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?!

No idea but wow what an opportunity, well done!

If it’s just you and DD what happens when you travel for work? And how often? I would prob choose one of the hubs to reduce the travelling personally.

I’ve lived in LA for a decade, feel free to PM - there are pros and cons for sure. SD is awesome though as mentioned (it’s doesn’t take 4hours during non busy times to LAX, I live north of LAX and have regularly driven down in 2-2.5hrs)

I second the suggestion for Arizona, I went just outside Phoenix for work, Scottsdale looks good too! Apparently Houston, Texas you don't need to pay one of the taxes you need to pay in other states so thats a win!

Taxes differ from state to state so that would be a major decider for me as well as cost of living

I only came on to recommend Boston (and thereabouts) but I see you have been there already. But actually, Boston or San Francisco are the only places in the USA I'd live in, and I've been lucky enough to travel a lot in the US.

I'd actually do some research into the politics of some of your options. America does seem to have settled down a bit but I'd really struggle in areas where the predominant feeling isn't aligned. I know that sounds weird but if you're going to live there, you need to live there if you see what I mean?

I still think Boston. Brilliant city.

Not a lot of water in AZ, if that matters to OP. I've been swimming in Colorado River but understand it's generally not advised nowadays.

It takes us 4 hours to drive from\to my dad's home on Mission Bay (SD) to LAX on a weekday (offpeak). YMMV. Enjoy the concrete boobies (San Onofre).

Boulder or Denver are also great shouts if you like the outdoors life.

Incredible opportunity OP. My cousins move from England to Michigan twenty five years ago and they would never, ever come back

I went to stay with them for two weeks about fifteen years ago and it was brilliant. It was Winter and there was a lot of snow

I'd look at somewhere similar to the English countryside if you like cycling, walking etc. Definitely take into account flight lengths back to the UK. I'd like somewhere with decent weather but not too hot

California, Florida, Texas, could get uncomfortable. We wanted to retire to the south coast of Spain but I honestly don't think I'd be able to handle it

Another vote for Boston or San Francisco.
What is your budget? San Francisco's housing is very expensive.

Austin ! It's an amazing place. Great music, bars and people from all over the world live there.

I'd live there in a heart beat.

OP without a doubt I would live in Vermont. I have friends there and they love it there.

If only Denver had the ocean it would seem a perfect fot for you op.

I’d stay closer to the east coast based on travel back to Europe. Based on your wants, I’d choose somewhere like the Boston area/suburbs, the Research Triangle in North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), NYC, Maryland/DC metro area.

Which way do your politics lie? If more liberal, those cities and areas. San Diego is a lot more conservative than people realize. It’s full of military and leans conservative due to that. Wonderful beaches though.

This is so exciting - thanks everyone. Although I feel the more I look into it, the more confused I'm getting

I've just remembered that about 20 years ago a uni friend went and lived in Denver for 6 months and raved about it for ages. They said they thought I'd love it there.

I definitely don't want to live anywhere strongly Trump country.

Isn't Boston weather pretty bad? Ideally I'd like it to be sunnier than England.

Research carefully the governance of each state, as it can vary hugely. Eg. In terms of Covid, some states had relatively small numbers of cases per 100 and others had thousands more, some of which was created by decisions made at a local governance level.
I would also look at health care and insurance - what if you lost the job but wanted to stay and keep your dd settled? Hard to think about now, but if you imagine your dd doing tertiary level education, some universities are more generous with scholarships and grants than other.
In addition, I would think carefully about climate - weather can be much more extreme (Florida has a hurricane ‘season’ every year, etc). Parts of California/ Arizona are very sunny, but do you want to live an indoor air conditioned existence for many months of the year? My aunt in Mid-Cal is going to experience 40-43 degree heat this week, and it is not yet the height of summer.
Sorry if it all sounds a downer - it does sound an amazing opportunity! These are just some of the things I would think about.

I would say in general weather in New England is cold winters (but lovely snow!) but summers generally a bit sunnier / warmer than UK. Not a lot hotter, but more sunny days, also more humidity.

You can google republican / democrat state map of America which would give you a rough idea of main areas of Trump support.

Austin is lovely, with great weather (if you like the heat) and beautiful nature. However, the city is booming due to the sheer amount of companies relocating there ....house prices are going through the roof.

I would suggest the North East. Are you fine with the cold winters?

Also don't rely on State maps to understand voting intentions. Political leanings are very much localized to smaller areas.

Boston suburbs
Washington D.C. / Northern Virginia suburbs
Chicago suburbs
Really, anywhere on the Atlantic seaboard

@Neighneigh

I only came on to recommend Boston (and thereabouts) but I see you have been there already. But actually, Boston or San Francisco are the only places in the USA I'd live in, and I've been lucky enough to travel a lot in the US.

I'd actually do some research into the politics of some of your options. America does seem to have settled down a bit but I'd really struggle in areas where the predominant feeling isn't aligned. I know that sounds weird but if you're going to live there, you need to live there if you see what I mean?

I still think Boston. Brilliant city.

Yes, this. DH and I agreed not to look at states that voted twice for Trump...

Boston has bitterly cold winters. We lived in NYC for six years and that's south of Boston and I found it far too cold in winter. The east coast is also extremely hot and humid in summer. It's gorgeous in spring (which is all of a couple of weeks) and autumn, but for the rest of the year I didn't enjoy the climate at all.

Where would I live if I had free choice? I love northern CA, Seattle and Portland, but they can be grey/rainy in winter (bloody lovely in summer though!). Wildfires are an issue on the west coast in summer/autumn though, which you should take into account. More people are now moving out of CA than into it, and house prices and what's becoming known as the 'smoke season' i.e. months of the year when everywhere smells of smoke, are big reasons.

Austin is a nice city, but still not sure I'd want to live in TX. As a state it's always been very Republican, although Austin has always been the most liberal place in TX and it does have a nice, laid back vibe, good bars/restaurants and decent cultural life. TX is bloody hot in summer though, as is anywhere in the southern US.

I'd consider Seattle seriously. It's a very liveable city - laid back, attractive without being touristy, good transport links to anywhere on the West Coast, to the UK, and even to Alaska!

I second one of the Carolina states. You'd have to pay me a king's ransom to live in California excepting the very northern part.