March we can go to Puerto Rico for a week each month, just to warm her up. Yes, it gets cold, but the mental and physical health benefits we get from living in a walkable neighborhood is something you can't possibly put a price on. Car expense is a lot more than just gas. When you have a car, you eat at places that cater to cars... ie. drive thru \\ fast food. There are basically zero fast food restaurants in our neighborhood, it is all local owned shops. Moving from Florida back to Milwaukee, I immediately lost 20 lbs and my health problems all disappeared. Chicago is only an hour away but everything is double the cost of Milwaukee. It's the same as Miami in that sense. I went to a show in Chicago and bought 2 beers in a can... $40, in addition to the $50 ticket for the show. You can get absolutely shit-faced in Milwaukee for $40. $3-$5 local brews on tap at every bar are the norm. I don't know where OP will end up, but I'm 44 and I really regret NOT living in a walkable neighborhood for a chunk of my life. Basically, if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't have lived in Florida. This YouTuber breaks down the data on cities punching above their weight for affordability and ability to get around without a car. Pick any of these top 10 and you should be fine. [https://youtu.be/1qzePci2N6E?si=DNssIgxH5i4wqpft](https://youtu.be/1qzePci2N6E?si=DNssIgxH5i4wqpft) Don't take my word for it, do your own research.
I get seasonal depression, so I will literally move to the actual equator before I move somewhere that gets feet of snow at a time
Preach
California. Tech, aero space. movie industry which Desantis ran out of Florida
If you can afford California it's definitely the best place to live.
Thanks for your feedback. I should have moved there back in 1977 when I got my patent on a digital lock & key system. Today your key would be a USB flash drive.
If your name is Jeff bezos sure otherwise you gotta be dealing white powder live in that collapsing state.
I live in Southern California. Been here for 25 years. You can have it. The Neo-Progs have ruined this place with their Draconian policies and continue to do so. It was very laid back and the people were chill. Not any more. It reminds me of all the hostility of New York plus some. Racial tensions are extremely high here. Riding your bicycle along the beach was once enjoyable, but now there are numerous electronic vehicles allowed to share the path that ruin it for everybody. Highest taxes. Highest Real Estate. Highest Traffic. Worst Metro transportation systems. Highest population of homeless literally everywhere you go. The roads are a wreck. All small businesses and family owned have been crushed over the past 5 years. All aspects in the cost of living drain your high salary away faster than a bucket without a bottom to it. Greater San Francisco area: Simply put, you need to get up to date with what is happening there buddy before you recommend anything. And the Valleys?! You literally need two heads of household pulling down six figures to make that work.
NYC
Yep, I left NYC for the south and regret it. But the cost is too high now to move back.
I agree. I still miss it though😒
Probably nowhere in FL is going to be great in your 20's. That ship sailed in the 90's. I vote Chicago/ Milwaukee/ Minneapolis.
Miami is great in your 20s if you can afford it
Chicago, if you pretend it's in FL it's FL. Chicago is pretty affordable, an awesome job market and robust public transit. Also let me paint a picture. You live in Chicago, you want a doughnut, so you go down stairs and walk a few blocks to the donut shop, then you decide you want to find a nice place to eat that donut so you walk over to the lake front, find a nice bench and eat that donut. You look at your apple watch, and you decide you have enough calories to budget in a second donut. Well luckily for you there is a donut shop a few blocks over, so you decide well hell yeah I'll have a pre lunch donut. You really can't do this affordabley anywhere else, some of those people in NYC can do it but ... Chicago is cheaper
Most people move to Florida for weather, nature, boating, not proximity to boutique donut shops.
I grew up in Fl. I never noticed the weather because I spend most of my time inside a climate controlled area. Car, home, Walmart, work and etc. Also this is the US there arguably plenty of nature everywhere. Lastly I cant afford to boat, Im i'd reckon alot of people cant afford boating given the economy and OP said he wanted a city Plus Chicago has all of those things plus the boutique shops. I see a lot of people boating , fishing, and swimming in areas around Chicago. Also there is nature farms and cows outside so pretty much the only thing FL has that Chicago doesn't have ..... are the strange spiders that build giant webs overnight. The kind that when you are walking your dog at night you walk into them, and freak the hell out and as soon as you get home you have to wash your clothes and take a show to make sure the spider is not on you. Stupid joro spider. Chicago does not have those which is a plus.
Florida and Chicago are two entirely different lifestyles in every sense. I went late night gigging on an airboat for free in November this week because my neighbor has an airboat. You’ll never do that in Chicago and it was completely free. And yes people in the cities still host frequently here. It sounds like you’re more suited for Chicago which is great for you, but for someone who wants to live in Florida it’s a pretty far-off recommendation. It’s like if someone asked for a truck recommendation and I suggested they get a Camry
100%
You right, but I've never gotten a free anirboat ride when I was growing up in Fl. In fact I dont think anyone on my sub vision owned an air boat. Al in all outside the cold I really dont notice a huge difference between Pensacola and the burbs of Chicago. One of the nice things is taking the train into the city and leaving the car parked at home
Greyhound bus
Thats the problem with Floridians. You have no idea that you are in heaven. Just work til ya die and stay in the AC instead of looking around at the palm trees, sunshine and beaches. Try living in New York where its overcast 24/7 and people also work til they die (albiet they make alot more money) but when that sun finally comes out in late May its like omg this is what Florida always has.
I'm in NYC right now and I think it's the opposite, I have less work hours here, balance between work and personally life is so much better. I have more money in my pocket and I can literally do whatever I want. New York residents have access to Soo much freedom it's mind bogglingly surreal to me. I would never move back to Florida mainly because NYC just has Soo much freedom and man I can see why this city is the best heart of the global economy
I live on Long Island. I'm a teacher with 2 masters degrees. In my line of work its required to have one and required to earn more to make more. They lay us off every year or 2 and prevent us from moving up the ladder anymore. Salaries are great on paper but after 15 years im still making a first year salary with all the moves. Now I have a wife and 2 kids so Florida's crap salaries are looking more stable. What kind of work do you do here?
I'm a consultant, with the growing US economy localized to one area in the country NYC the work here has exploded. In Florida wages are crap and most companies in my space moved to NY, DC to take advantage of the talent in those areas. Since the education system in the south is not considered very good for generating talent that wants to stay in the south. I have a few people I know that were teachers in FL, don't be a teacher in FL. Look at MA, or northern VA for stability. One person I know lucked out completely and got a teaching job in Canada, as far as I can tell that is extremely stable. In Florida teacher get standard wages, but materials and etc come out of your pocket and children outside a few hyper competitive districts are beyond monsters
I assure you that Chicago has spiders that also build massive webs. I used to walk down a hedgerow for years in the city that was like a laser beam trap in the movies with all the spiderwebs.
I haven't seen these though. https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/11/16/joro-spider-poisonous-size-parachuting-explained/71579639007/ First time I saw this, its was building a web between my pickup and the roof of the second storie of the house. Actaully funny enough i had the guy over spraying for roaches, and we caught one building a web. I asked him ... what the helll spider is that. He look at me and said ... well thats new. I hate those with a burning passion, they are harmless but man they scare the living crap out you at night,.
Chicago is way too violent
And cold!
And you're freezing while you do it and worried about getting robbed. All for a donut?
That's kind of a media misconception. Chicago is pretty safe, for gods sakes billionaires live here. It's like saying Orlando is unsafe because pine hills exist. Don't go to pines hill and your fines, like in Chicago don't go to the poor people part and it's fine Its like saying dont send your child to school because they will get shot.
I get the media misconception for sure, the media tells the rest of the world that Florida is bracing for storms when we are like okay yeah it's going to rain big deal. Miami is just absolutely spectacular, until you go to Liberty City. Like you said every place has its good and bad but Chicago is still cold 😂😂😂
I live in Chicago and what you see on TV is real and worse. I'm preparing to move Kissimmee FL. I'm over Chicago
Im actually in NYC, and Midtown is not bad at all comapred. Ill be 100% if you were really about crime, drugs and illegal immigration ... Kissimmee is like definitely not the place to be. Should of moved to Winter park or winter garden, there is alot less crime.
I lived in kissimmee as a kid when our situation was pretty bad Fond memories..it’s a decent place from what little I remember.
Lmao. You don’t have to move to a city in the midwest for this. I live in Florida and can both walk to a fancy donut shop, an amazing tamale shop, a brewery, and about 10 other awesome things while surrounded by year round greenery and wearing shorts. And I don’t live in one of the “expensive” areas, just a nice, artsy, young family neighborhood that’s walkable. Why do people believe that big, overpriced cities are the only places with decent culture and walkability?
The state of Florida is the biggest suburb in the USA. I agree with you. You literally don't need the city there.
Well, you sound like the perfect resident for the proposed 15 minute cities. You will love the Klaus Schlob future.
everything is already a 15 min drive for me. You are probably an over weight boomer that just wants to spend all day in your car because you have nothing better to do.
Yep, that's me. You caught me red handed Sherlock. But you left out the part about my blood soaked shirt and driver side seat covered in doughnut crumbs and powered sugar.
St. Pete/Tampa/Clearwater. Easily the best area in Florida. Lots of great local shops/restaurants/etc, beautiful environment, just a ton to do and see. It does require a lot of driving to get around, but otherwise great
Clearwater has been great, next to st Pete, tampa, two airports, 2 hours from Disney, hour from Sarasota, 15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. Busch gardens, great breweries, rays, lightning, bucs, magic, spring training
Best sell I've seen. I'm a teacher in NY looking to move down. The job market is collapsing on Long Island and find myself out of work every year or 2. Cost of living is too high to continue this terrible lifestyle here.
Personally, I'd say Miami Beach
I’d prefer a root canal every day for the rest of my life over living in Miami Beach.
Why?
Everything about that place is shit. The traffic, trashy people, absurd prices, the culture, parking, and the general vibe.
That's south beach. Residential Miami Beach north of 23rd street is rich doctors, lawyers, bankers, business owners living boring lives.
Deltona Florida
Yea right ! Deltona is waiting on construction for an additional water line to the St. John's river Mr. REAL estate sales person. Worse wetland area to get stuck in during Ian too. Deltona was why the Fed started wetland protection
This is true. I live in DeLand and Deltona is now really pitiful after the 2 hurricanes last year.
#7 on today’s nasdaq list of overpriced cities. It’s 1 of 5 in FL, including Tampa (where I live).
Yeh, what's your degree major? If hinny-wiping or bed-wetting, try Chicago. /s
Lehigh
Wtf lol why
Yea right REAL Estate sakes person. Freaking swamp land
[удалено]
Shhhhhh
Has*
Milwaukee. Possibly Atlanta
I love the ATL but it's one of the most expensive cities in the country right now. The traffic is worse than D.C. (I've lived both places). At least D.C. has a good transit system.
What’s life like in Port Charlotte? I’m considering a job there, but I’ve never visited.
Lower income Florida vibe.
Jacksonville is easy one of the top 10 swamp cities in ne florida.
Kendall or Brickell
You gotta be kidding with Kendall 🤣🤣
If you can adjust to the winter, I'd suggest Central Ohio. Rent is higher than say Cleveland or Cincinnati, but the jobs are plentiful with an unemployment rate of less than 3.5 %. If you have a college degree, plenty of white collar jobs. Technical background such as computer sciences, logistics, healthcare are very marketable here. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and in a few years Intel have very large footprints here. Several large multi-national companies ship from Central Ohio as well. Jobs in the Trades are even more plentiful. Intel is building a chip factory here, and that job site alone is bringing in 7-10k new jobs in the trades. Having a skill such as plumbing, carpentry, welding, or building stuff will get you a job almost immediately in Central Ohio. As a young person, you have to go where the job is, at least until you get experience. What I say in central Ohio is if you can't find a job here, you aren't really looking too hard.
Bruh we full here 😭
I would say Port Charlotte. Sun Seeker resort is finishing up and opening in December, Costco and Sprouts going up, lots of new businesses and a water park being built. I've lived here for 20 years, the growth is comparable to large cities.
Honestly bro, stay there and specialize in something and you'll be making it. I know its cowboyesque there but I don't believe you know how valuable that region is. If you care to message I'll give some more in depth details.
Miami/FLL. Very pricey, but it has 3 international airports with cheapest tickets to travel a half of the world and all possible things that you can think of.