Where should I live in the US?

[USADilemma]

I've been offered a job in the US. I need to be available to go to meetings at offices in either Boston, LA or Detroit (head office) every few weeks, but could live anywhere, as everyone is allowed to work from home (forever, not just during covid).

I've got no idea where to start! I've only been to the US a few times (Boston/New York/LA).

Where would you live if you could start anywhere? I'd love to be near a largish city for good restaurants/ events / airport links etc. Good schools and ideally a good university if we stay long-term. I'd love to be near water (lake, river or sea). I'd like decent weather, but it doesnt have to be hot and sunny every day, just no brutal winters.

It would be me and my DD (11 years old), so family friendly. I'd have a housing allowance, so budget isn't too much of an issue.

Any suggestions so I can start to narrow it down?!

Doesn't Detroit have pretty cold winters?!

I'd opt for one of the other two depending what sort of lifestyle you'd prefer.

We've got family near Santa Monica and I love visiting and dream of retiring there but I know it's not everyone's thing and I've no idea about school districts.

Exciting choices through!

Detroit: most the nice areas are in suburbs or commuter towns, although there is gentrification going on, it's low key. Lowest cost of living.

Boston: most intellectual, left wing, best public transport, most history.

LA & Detroit: car-dependent lifestyle, probably highest cost of living.

LA: diverse, best weather, bad smog.

Although I have family I am very fond of near LA, I'd choose Boston for lifestyle. Obviously most convenient for flying back to UK, if that kind of travel becomes common again.

I assume you’ll be able to fly to the office when needed? If so, have you looked at Austin? No idea of anything schoolwise but it has always seemed like a great place to live (friends just let) Although the new Texas legislations not great..

How exciting!

Thanks everyone. I don't think I was clear in my OP. I will need to travel to those three areas (Detroit more often than the others) but I can live anywhere, I don't have to live anywhere near them, as long as I can travel there. That's why it's so daunting. I have no idea where to start!

If you factor in that most towns that have commuter airports with flights that will connect with big hubs then you've got too much to choose from. And if this is potentially a base for many years... it sounds like a dream and also just too big! How long do you have to do your research? Portland oregan sounds really cool and will be commutable to your destinations.

I liked Boston but I’ve also heard it can be quite racist.

What hobbies do you have OP? That might help us narrow it down?

I love the outdoors so my favourite state is Wyoming! You can fly to all of those places from there. However, based on what you’ve described, I would definitely pick someone along the California coast. You can drive to LA and all it offers without living there constantly. Driving down the coast from San Francisco, there are numerous lovely coastal towns. South of LA, Newport Beach is lovely. California is the most expensive though but IMO, worth the premium due to the all year round lifestyle.

For me if I could live anywhere in US it would be San Diego. Weather is good all year round, right by the ocean, close to LAX for travel when required.

@Boopear thanks. Austin looks really interesting. I was initially concerned about Texas, but that area looks pretty liberal leaning.

Boston.

I love Arizona...great climate, walking and some quite liberal towns. Colorado, never been but looks amazing and liberal again. I couldn’t live in LA the traffic would get me down.

Don't forget the weather.
It can be brutal in some places in both winter and summer.
90% humidity is a killer.

Even without knowing you'd have to go to Boston I'd say Boston.

Austin potentially

Nashville?

Seattle?

If you want to visit the UK or will have family wanting to visit you, I would situate yourself on the East for shorter and cheaper journeys. That would start to narrow down your options.

Good luck - sounds like an exciting move.

We lived in the US for a few years. Would love to have stayed with the remit of living wherever we liked, I'm incredibly jealous!

It's the outdoors/wilderness that is the draw for me, so personally I would be looking at colorado, Montana, wyoming. Washington state.

How about Boulder, CO? You can fly direct to LA and Detroit.

My brother had exactly the same dilemma. Narrowed it down to New York and Florida. Ended up Tampa Florida. I think the weather and the difference in property size/swimming pool in florida compared to a manhattan apartment swung it for them. He has a good life there
Of the places I've visited I'd be happy living in San Fran, New York, San Diego, Seattle.

Oh, thanks everyone. More great suggestions.

I know it's too big a choice. I'd assumed they'd want me in one of the office cities, but when they said I could live anywhere, that really threw me! How on earth do I pick?!

We like walking, cycling, outdoor swimming, sailing. I like going out for nice meals, music, theatre, comedy.

An international airport with easy links to the UK would be an advantage.

San Diego would be my choice, no contest. To pin it down a bit more, I'd go for South Park/North Park, which are alongside Balboa Park, safe walkable neighbourhoods, lovely healthy eateries. Near to downtown, but also lots of hiking trails close by, lovely climate, the sea, but also mountains.
The walkability is key for me, I just can't get my head around places in America where you can't just walk to the nearest store, even though it is a walkable distance.

Another vote for Boston or near - easy access to the entire east coast which includes lots of great cities (NYC, Philadelphia) and countryside, coastal resorts etc. Good access for getting back to UK. Canada and southern states also easy to visit and explore.

Boston itself is fantastic city. Diverse and liberal plus ancient by comparison with other parts of USA which a rich history. Lots of culture, restaurants etc.

We lived in New Jersey when I was a kid and enjoyed great summer weather plus proper winters with deep snow.

How exciting.

If you want an international airport then you could also consider Denver CO

Just read your update, San Diego has a thriving theatre scene.

OP can you visit two cities to get a feel? Maybe Boston and San Diego then report back and we’ll decide!

Feel very invested-such a wonderful dilemma to have!

Asheville , North Carolina. Very lively with easy access to so many beautiful parts of the country . Great universities nearby too.
Austin , Texas is often voted the best place to live in US.
Santa Monica , California. Lovely and still a bit traditional .

I envy you so much. What an exciting opportunity ! Hope you and daughter enjoy it.

Boston, or even nearer the Cape. Absolutely beautiful place and very easy to fly back to the UK from the East.

By Boston I don't mean city centre as such, unless that is what you wanted. One of the nicer suburbs e.g out Salem way?

how often would you travel to the hub destination?
How many days/month would you be away from home at hub destination?

afaik,

walking, cycling, outdoor swimming, sailing. I'm not sure what 'walking' means to OP. For year-round outdoor swimming, you're stuck with CA, FL, HI, TX. San Diego & Galveston have vibrant sailing scenes. Leisure cycling in southern California is fine but commuter cycling is a pain. Most coastal California cities meet most your criteria. So would Seattle, Portland OR, Hawaii, Galveston, parts of Florida or TX. Seattle might have shortest journey back to UK.

LA has the most flights to other big cities. LA traffic will be the worst. 4 hours to drive from San Diego to LAX (non peak times), about a 2 hr drive from Santa Barbara to LAX.

Good schools schools are funded by local taxation, especially property taxes, so choose a city with high house prices & high wages for this.

ideally a good university how "good"? Would Cal State Northridge be ok or do you want top 20 in world?

near water (lake, river or sea). Avoid most of the west and TX, then, except on the coast. Austin does have a lake, tbf.

no brutal winters Midwest & most of east coast is out.

nice meals, music, theatre, comedy
All the cities could cater somewhat, depends how far you're willing to drive.LA has the best theatre scene.

international airport with easy links to the UK would be an advantage. LA or San Francisco both good for this.