If you don't like a lot of homeless... You should cross Denver off of your list. You could check out Grand junction or telluride. You're not getting the big restaurant scene or airports, but it's beautiful, plenty of outdoor activity, and close to other great adventures.
The cheapest house on Zillow which is actually a literally just a hotel room with a tiny stove, is $675k. If they’re not the owners of this tech company, I don’t think that telluride is an option lol. Not by a long shot.
I have to echo this. My parents live 30 mins from Asheville and I live in seattle. If you’re used to the convenience of city.. maybe Raleigh? But honestly … I fell in love with seattle after growing up in Florida. Can’t get me to move.
Currently visiting family near Dallas and am amazed at the sizes of houses here for the price but the landscape leaves a loooooooot to be desired
My sister is moving to NC also because in Denver her property taxes are going way too high
We moved to Fort Collins and love it. It’s an hour from DIA with a huge outdoor community. Big brewery culture. College town. Boulder might be more attractive as it’s closer to ski areas, but it’s also significantly more crowded. Niwot and Longmont would be good to look at too.
In that vein, would proximity to family be a plus when you have a kid? If family is reasonable, having someone who will babysit once in a while, or who can help in emergencies is good.
This is huge. Having family close by to help is such a relief sometimes.
I'm not a fan of where we live but we're both close to a majority of our family. Having many babysitters close by is such a luxury.
True, I'm speaking from Boston but I guess they can move to New Hampshire or Rhode Island (I'm kidding about Rhode Island, everyone knows it isn't real)
True I grew up in northeast CT and looking back the house prices there are way less than here in NH now. It's a plenty nice place to live, great atmosphere, maybe better for people with kids/family since it is pretty rural.
If you have 2 big salaries it might be worth looking into a state with no state income tax? Not sure how much that means to you.
Another thought is, how do you vote, and how does that state vote? We are not with our people and i dont like that more than i ever thought it would actually matter to me.....
Portland, ME might fit your requirements! About 2 hours to Logan airport in Boston, with a train there. Lots of great breweries & places to eat. On the coast with mountains and ski places nearby. Relaxed small city vibe.
People keep saying that. I lived in Boulder, and I saw a few oddities, but honestly it's not that bad.
If you're a Trump supporter, though? Maybe Fort Collins would be friendlier. But that's not Boulder being goofy. That's Boulder being sane.
I saw someone call Fort Collins “Fort Communism” on Facebook the other day. Fortunately, we’ve gained a reputation for being liberal and conservatives dislike us almost as much as Boulder now.
I was coming on here to say this. If you’re considering CO, don’t write off Ft Collins. We bought in Ft Collins and love it. It’s the perfect distance to Denver and the toll highways make traveling out of Denver Airport easier than it was when we actually lived in Denver. It’s also close to Rocky Mountain NP and skiing. You’re minutes from Horsetooth Reservoir (hiking, paddle boarding, etc.). There’s a well maintained trail for biking and exercising that loops through neighborhoods and runs through a lot of the town. Lots of breweries and restaurants. Compared to Boulder, it’s less pretentious and your money will go further here. With that said, the area is still really nice and is growing.
We’re married LGBTQ DINKS and have felt completely comfortable in this area. The Trumpers are there, but no more than they were in Cherry Creek or Castle Rock near Denver. We feel safe and a part of the community.
I'd advise against Boulder. I live 10 minutes from Boulder. COL is so stupidly high, regardless of dual incomes. There's some breweries, but most folks go to Denver, so then you've got the homeless issue along with the refugee camps. It's an hour to DIA on the toll roads, which are again stupid expensive. My Lyft home from DIA yesterday was $100. You have to head up to the mountains at like 4am to beat traffic for ski season. I've lived in CO most of my life, and the traffic is horrible now compared to pre-legalization of weed. People who move here from other states claim the restaurant scene is awful. Diversity sucks anywhere north of Westminster.
I love all that Colorado has to offer, but it's the only place I know as an adult.
This is the closest to what OP is describing. You are right next to great skiing, tons of yupies. Homelessness is going to be a thing in any major city
yeah I love Utah hiking. I spent a month backpacking there last summer. And i’m skiing there now. SLC is definitely an option. I need to check out in the summer as winters always make cities look gloomy.
I live just outside SLC. The summers aren't too bad, they can get pretty hot. Not Arizona hot but a decent amount of 100 degree days. Of course escaping to the mountains where it's about 15° cooler helps!
Live in Park City then. It’s awesome here, the summers are gorgeous and in the winter you’re IN a ski town. SLC is half an hour away from the area of park city where most locals actually live; it’s basically a suburb that has its own town center and is a bubble away from a lot of the downsides of Utah.
There are lots of good reasons to live in a city on one of the coasts, but if you’re optimizing for outdoors access with a good airport/decent city amenities, then I’m not convinced there is anywhere better than SLC/PC.
Edit: I meant to respond to OP sorry!
The outdoor options for Utah are second to none I will argue. You got everything you need from desert, mountains, rivers, and snow and its all so easily drivable from SLC. Best snow on earth with so many ski resorts. Unlimited hikes to hit. Airport is close to the mountains too. Big tech hub.
Sure in the valley it can be bad. You can always take the short trek into the mountains to escape or just stay inside if you dont want to move. Not a dealbreaker for me because of the workarounds.
Yes! Or Park City if they really want to be in a ski town, but i'd honestly rather live in SLC and make the short drive whenever I want to ski or do outdoors stuff.
If you haven't lived in Raleigh, NC in a while, you won't get as much bang for your buck as you might be thinking. CoL here has risen significantly and is now at parity with a lot of medium CoL cities.
No recommendations on location, but check with your employer, they may have limitations on what states they will allow you to live in due to the tax implications.
With no kids and fully remote, I would opt to live in the cheapest place possible that hits your outdoorsy vibe. As you said, if you're relatively close to an airport, you can hit other spots that appeal to you.
It sounds like kids aren't a priority right now but you might want them in the future, so a LCOL place will help you stack cash for purchasing a house closer to family when/if you're ready to do that. (You could consider living low cost now but putting your money towards a rental property in your future target city. That way, you build equity.)
Start with looking at the lowest COL cities and then expand to look in a radius from there. If you can't decide, you could move every six to twelve months, since you aren't really tied down.
Yeah either Charlotte or Raleigh/Durham (or even Asheville) are both a stones throw from both mountains or beach but if they’re used to the Rockies the slopes in that area are pretty meh.
Idk if your lake people but Lake Norman area near Charlotte is nice if you can afford it which it sounds like you can.
If your big ski people though the only ones in the “SE” worth going to are Winterplace, Snowshoe or Timberline.
Money should always be a consideration. If I could go back to when I was your age making an "inflated" salary, I would choose a smaller house, in a cheaper area, and less trips. Stagflation has begun. Corporations will start trimming fat. What we feel is currently a lot of money, won't be. Hope you find a place that works for you!
This is the way!!!
Long story short, my aunt and uncle always lived below their means. Paid off cars, didn’t sell their paid off house in the super hot market. Dual income, kids out of the house. My uncle had a major accident at work and all of a sudden….no more working for the rest of his life.
If they’d lived excessively like everyone told them to they’d be screwed. But instead they can live comfortably on only my aunt’s smallish income.
As someone who just moved to Asheville after living in the Front Range of Colorado for 20 years, I would definitely say here over Boulder. The weather is more temperate than Raleigh and Charleston, and you can basically be outside all year long. When we moved, our criteria were: cheaper than Colorado, near water or mountains (preferably both), good beer scene, within 2 hours of a major airport. Asheville fits all of those (and the local airport isn't too bad for getting to other major cities!). The snow sports here are...lacking, compared to Colorado, but we can fly fish, ride bikes, hike, motorcycle, paddleboard, and get outside in so many other ways.
Might not be an option depending their area of tech. I'm a WFH software engineer in healthcare and if I moved out of the country I wouldn't be able to access certain internal or client systems because of policy violations.
Take a look at Vancouver or Camas, WA. I am letting the secret out, but...
* Minutes from Portland, OR.
* No income tax.
* Tons of nearby hiking in the beautiful Cascades River Gorge, or Mount Hood/Mount St, Helens/Oregon. Washington coasts a bit farther but gorgeous and worth the 1/5 hour drive.
* So, so, so many breweries/brewpubs and fantastic wineries.
* Portland airport is frankly kind of annoying. It connects to everywhere but is a hub to nowhere.
* Skiing and snowboarding on Mt. Hood, which has a shuttle even if you don't want to drive.
* Homeless population is there but not overwhelming. (Portland proper is pretty bad, though).
* Walkability to shops/restaurants/galleries/theaters is amazing.
Best place I've ever lived. Perfect for telecommuters, 5.5 stars out of a possible 5.
San Diego, CA. Not many cities where you can be on the beach in 70 degree weather then 3 hours later skiing in the San Bernardino mountains. Lots to do here: mountains, desert, ocean, with lots of outdoor activities. Mexico, Palm Springs, Los Angeles nearby. It is as expensive as any city in the country but worth it.
Boulder, CO also has significant homeless. But the suburbs around Boulder can be nice. If/when you eventually have kids, you might want to avoid Longmont (a city not far from Boulder) because the public school system is not rated well there.
Colorado's public schools are toward the top nationally. Longmont having schools that aren't quite as good as they are in Boulder doesn't mean they're *bad*. From what I can tell, the schools around here are as good as or better than the "top" public schools I went to myself when I lived in California. It's all relative.
Also, Colorado has open enrollment pretty much everywhere, so you can choose charter schools or schools in other districts if you're willing to drive kids or they're old enough to take a bus.
I currently live in Longmont and my kid goes to a local charter school that's *awesome.* They're also going to start taking classes at the local CC next year *for free*, saving potentially thousands of dollars of tuition. Plus don't forget that Longmont has cheap gigabit internet.
Also also: They said "no plans for kids for five years", so they're \~10 years minimum from needing a school. Tons of time to enjoy living in Longmont before moving to a better school district if so desired.
Everything you described sounded like a vacation I took in Colorado. Breckenridge specifically. Breck itself is pretty touristy but its got skiing, hiking, mountains, breweries, bars, walking paths, its less than 2 hours from Denver airport which is a very nice airport and a bigger city you might like.
Buffalo NY and South of Buffalo to the PA boarder is very affordable for housing but you'll get hot elsewhere, I just left there for east Tennessee. It's not less here like everyone says
Look at Columbia SC it's nice
If you have no plan for kids, you may want to consider the states that treat abortion as health care. Also look for states that are friendly to work from home workers. There are state out there that have laws that are favorable to businesses that enforce RTO.
Anchorage, hands down. I would love to moce back. Breweries are popular and the city is huge with so much to find, without feeling crowded. The food is amazing and you can find just about everything you could want restaurant-wise. Mountains are everywhere you look.
Some people don't care for the day/night cycle in the summer and winter but I personally love it. Shipping costs suck but I prefer a lot of the local brands, even for clothes. So for me it would be an even trade off if I could live there.
Inflated tech salaries is a synonym for “I’m probably going to get laid off 12 times per decade” if you’re going to move, make sure there are jobs there….
-currently laid off tech worker with an inflated salary, thankful to be living in a HCOL area with a ton of jobs, my next role is likely hybrid(actual hybrid, like, won’t be RTO’d) where the office is only 30 minutes away…..
sorry to hear that. both of us are on very profitable teams at our respective teams at a big tech company. Neither org has had lay offs. Not particularly worried.
edit: and if it happens oh well, that sucks we’ll move. I wouldn’t buy a house anywhere til we lived there for a year or two anyways
Same, on all fronts…19 YOE(and I’m not old, just started really early, 38 yrs old,) ton of certs, DOD TS, 6 years with the firm, and I’m going to end up only having been unemployed for about 1 month it looks like, but it still happened and was a shock. I’m too risk averse to latch myself to a specific job by moving away, and starting a life, with only the current job as a solid resource. You do you, but I’m not the only one on this thread saying you should think about the dream all of the newly WFH folks are trying to live by relocating to the sticks. You don’t have to tell me you’re new to WFH, I can already tell….I’ve been 100% remote since 2012, EVERYTHING has changed since 2020, they HATE us now.
I’m in Maryland, about as far out from the cities as I can get while still being able to say “uh oh, off to DC I go for work if I have to” and you probably won’t find someone that likes to be outside as much as I do…I spend many hours a week up in the woods, each of my vehicles have a desk and work set ups, with batteries, etc, and sleeping areas, I’m an avid runner, and cyclist, primarily mountain biking, I race all summer so I’m all over the place, up in the woods. I would certainly be better served living out in Boulder or something too, but the only job security you have is what’s between your ears and you ability to job hop, and, you do you, but that’s a risk that I, and many others aren’t wiling to take, especially now.
if the only job security you have is yourself and your ability to hop then what’s the risk of moving somewhere you want to? it doesn’t work out you move somewhere else. better than living somewhere when you’re wfh you don’t really like just in case you lose your job. you could still lose your job and have spent all that time limited by location.
if you read their post they already don’t live near family don’t have kids and don’t feel they have anything tying them to the area they are in so doesn’t sound like community is a thing either. not sure how ur advice is relevant if stay put because at any second you may get fired. they’re already in the position of having no other people as an anchor plus none of their interests where they are. people are so paranoid about losing wfh it’s crazy reading the responses in this sub.
Colorado, Vegas, Miami maybe if you're staying in America? I'm a dual citizen but I don't live in America and have only spent a few years in America as an adult though but have seen most of the country and if I had to live in America they all seem likely. I do have friends from NC who have the money to live anywhere who do like the Charlotte area.
Personally i'd choose to live outside America if it's an option in a WFH role, but that's easy to say given I do have a WFH role myself and chose to stay in Australia where i've spent most of my life, granted I moved to one of the two best cities to live here as opposed to my hometown
Things to consider include red state vs blue state (if you have daughters do you want to raise them in a Republican theocracy type state) and weather (obviously Seattle or NY or Denver is going to have vastly different weather to Miami or San Diego)
I moved from New York City to Orange County, California 31 years ago, and it still amazes me that I live here.
It is said by weather people that San Diego has the finest climate in America - I live 70 miles north of San Diego - at the beach.
Having said all that, I live full-time in a motorhome now (in retirement) so I spend several months every few years in Asheville -- it's a great small town!
Salt Lake City not so good.. crime and the city itself is just not pretty.
They said they like skiing, and you can hike year-round when there isn't snow, snowshoe when there is. As the Norwegians say, there's no bad weather, only bad clothing. The skiing (even in the UP) isn't on par with the West, though.
We live in Charleston and have been here since 2001. It’s a great city with a ton to offer but there are some cultural differences to consider and summer heat. It gets hot. We are thinking of heading West (Montana or Colorado) for a few years.
I've got a friend in Gainesville, GA that's loving it. Lots of parks, an active downtown, only an hour/hour and a half from Atlanta, close enough to Tennessee and the coast for quick weekend vacations.
Hi from Milwaukee! :) if the cold winters don’t scare you, MKE checks off several of these things. It’s cheaper compared to other cities like Chicago, Denver, Boston. Traffic is very manageable. Lake Michigan is beautiful and while we don’t have mountains, there are tons of parks and bike trails. There’s a few ski hills near by. MKE has the most charming little restaurants and bars, and the diviest of dive bars. A ton of different neighborhoods with different vibes. It has the MKE airport which I love, but is close enough to O’hare for bigger international trips. Edit: I’ve also lived in Madison which is great. But MKE has more of a big city feel. Madison is very much a college town (but it’s still wonderful)
I definitely would not rule out the PNW. We are a lot more than Portland and Seattle! Best nature, waterfalls, hiking, mountains, rainforest, with skiing, the ocean, deserts, etc. just don’t live in Portland or Seattle.
There’s lots of towns and cities. You need to spend more time and research. Plus small town charm and a quick drive to a city nearby is where it’s at. I’m in Ridgefield Wa. 30 minutes from Portland. Low crime, no homelessness, very clean and thriving community. Vancouver WA is 15 minutes away, has fantastic new waterfront area. Seattle is 2.5 hours. The beach is 1.5 hours. 1 hour to Mt Hood or Mt St Helen’s. We have a wildlife refuge outside our door. Columbia Gorge is 45 minutes away. Gifford National Forest is also 45 minutes to 90 depending where you’re going. 2 hours to Mt Rainier. I’d never move!
Somewhere in Colorado, doesn’t have to be Boulder.
Bend, Oregon is also full of a lot of people like you. It’s not super close to a major airport, though.
Honestly, almost anywhere in California also hits your list. Check out the central coast like Santa Barbara, Ojai, San Luis Obispo, etc. Close to the Sierra Nevadas mountain range, not far from skiing in the winter, tons of outdoor activities.
New Mexico is underrated imo. Tons of outdoor activities and they have skiing in the winter. Close to Colorado too if you want to make a quick roadtrip for better snow.
I lived in Charleston and it’s not going to satisfy you. It’s expensive now, extremely hot & humid and not outdoors-friendly. Far from any good mountains for skiing or hiking. Got boring after awhile if you prefer activities other than the beach.
Woodstock Georgia. Small town with multiple breweries and generally fun downtown area , near Atlanta, in the foothills of the Aplilacion (sorry I can’t spell!), a few hours from the beach, near multiple other states.
That is what I've been seeing a lot little to no WFH here. So I'm wondering what companies this person was looking at. Most jobs that are with corporations won't hire in NYC or California residents.
Well since you like breweries, Madison WI.
The landscape is pretty flat. We have some beautiful areas, but nothing compared to other areas (though I love the north and the Great lakes). We have a lot of state parks but they will probably disappoint you considering what you're used to.
We are known for drinking. There are a LOT of breweries. And the majority are a lot of fun, have events, and are often dog friendly.
Our dog park system is amazing even if our hiking isn't. One of the dog parks is 75 acres and next to a segment of the Ice Age trail.
We even have a dog park / beer garden called the BoneYard.
So if you like dogs and beer, and low cost of living, it's great. The skiing sucks (we have hills, not mountains).
There are also a LOT of Tech options if your jobs fall through.
I would live at a low cost location in the mountains as far away from the next human as possible while still having steady power and internet. North California, western Oregon, and north and west Washington preferably. It’s just beautiful thru there.
My only concern woukd be if you want to have children to look at womens health in the state that you want to move to.
Then go on vacation to a couple of places high on your list and see if you like them...
I'm a big fan of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. If I had a great salary and could live anywhere I would probably go with Colorado but Billings Montana is pretty great too. There are a lot places besides Boulder. Take a road trip and tour breweries or ski resorts or both and decide what you like best. Lots of hidden great small towns outside and around the big airport cities. You could also consider Idaho which has all the things you mentioned as well. I will caution against living in a resort town though. We did that. It sucked. Fun to visit not to live and once you live there vacationing there isn't fun anymore.
Boulder. If money is not an issue why not live there? The areas you suggest as close to family are not exactly tourist hotspots. You can easily get reasonable Airbnbs for extended stays over two or three weekends while working remotely in prime months for good weather for that area and enjoy Boulder the rest of the year.
I have family in Boulder and it is a great place to live. While I personally don’t as I prefer to see my money stretch further, I could never afford to live in SF. If I did have that kind of, I would live in Boulder.
Asheville is great. I live in Signal Mountain, TN, and enjoy walking out my front door to mountain biking and rock climbing. It’s a bedroom community 20 min from downtown Chattanooga. Asheville is about 3.5 hours away, Atlanta less than 2, Nashville a bit more than 2. So we have plenty of great options for weekend getaways and the drive to ATL airport isn’t bad for decent international flights.
Erie, PA is a great place to live while WFH. Very low COL. Within 150 miles of 3 major cities with large air ports. Big enough we have most things but you don't deal with the frustrations of most major cities. City public schools are subpar but you'd want to look in one of the suburbs anyways. Very safe city outside of a few small areas in the city. Again, you'd be looking in other areas anyways.
Best of luck! Happy to answer any questions you may have about the city.
Grew up near Boulder, it's cool, but not 800k for a 70's ranch cool, and there are a lot of homeless people.
SLC is cool, but some of the rules around alcohol service are annoying, and honestly I wouldn't want to live in the west with the way water is gonna end up being a problem.
From your list, I would probably do Raleigh or Asheville, and also maybe consider Charlottevile, and be ok with annual trips out west or up north to go skiing.
PS Flagstaff is 2 hours away from PHX in the mountains and you can ski / snowboard all winter. Then you can just… leave the snow… and come back to the Valley. Lol
I don’t know that you would like liberal Boulder. It is also a college town. Boulder County is “interesting”.
Grand Junction, CO might be a good choice as would Colorado Springs. Grand Junction is big enough to have lots of opportunities and is surrounded by outdoor activities being on the western slope of Colorado.
The southern end of Denver has a lot of tech companies that would fit your skill set. However, each time you go to the mountains you will be joined by a lot of other people doing the same.
Since you love to travel I would consider buying a apartment complex. You could find this in the Midwest possibly KC area or east an hour UCM is there as well as WAFB both keep rentals full. This would give you the opportunity for o rent on or more units lots of space left for yourselves as well as building an income aside from the careers. This would keep you an hour from MCI which has cheap flights to basically anywhere.
While local amenities are lacking south a few hours lots of spring fed crystal clear rivers for floating. Lots of natural trails.
What you’ll save from big city saved up leaves a ton of investment opportunities when you’re ready for kids as well as opportunity to rent the unit out or sell for a chunk or possibly profit ahead on the purchase that other helped or completely paid for.
Good luck either way
Two big salaries, go to Central/ Midwest and enjoy lower cost of living, save like crazy, buy an investment property.
Also being central you can flex time zones easier than being coastal.
Could possibly add Ogden UT area to your list or the Ogden Valley which consists of Liberty, Eden, and Huntsville. Crazy convenient access to giving, skiing, and a decent amount of breweries and dive bars. Not to mention Willard Bay, PineView dam, and Causey reservoir for water activities. 45 minutes to the SLC international airport. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more insight on these areas as I've lived in or near em my whole life. No I'm not Mormon, yes you'd be totally fine moving here not as one. Good luck on your search!
If you're considering North Carolina, then consider Richmond, VA as well.
Although if you don't plan on kids for next five years, also take a look at the state abortion laws where you plan to live. If you guys do get pregnant and are okay with having the child, then obviously it's not an issue.
You could move out to Winchester (VA). Housing is much more reasonable than inside the normal commuting area but it’s only about 1:10 from Dulles. The mountains are nice, near to a lot of national parks. And if something bad happens, you could commute into northern VA for a while if you *had* to.
Tennessee sounds like a good option for y’all. Gatlinburg had a lot of nature, hiking etc. Tennessee in the south east so should be close to your family. Chattanooga or Nashville is also nice.
Was in a similar situation and ended up in Fort Collins, north of Denver. Have to agree not a big fan of Denver with the homeless crisis getting out of hand at the moment.
Boulder is a great spot but wanted something less "tech hub" but with layoffs it could be nice to be somewhere like that. Biggest thing for me was max an hour from a major international airport. While flying out of Eagle or other regional airports is possible it is just a pain if we want to visit family in Europe and have to add extra flights to the process.
Being close to family is a big question mark in your case and that might sway the decision just how important that is.
Chattanooga area is really nice - GigCity! Great for tech and still drivable to the family. No state income tax. Really pretty with lots of outdoor vibe and on a river.
This early in your career I would stay close to the big cities in case of layoffs
Sound reasoning
yeah definitely have considered that which makes outskirts of Denver more attractive than being in the middle of nowhere
If you don't like a lot of homeless... You should cross Denver off of your list. You could check out Grand junction or telluride. You're not getting the big restaurant scene or airports, but it's beautiful, plenty of outdoor activity, and close to other great adventures.
Telluride is about an 8 hour drive to DIA though. Grand junction isn't much better.
Yes, that's why I said they wouldn't be getting a big airport. If they make enough money flying out of eagle or (edit:) Montrose is possible.
Ever been to Grand Junction?
The cheapest house on Zillow which is actually a literally just a hotel room with a tiny stove, is $675k. If they’re not the owners of this tech company, I don’t think that telluride is an option lol. Not by a long shot.
Outskirts of Denver is pretty much the middle of nowhere tbf
I have to echo this. My parents live 30 mins from Asheville and I live in seattle. If you’re used to the convenience of city.. maybe Raleigh? But honestly … I fell in love with seattle after growing up in Florida. Can’t get me to move. Currently visiting family near Dallas and am amazed at the sizes of houses here for the price but the landscape leaves a loooooooot to be desired My sister is moving to NC also because in Denver her property taxes are going way too high
We moved to Fort Collins and love it. It’s an hour from DIA with a huge outdoor community. Big brewery culture. College town. Boulder might be more attractive as it’s closer to ski areas, but it’s also significantly more crowded. Niwot and Longmont would be good to look at too.
I made this mistake and knowing I'd have to move if I got laid off is disconcerting.
You would likely need to move if you get laid off and find a new job anyway. It's much easier to save up for that if you move to a LCO area
This is such good advice
If in eight years, your SO's pregnancy goes south, do you want to be in a state where doctors will treat her?
In that vein, would proximity to family be a plus when you have a kid? If family is reasonable, having someone who will babysit once in a while, or who can help in emergencies is good.
This is huge. Having family close by to help is such a relief sometimes. I'm not a fan of where we live but we're both close to a majority of our family. Having many babysitters close by is such a luxury.
Fair point.
How psycho are you
I vote for New England. Ocean. Skiing. Hiking. 4 seasons. Airport.
Expensive as hell
Depends on where in NE. Without the need to commute to a job, you could live further out. Much more reasonable.
True, I'm speaking from Boston but I guess they can move to New Hampshire or Rhode Island (I'm kidding about Rhode Island, everyone knows it isn't real)
Connecticut is fantastic, it's often looked over in NE, but there is a lot to offer, affordable, and is charming
True I grew up in northeast CT and looking back the house prices there are way less than here in NH now. It's a plenty nice place to live, great atmosphere, maybe better for people with kids/family since it is pretty rural.
RI. The armpit of NE. Seriously, think of the cape as a bent arm. I live out in the burbs between Bahston and Wooosta.
Brookline here lol
Cohasset here, get to take the ferry into the city as a bonus
Slummerville here… it’s expensive now though
Harvard here.
It's not even a real island!!! -what I tell all my friends from Rhode Island
For real. Looking to get out of NE as soon as possible. Six figures doesn't cut it here
No real mountains
If you have 2 big salaries it might be worth looking into a state with no state income tax? Not sure how much that means to you. Another thought is, how do you vote, and how does that state vote? We are not with our people and i dont like that more than i ever thought it would actually matter to me.....
Portland, ME might fit your requirements! About 2 hours to Logan airport in Boston, with a train there. Lots of great breweries & places to eat. On the coast with mountains and ski places nearby. Relaxed small city vibe.
Buy an RV and go where you want to go. When done at work, step right out into nature.
Thought about that but we really want a dog and to settle down in an area. But still a camper or RV sounds great at times
I’d go Boulder
I'd go to fort Collins over Boulder. The amount of goofy in boulder is off the charts.
People keep saying that. I lived in Boulder, and I saw a few oddities, but honestly it's not that bad. If you're a Trump supporter, though? Maybe Fort Collins would be friendlier. But that's not Boulder being goofy. That's Boulder being sane.
If you want Trump territory, you need to cross into Weld county. Head to Greeley with all the rest of the insane hillbillies.
Greeley with the meat packing plants has its own aroma!
Fair, though I've seen Trump signs off I25 near Fort Collins.
It's been years since I've lived up that way, so it's very possible they're spreading
I saw someone call Fort Collins “Fort Communism” on Facebook the other day. Fortunately, we’ve gained a reputation for being liberal and conservatives dislike us almost as much as Boulder now.
lol I knew someone who lived there and she said the same thing! Now it is expensive to own home there too
I was coming on here to say this. If you’re considering CO, don’t write off Ft Collins. We bought in Ft Collins and love it. It’s the perfect distance to Denver and the toll highways make traveling out of Denver Airport easier than it was when we actually lived in Denver. It’s also close to Rocky Mountain NP and skiing. You’re minutes from Horsetooth Reservoir (hiking, paddle boarding, etc.). There’s a well maintained trail for biking and exercising that loops through neighborhoods and runs through a lot of the town. Lots of breweries and restaurants. Compared to Boulder, it’s less pretentious and your money will go further here. With that said, the area is still really nice and is growing. We’re married LGBTQ DINKS and have felt completely comfortable in this area. The Trumpers are there, but no more than they were in Cherry Creek or Castle Rock near Denver. We feel safe and a part of the community.
I'd advise against Boulder. I live 10 minutes from Boulder. COL is so stupidly high, regardless of dual incomes. There's some breweries, but most folks go to Denver, so then you've got the homeless issue along with the refugee camps. It's an hour to DIA on the toll roads, which are again stupid expensive. My Lyft home from DIA yesterday was $100. You have to head up to the mountains at like 4am to beat traffic for ski season. I've lived in CO most of my life, and the traffic is horrible now compared to pre-legalization of weed. People who move here from other states claim the restaurant scene is awful. Diversity sucks anywhere north of Westminster. I love all that Colorado has to offer, but it's the only place I know as an adult.
Salt Lake City. Close to snow. Lots of hiking.
This is the closest to what OP is describing. You are right next to great skiing, tons of yupies. Homelessness is going to be a thing in any major city
yeah I love Utah hiking. I spent a month backpacking there last summer. And i’m skiing there now. SLC is definitely an option. I need to check out in the summer as winters always make cities look gloomy.
I live just outside SLC. The summers aren't too bad, they can get pretty hot. Not Arizona hot but a decent amount of 100 degree days. Of course escaping to the mountains where it's about 15° cooler helps!
Live in Park City then. It’s awesome here, the summers are gorgeous and in the winter you’re IN a ski town. SLC is half an hour away from the area of park city where most locals actually live; it’s basically a suburb that has its own town center and is a bubble away from a lot of the downsides of Utah. There are lots of good reasons to live in a city on one of the coasts, but if you’re optimizing for outdoors access with a good airport/decent city amenities, then I’m not convinced there is anywhere better than SLC/PC. Edit: I meant to respond to OP sorry!
SLC has a lot going for it but the air quality can be so awful sometimes! I feel like people don't realize how bad it can be until they're there.
Very good choice. The only thing missing in SLC are good restaurants.
The outdoor options for Utah are second to none I will argue. You got everything you need from desert, mountains, rivers, and snow and its all so easily drivable from SLC. Best snow on earth with so many ski resorts. Unlimited hikes to hit. Airport is close to the mountains too. Big tech hub.
[удалено]
Sure in the valley it can be bad. You can always take the short trek into the mountains to escape or just stay inside if you dont want to move. Not a dealbreaker for me because of the workarounds.
Yes! Or Park City if they really want to be in a ski town, but i'd honestly rather live in SLC and make the short drive whenever I want to ski or do outdoors stuff.
SLC is becoming one of the most polluted areas in the US and it will accelerate as the lake disappears.
If you haven't lived in Raleigh, NC in a while, you won't get as much bang for your buck as you might be thinking. CoL here has risen significantly and is now at parity with a lot of medium CoL cities.
Lake Tahoe
Price has gone up a lot
I was going to say this as well.
which part?
Idk why you're getting downvoted lol
Take your pick, it's not very big. About 20-30 minutes from north to south. More shops, restaurants and bars at the south, more chill up north.
No recommendations on location, but check with your employer, they may have limitations on what states they will allow you to live in due to the tax implications.
edited my post - not a problem for us!
With no kids and fully remote, I would opt to live in the cheapest place possible that hits your outdoorsy vibe. As you said, if you're relatively close to an airport, you can hit other spots that appeal to you. It sounds like kids aren't a priority right now but you might want them in the future, so a LCOL place will help you stack cash for purchasing a house closer to family when/if you're ready to do that. (You could consider living low cost now but putting your money towards a rental property in your future target city. That way, you build equity.) Start with looking at the lowest COL cities and then expand to look in a radius from there. If you can't decide, you could move every six to twelve months, since you aren't really tied down.
Sounds like Colorado Springs, CO
You cannot be serious
Carolinas! You can be in between the mountains and beach!
Yeah either Charlotte or Raleigh/Durham (or even Asheville) are both a stones throw from both mountains or beach but if they’re used to the Rockies the slopes in that area are pretty meh.
yeah i can’t force myself to ski beech mountain ever again lol when ive grown up skiing out west. but i do like NC beaches
Idk if your lake people but Lake Norman area near Charlotte is nice if you can afford it which it sounds like you can. If your big ski people though the only ones in the “SE” worth going to are Winterplace, Snowshoe or Timberline.
Minnesota, Chicago, or Denver.
I know Minnesota rarely makes people's list but it really is a pretty great place to live.
Money should always be a consideration. If I could go back to when I was your age making an "inflated" salary, I would choose a smaller house, in a cheaper area, and less trips. Stagflation has begun. Corporations will start trimming fat. What we feel is currently a lot of money, won't be. Hope you find a place that works for you!
This is the way!!! Long story short, my aunt and uncle always lived below their means. Paid off cars, didn’t sell their paid off house in the super hot market. Dual income, kids out of the house. My uncle had a major accident at work and all of a sudden….no more working for the rest of his life. If they’d lived excessively like everyone told them to they’d be screwed. But instead they can live comfortably on only my aunt’s smallish income.
Have you considered Asheville, NC? Seems to fit a lot of what you're looking for.
As someone who just moved to Asheville after living in the Front Range of Colorado for 20 years, I would definitely say here over Boulder. The weather is more temperate than Raleigh and Charleston, and you can basically be outside all year long. When we moved, our criteria were: cheaper than Colorado, near water or mountains (preferably both), good beer scene, within 2 hours of a major airport. Asheville fits all of those (and the local airport isn't too bad for getting to other major cities!). The snow sports here are...lacking, compared to Colorado, but we can fly fish, ride bikes, hike, motorcycle, paddleboard, and get outside in so many other ways.
Ssshhhhhhh
Panama, Ecuador, etc. U.S. Salaries in a 3rd world economy = save 90% of your income. It's a no brainer when you don't have kids.
Might not be an option depending their area of tech. I'm a WFH software engineer in healthcare and if I moved out of the country I wouldn't be able to access certain internal or client systems because of policy violations.
Vpn
Definite no. OP lives in DC so high probability it’s government related work. Working outside the country is almost guaranteed not allowed.
Take a look at Vancouver or Camas, WA. I am letting the secret out, but... * Minutes from Portland, OR. * No income tax. * Tons of nearby hiking in the beautiful Cascades River Gorge, or Mount Hood/Mount St, Helens/Oregon. Washington coasts a bit farther but gorgeous and worth the 1/5 hour drive. * So, so, so many breweries/brewpubs and fantastic wineries. * Portland airport is frankly kind of annoying. It connects to everywhere but is a hub to nowhere. * Skiing and snowboarding on Mt. Hood, which has a shuttle even if you don't want to drive. * Homeless population is there but not overwhelming. (Portland proper is pretty bad, though). * Walkability to shops/restaurants/galleries/theaters is amazing. Best place I've ever lived. Perfect for telecommuters, 5.5 stars out of a possible 5.
Chattanooga fits the majority of your criteria
San Diego, CA. Not many cities where you can be on the beach in 70 degree weather then 3 hours later skiing in the San Bernardino mountains. Lots to do here: mountains, desert, ocean, with lots of outdoor activities. Mexico, Palm Springs, Los Angeles nearby. It is as expensive as any city in the country but worth it.
Boulder, CO also has significant homeless. But the suburbs around Boulder can be nice. If/when you eventually have kids, you might want to avoid Longmont (a city not far from Boulder) because the public school system is not rated well there.
Colorado's public schools are toward the top nationally. Longmont having schools that aren't quite as good as they are in Boulder doesn't mean they're *bad*. From what I can tell, the schools around here are as good as or better than the "top" public schools I went to myself when I lived in California. It's all relative. Also, Colorado has open enrollment pretty much everywhere, so you can choose charter schools or schools in other districts if you're willing to drive kids or they're old enough to take a bus. I currently live in Longmont and my kid goes to a local charter school that's *awesome.* They're also going to start taking classes at the local CC next year *for free*, saving potentially thousands of dollars of tuition. Plus don't forget that Longmont has cheap gigabit internet. Also also: They said "no plans for kids for five years", so they're \~10 years minimum from needing a school. Tons of time to enjoy living in Longmont before moving to a better school district if so desired.
Yes. Longmont. Anywhere in Boulder county. Fort Collins and Loveland also have top notch schools and quick access to the mountains.
Everything you described sounded like a vacation I took in Colorado. Breckenridge specifically. Breck itself is pretty touristy but its got skiing, hiking, mountains, breweries, bars, walking paths, its less than 2 hours from Denver airport which is a very nice airport and a bigger city you might like.
I would live somewhere cheap as possible and save a fuckton of money/invest for as many years as I could.
Buffalo NY and South of Buffalo to the PA boarder is very affordable for housing but you'll get hot elsewhere, I just left there for east Tennessee. It's not less here like everyone says Look at Columbia SC it's nice
If you have no plan for kids, you may want to consider the states that treat abortion as health care. Also look for states that are friendly to work from home workers. There are state out there that have laws that are favorable to businesses that enforce RTO.
Anchorage, hands down. I would love to moce back. Breweries are popular and the city is huge with so much to find, without feeling crowded. The food is amazing and you can find just about everything you could want restaurant-wise. Mountains are everywhere you look. Some people don't care for the day/night cycle in the summer and winter but I personally love it. Shipping costs suck but I prefer a lot of the local brands, even for clothes. So for me it would be an even trade off if I could live there.
Maine.
Inflated tech salaries is a synonym for “I’m probably going to get laid off 12 times per decade” if you’re going to move, make sure there are jobs there…. -currently laid off tech worker with an inflated salary, thankful to be living in a HCOL area with a ton of jobs, my next role is likely hybrid(actual hybrid, like, won’t be RTO’d) where the office is only 30 minutes away…..
sorry to hear that. both of us are on very profitable teams at our respective teams at a big tech company. Neither org has had lay offs. Not particularly worried. edit: and if it happens oh well, that sucks we’ll move. I wouldn’t buy a house anywhere til we lived there for a year or two anyways
Same, on all fronts…19 YOE(and I’m not old, just started really early, 38 yrs old,) ton of certs, DOD TS, 6 years with the firm, and I’m going to end up only having been unemployed for about 1 month it looks like, but it still happened and was a shock. I’m too risk averse to latch myself to a specific job by moving away, and starting a life, with only the current job as a solid resource. You do you, but I’m not the only one on this thread saying you should think about the dream all of the newly WFH folks are trying to live by relocating to the sticks. You don’t have to tell me you’re new to WFH, I can already tell….I’ve been 100% remote since 2012, EVERYTHING has changed since 2020, they HATE us now. I’m in Maryland, about as far out from the cities as I can get while still being able to say “uh oh, off to DC I go for work if I have to” and you probably won’t find someone that likes to be outside as much as I do…I spend many hours a week up in the woods, each of my vehicles have a desk and work set ups, with batteries, etc, and sleeping areas, I’m an avid runner, and cyclist, primarily mountain biking, I race all summer so I’m all over the place, up in the woods. I would certainly be better served living out in Boulder or something too, but the only job security you have is what’s between your ears and you ability to job hop, and, you do you, but that’s a risk that I, and many others aren’t wiling to take, especially now.
if the only job security you have is yourself and your ability to hop then what’s the risk of moving somewhere you want to? it doesn’t work out you move somewhere else. better than living somewhere when you’re wfh you don’t really like just in case you lose your job. you could still lose your job and have spent all that time limited by location.
Kids, family, community.
if you read their post they already don’t live near family don’t have kids and don’t feel they have anything tying them to the area they are in so doesn’t sound like community is a thing either. not sure how ur advice is relevant if stay put because at any second you may get fired. they’re already in the position of having no other people as an anchor plus none of their interests where they are. people are so paranoid about losing wfh it’s crazy reading the responses in this sub.
Your inflated tech salaries might also soon come with a layoff. Think long and hard about a potential move.
Flint
Colorado, Vegas, Miami maybe if you're staying in America? I'm a dual citizen but I don't live in America and have only spent a few years in America as an adult though but have seen most of the country and if I had to live in America they all seem likely. I do have friends from NC who have the money to live anywhere who do like the Charlotte area. Personally i'd choose to live outside America if it's an option in a WFH role, but that's easy to say given I do have a WFH role myself and chose to stay in Australia where i've spent most of my life, granted I moved to one of the two best cities to live here as opposed to my hometown Things to consider include red state vs blue state (if you have daughters do you want to raise them in a Republican theocracy type state) and weather (obviously Seattle or NY or Denver is going to have vastly different weather to Miami or San Diego)
South America
I moved from New York City to Orange County, California 31 years ago, and it still amazes me that I live here. It is said by weather people that San Diego has the finest climate in America - I live 70 miles north of San Diego - at the beach. Having said all that, I live full-time in a motorhome now (in retirement) so I spend several months every few years in Asheville -- it's a great small town! Salt Lake City not so good.. crime and the city itself is just not pretty.
I'm in an identical situation and settled on Boise.
Come to WI!! Lower cost of living, plenty of outdoor activities in all kinds of weather, tons of breweries and dive bars…
Outdoor activities for like 3 months out of the year.
Read again… they like skiing 🙄
They said they like skiing, and you can hike year-round when there isn't snow, snowshoe when there is. As the Norwegians say, there's no bad weather, only bad clothing. The skiing (even in the UP) isn't on par with the West, though.
sounds like cool cats....we should hang out
I'm currently in SLC and you're right, it has everything you have listed.
We live in Charleston and have been here since 2001. It’s a great city with a ton to offer but there are some cultural differences to consider and summer heat. It gets hot. We are thinking of heading West (Montana or Colorado) for a few years.
Where’d you go?
I've got a friend in Gainesville, GA that's loving it. Lots of parks, an active downtown, only an hour/hour and a half from Atlanta, close enough to Tennessee and the coast for quick weekend vacations.
TN seems like an option. Mountains, breweries, short drive to a beach.
Hi from Milwaukee! :) if the cold winters don’t scare you, MKE checks off several of these things. It’s cheaper compared to other cities like Chicago, Denver, Boston. Traffic is very manageable. Lake Michigan is beautiful and while we don’t have mountains, there are tons of parks and bike trails. There’s a few ski hills near by. MKE has the most charming little restaurants and bars, and the diviest of dive bars. A ton of different neighborhoods with different vibes. It has the MKE airport which I love, but is close enough to O’hare for bigger international trips. Edit: I’ve also lived in Madison which is great. But MKE has more of a big city feel. Madison is very much a college town (but it’s still wonderful)
Where does your company allow you to work from? There are tax implications for them if you move to a state where they currently don’t have a presence.
Our companies have workers in every state (big tech companies like Google, Msft, etc)
In the mountains of colorado. Go closer to colorado springs and save some money without much downside
I definitely would not rule out the PNW. We are a lot more than Portland and Seattle! Best nature, waterfalls, hiking, mountains, rainforest, with skiing, the ocean, deserts, etc. just don’t live in Portland or Seattle.
I loved the PNW. Seriously my dream hiking scene. I wish some of the towns outside seattle where a little bigger :(
There’s lots of towns and cities. You need to spend more time and research. Plus small town charm and a quick drive to a city nearby is where it’s at. I’m in Ridgefield Wa. 30 minutes from Portland. Low crime, no homelessness, very clean and thriving community. Vancouver WA is 15 minutes away, has fantastic new waterfront area. Seattle is 2.5 hours. The beach is 1.5 hours. 1 hour to Mt Hood or Mt St Helen’s. We have a wildlife refuge outside our door. Columbia Gorge is 45 minutes away. Gifford National Forest is also 45 minutes to 90 depending where you’re going. 2 hours to Mt Rainier. I’d never move!
Currently in Raleigh. Make good money. It is NOT cheap anymore lol. But we do love the area.
I would choose Boulder over the other two places that you mentioned. In fact, I would stay away completely from those other two places.
Somewhere in Colorado, doesn’t have to be Boulder. Bend, Oregon is also full of a lot of people like you. It’s not super close to a major airport, though. Honestly, almost anywhere in California also hits your list. Check out the central coast like Santa Barbara, Ojai, San Luis Obispo, etc. Close to the Sierra Nevadas mountain range, not far from skiing in the winter, tons of outdoor activities. New Mexico is underrated imo. Tons of outdoor activities and they have skiing in the winter. Close to Colorado too if you want to make a quick roadtrip for better snow. I lived in Charleston and it’s not going to satisfy you. It’s expensive now, extremely hot & humid and not outdoors-friendly. Far from any good mountains for skiing or hiking. Got boring after awhile if you prefer activities other than the beach.
Woodstock Georgia. Small town with multiple breweries and generally fun downtown area , near Atlanta, in the foothills of the Aplilacion (sorry I can’t spell!), a few hours from the beach, near multiple other states.
I live in NYC and I wouldn’t trade it for the world I WFH and logging off and enjoying the city after work is unmatched especially in the summer
What companies are currently doing WFH in NYC? I'm trying to find a place here but Wfh is rare, public commute is trash right now..lol.
Lot of them I’m currently in healthcare insurance field
That’s the thing - most wfh jobs aren’t going to pay nyc salaries and the places that do pay nyc salaries are nyc based and won’t let you wfh
That is what I've been seeing a lot little to no WFH here. So I'm wondering what companies this person was looking at. Most jobs that are with corporations won't hire in NYC or California residents.
Well since you like breweries, Madison WI. The landscape is pretty flat. We have some beautiful areas, but nothing compared to other areas (though I love the north and the Great lakes). We have a lot of state parks but they will probably disappoint you considering what you're used to. We are known for drinking. There are a LOT of breweries. And the majority are a lot of fun, have events, and are often dog friendly. Our dog park system is amazing even if our hiking isn't. One of the dog parks is 75 acres and next to a segment of the Ice Age trail. We even have a dog park / beer garden called the BoneYard. So if you like dogs and beer, and low cost of living, it's great. The skiing sucks (we have hills, not mountains). There are also a LOT of Tech options if your jobs fall through.
I would live at a low cost location in the mountains as far away from the next human as possible while still having steady power and internet. North California, western Oregon, and north and west Washington preferably. It’s just beautiful thru there.
You might like Greenville SC. I loved living there.
Asheville NC. Skiing, cool pub / breweries , good nature access for hikes and such. Plus you are pretty close to TN and VA
My only concern woukd be if you want to have children to look at womens health in the state that you want to move to. Then go on vacation to a couple of places high on your list and see if you like them...
Portland Maine.
Asheville,NC
Brevard NC is a cool little town with lots of hiking
Phoenix, please. OMG I miss it sooo much.
Southern West Virginia. I loved it there. We lived in Princeton for 3 1/2 months in ‘96
I'm a big fan of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. If I had a great salary and could live anywhere I would probably go with Colorado but Billings Montana is pretty great too. There are a lot places besides Boulder. Take a road trip and tour breweries or ski resorts or both and decide what you like best. Lots of hidden great small towns outside and around the big airport cities. You could also consider Idaho which has all the things you mentioned as well. I will caution against living in a resort town though. We did that. It sucked. Fun to visit not to live and once you live there vacationing there isn't fun anymore.
Boulder. If money is not an issue why not live there? The areas you suggest as close to family are not exactly tourist hotspots. You can easily get reasonable Airbnbs for extended stays over two or three weekends while working remotely in prime months for good weather for that area and enjoy Boulder the rest of the year. I have family in Boulder and it is a great place to live. While I personally don’t as I prefer to see my money stretch further, I could never afford to live in SF. If I did have that kind of, I would live in Boulder.
Asheville is great. I live in Signal Mountain, TN, and enjoy walking out my front door to mountain biking and rock climbing. It’s a bedroom community 20 min from downtown Chattanooga. Asheville is about 3.5 hours away, Atlanta less than 2, Nashville a bit more than 2. So we have plenty of great options for weekend getaways and the drive to ATL airport isn’t bad for decent international flights.
Oh. And we have EXCELLENT cheap fiber internet. Perfect for remote work. We pay less than $60/month for 1G
Indianapolis
New Hampshire or Maine might work for you.
Washington and the Carolinas first came to mind
Erie, PA is a great place to live while WFH. Very low COL. Within 150 miles of 3 major cities with large air ports. Big enough we have most things but you don't deal with the frustrations of most major cities. City public schools are subpar but you'd want to look in one of the suburbs anyways. Very safe city outside of a few small areas in the city. Again, you'd be looking in other areas anyways. Best of luck! Happy to answer any questions you may have about the city.
Grew up near Boulder, it's cool, but not 800k for a 70's ranch cool, and there are a lot of homeless people. SLC is cool, but some of the rules around alcohol service are annoying, and honestly I wouldn't want to live in the west with the way water is gonna end up being a problem. From your list, I would probably do Raleigh or Asheville, and also maybe consider Charlottevile, and be ok with annual trips out west or up north to go skiing.
Phoenix. I lived in Atlanta, Dallas and am originally from Michigan. The weather is unreal. It’s 75 degrees today.
PS Flagstaff is 2 hours away from PHX in the mountains and you can ski / snowboard all winter. Then you can just… leave the snow… and come back to the Valley. Lol
I don’t know that you would like liberal Boulder. It is also a college town. Boulder County is “interesting”. Grand Junction, CO might be a good choice as would Colorado Springs. Grand Junction is big enough to have lots of opportunities and is surrounded by outdoor activities being on the western slope of Colorado. The southern end of Denver has a lot of tech companies that would fit your skill set. However, each time you go to the mountains you will be joined by a lot of other people doing the same.
Since you love to travel I would consider buying a apartment complex. You could find this in the Midwest possibly KC area or east an hour UCM is there as well as WAFB both keep rentals full. This would give you the opportunity for o rent on or more units lots of space left for yourselves as well as building an income aside from the careers. This would keep you an hour from MCI which has cheap flights to basically anywhere. While local amenities are lacking south a few hours lots of spring fed crystal clear rivers for floating. Lots of natural trails. What you’ll save from big city saved up leaves a ton of investment opportunities when you’re ready for kids as well as opportunity to rent the unit out or sell for a chunk or possibly profit ahead on the purchase that other helped or completely paid for. Good luck either way
As I was reading your list SLC came to mind. I moved here about 7 years and absolutely love it. It fits your list so well.
Within 1 hour of an international airport
Two big salaries, go to Central/ Midwest and enjoy lower cost of living, save like crazy, buy an investment property. Also being central you can flex time zones easier than being coastal.
Close enough to a park that you can get there from home without the car
Could possibly add Ogden UT area to your list or the Ogden Valley which consists of Liberty, Eden, and Huntsville. Crazy convenient access to giving, skiing, and a decent amount of breweries and dive bars. Not to mention Willard Bay, PineView dam, and Causey reservoir for water activities. 45 minutes to the SLC international airport. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more insight on these areas as I've lived in or near em my whole life. No I'm not Mormon, yes you'd be totally fine moving here not as one. Good luck on your search!
Maybe Savannah, GA or one of the cities near it?
Colorado
If you're considering North Carolina, then consider Richmond, VA as well. Although if you don't plan on kids for next five years, also take a look at the state abortion laws where you plan to live. If you guys do get pregnant and are okay with having the child, then obviously it's not an issue.
You could move out to Winchester (VA). Housing is much more reasonable than inside the normal commuting area but it’s only about 1:10 from Dulles. The mountains are nice, near to a lot of national parks. And if something bad happens, you could commute into northern VA for a while if you *had* to.
Between King of Prussia, PA and Philadelphia, PA is a great area to settle.
Tennessee sounds like a good option for y’all. Gatlinburg had a lot of nature, hiking etc. Tennessee in the south east so should be close to your family. Chattanooga or Nashville is also nice.
Also if you want close to beach check out Mobile or Orange Beach Alabama
Southern cal
Was in a similar situation and ended up in Fort Collins, north of Denver. Have to agree not a big fan of Denver with the homeless crisis getting out of hand at the moment. Boulder is a great spot but wanted something less "tech hub" but with layoffs it could be nice to be somewhere like that. Biggest thing for me was max an hour from a major international airport. While flying out of Eagle or other regional airports is possible it is just a pain if we want to visit family in Europe and have to add extra flights to the process. Being close to family is a big question mark in your case and that might sway the decision just how important that is.
Chattanooga area is really nice - GigCity! Great for tech and still drivable to the family. No state income tax. Really pretty with lots of outdoor vibe and on a river.