What are the best places to live in the US?

[Charger1973]

I currently live in NM, about 2 hours from Albuquerque. I am counting the days until I can go home to Montana.

I haven't lived in Albuquerque, but given my job, and the fact that it is the closest major center to the ugly little rathole town I'm living in for the next month, I spend a lot of time there.

If I were forced to live out my days in NM, I would probably end up in ABQ. Climate is pretty good, but probably not what you'd expect. It gets 4 seasons. a little snow in the winter (a LOT of snow this past winter) but it doesn't stick around for long. Monsoon season is impressive. Lots of rain, but, again, it doesn't last long. Really windy spring and fall. Not too hot in the summer.

Lots of good restaurants, coffee shops, that kind of thing.

I can't speak to the job or housing market, as I never looked into moving there. I do see lots of new construction going on.

It's located at the base of the Sandia Mountains, which are quite spectacular. Santa Fe is less than an hour's drive, keep going and you'll get to Taos and Raton.

The big adjustment is cultural. This place is QUITE Mexican. Not East L.A. Mexican, but more so than, say, the Midwest. If you're not used to it, it takes a little getting used to.

The real drawback to ABQ is the level of violent crime. Maybe it's just my perspective coming from low-crime Montana, but I am always amazed at the amount of stupid, random violence in ABQ. The I-40 and the I-25 cross at ABQ and I believe that a lot of drug traffic goes through there because of that. There is also a lot of gang activity. I'm sure that it's like many other larger cities around the world:  Confined to the rougher parts of town. Unless you have a real phobia regarding firearms, I would recommend equipping yourself appropriately.

I dont think the cultural difference would bother me.  My hometown is now about 50% hispanic.  I dont have a problem with that, I love mexican food.   

I think you will find the same crime in any major city, but its good to hear opinions of those who live in the area... 

[Charger_Fan]

Mean 318, how would they know you aren't Mormon? Do you have a swastika tattooed on your forehead?

Unless the restaurant was a little hole-in-da-wall place with terrible service, I don't see why you wouldn't get served. There are PLENTY of freaky looking people around Utah & they always seem to get served.  I'm not Mormon either, but I rarely have any problems like that.  If I do, it's just because the service sucks & I make it a point to not return.
If you do move here though, definitely be prepared to be "welcomed" to the neighborhood. "Welcoming" involves being hit up by the neighborhood Mo's shortly after moving in...but after turning them down 3 or 4 times, they get the hint & leave you alone. Just answer the door with a beer in your hand & they'll get the hint quickly.

I haven't lived in a neighborhood where I felt completely outnumbered, there's always been a few like-minded people I felt I could relate to.

On that note, I still want to move back to Arizona one of these days...not because of the Mo's, just because of the snow.

[GTX]

Sort of a funny note:

During the Olympics we had reporters come from everywhere you can imagine. There are many stereotypical ideas of what a Mormon is including ones dressed like Amish or Polygamist and then others swear that Mormons have horns and all sorts of other nonsense. I have had several people ask me about a horn. I tell them that we are required to cut it down when we leave the state.
We actually had reporters standing in the middle of downtown Salt Lake asking where all the Mormons were and how to find a Mormon. They were standing in the middle of the street in downtown SLC and surrounded by Mormons and didn't even know it. Even the non Mormons thought this was hilarious and everyone would send the reporters on snipe hunts looking for a Mormon.   

It was only when they got up in Park City about 40 miles up the canyon which has a really great party life that they found out that they were had.

And for the record, I can't handle the one woman I have let alone multiple wives and wouldn't want to!! 
   

[Bones68charger]

Western Nebraska is not a bad place to live as long as you don't like having a lot of people around. We have pine crested buttes, the sand hills are gorgeaus. There is a ton of out doors stuff to do if you like that kind of thing. Plus we are close in proximity to Denver and the Black Hills. Our weather is not too bad either relitivly mild year round. Well for this part of the country anyway.

[19Charger68]

I live 40 miles south of Albuquerque, but my wife and I both work in Albuquerque.  Have to agree with what others have said.  Albuquerque or Los Lunas (south of Albuquerque) is your best bet both weatherwise and jobwise.  Albuquerque is growing quickly.  The housing market is strong but not rediculous.  There are jobs to be had but the pay will depend a lot on your profession.  There is crime here but most of it seems to be gang member against gang member.  We came here from Wyoming to get away from the bad weather and have not been disappointed.  I would say there are more positives than negatives in living here.  Oh, lots of car shows during the year which was a plus for us.

[Charger1973]

I live 40 miles south of Albuquerque, but my wife and I both work in Albuquerque.  Have to agree with what others have said.  Albuquerque or Los Lunas (south of Albuquerque) is your best bet both weatherwise and jobwise.  Albuquerque is growing quickly.  The housing market is strong but not rediculous.  There are jobs to be had but the pay will depend a lot on your profession.  There is crime here but most of it seems to be gang member against gang member.  We came here from Wyoming to get away from the bad weather and have not been disappointed.  I would say there are more positives than negatives in living here.  Oh, lots of car shows during the year which was a plus for us.

Sounds like it is a good choice.  I think im going to have to visit the area sometime in the next couple years.   

[Mean 318]

Long hair, facial hair... I'm not talking scary or nasty... but I didn't blend in. It could be that I did go to a few bad resteraunts and just happend to run into a lot of people having a bad day. I was never in SLC, just about an hour or so away. I also might just be kinda scary .... or funny to look at

[GTX]

Back just before we bought this house we are in now I was really hot to trot to move to Florida and Tampa area in specific. The hurricane threat pretty much backed me off from that though.
Of course we're due for a major quake any day too but the hurricanes seem more certain especially in cycle of recent years.

Actually Florida isn't as expensive as most.  You can GOOGLE (best places to live in the US). CHeapest, warmest, etc...

Cheap land is in the north region of Florida.."Tampa" and its suburbs have reasonable prices..go a little further north like Land' O Lakes, Dade city and you can get a good deal on land and houses around in the area..forget Miami its $$$$$$$$$ Sarasota, anywhere a lot of retired folks live and it gets bad...

[Charger1973]

I meant to ask too, but keep forgetting...  What are the emissions laws like in NM and AZ?  I dont want to move somewhere and have them tell me I cant drive me car on the road.  Here in Iowa, we just license it and go, they dont inspect anything.

[CaptMarvel]

VERY beautiful, but if you aren't Mormon you are not welcome. Couldn't get service in the resteraunts and everyone looks at you.

Well, I can say that is just completely false...I know for a fact that most members of my faith try to practice the golden rule and in general are VERY welcoming. I think some folks get a lot of wierd and wrong ideas about Mormons, which I dont quite understand.. Im not a life long member , but have been since 88' and am very happy to be. We do have a way of "welcoming" folks to the neighborhood, dont be offended or taken aback, its just a normal thing to do, and especially in Utah. Everyones got to remember that LDS is still the majority there (even in this day and age-I think around 75-78% of Utah are LDS, whether active or not) and it is very much the culture there. Its been that way since the 1840's. It would be like going into Alabama, Mexico City or Lancaster, PA and not expecting to be surrounded by Baptists, Catholics or Amish. That said, part of the LDS faith is to allow everyone to worship according to the dicates of their own conscience, and its taken pretty seriously too. I've never lived there, but have in-laws and other family there and I always enjoy the visit. Truth is, anywhere you go, you'll likely be in contact with LDS folks, and increasingly more and more. Its among the fastest growing faiths worldwide. SLC itself is just like any other big American city, it has some really cool historic sites, shopping, some nice places to eat and yes, even a few nutjobs. My daughter moved there for a while and eventually came back, she loved the social scene- very nice for young LDS looking for others, but didnt like the weather. I dont think I'd ever move there (life long Cali kid-wouldnt like that cold white powdery stuff everywhere in the winter, whats it called?) but I have kicked around the idea from time to time. If i did, probably St. George would be the likely spot, the downside for me? too close to Vegas...Manti or Vernal would be cool, but kind of isolated and no source of income around there....outside of Utah and California? Texas or parts of Arizona would also be a high consideration of mine for the future..Ive lived briefly in Alabama and always thought of going back again, the people there seemed really geuine and hospitable..Also got alot of relatives in NE Arkansas and I love it there too...

[Charger74]

I meant to ask too, but keep forgetting...  What are the emissions laws like in NM and AZ?  I dont want to move somewhere and have them tell me I cant drive me car on the road.  Here in Iowa, we just license it and go, they dont inspect anything.

Not sure about NM,  but unless they've changed the laws recently in AZ.  I think Phoenix area requires emission testing, maybe  Tucson, but the rest of Az does not that I know of.  I know where I lived it didn't require it.  Just license and go..   But in those areas, if your car smokes to much, someone can complain and you can get fined if you don't get it fixed....

[Mean 318]

Well I want to apologise for what I said, I had one bad trip and that influenced my opinion. I have no problem with the state-which IMO is the most beautiful state in the US- or the people. We just met a few impolite people that made us feel very unwelcome. Again, no need to hijack this thread or turn it into a debate. Zack