What place in USA fits with this description the most?

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Ohhhhhhthehumanity@reddit

Go right ahead and let us know about it my dude

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Recent-Irish@reddit

I did, central NC, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee fits what she wants without being in Cali.

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When a European says a "big/medium city" they're not thinking of Charlotte. Their idea of a big city is London, Paris, and Rome. So like New York and LA and SF. A medium sized city is more on the order of a Chicago or a Boston or maybe a Miami.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

Unless you can read minds, I’m gonna disregard this

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KR1735@reddit

I'm not claiming to read minds. Their idea of what a "big city" is is highly biased by the cities they see on the movies. My husband's family is German and from Berlin. When they came to visit us, they thought Chicago was underwhelming. They were expecting full-on New York.

This is just a personal observation. I simply interpret the phrase differently based on my experiences with Europeans.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I understand what you’re saying but I’m not that type of European.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

OP said 300,000 what her number so…

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EspressoOverdose@reddit

Calling SF a big city but Chicago more of a medium sized city is wild

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KR1735@reddit

I'm not talking purely about numbers here. I'm talking about size in a cultural sense. Those are cities that are heavily portrayed in American media. When they think of an American city, they're thinking of that.

SF and the Bay Area punch well above their population level when it comes to the world's major cities, simply because of the tech sector. Full House was a major sitcom of the 1990s and prominently featured the painted ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge.

I'm not intending to cast any judgment here. I've simply noticed with Europeans that their idea of whether a city is "big" is based on whether they've seen it on a movie or TV show. I guess what I'm saying is when a European says "big" they usually mean large and iconic.

I may be completely off and OP means purely size.

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creamcandy@reddit

Atlanta?

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Everything is very relative. I just meant close to a city where it has everything you may need even the most random thing that you may need to buy. Basically a city with lots of things to offer and a population over 300.000 I would say

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much!

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Recent-Irish@reddit

I actually grew up in that region, so please feel free to ask any questions!

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Ohhhhhhthehumanity@reddit

Hahahahahahahahaha

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Recent-Irish@reddit

You don’t have to like it

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EspressoOverdose@reddit

“Mom can we have California?

“No we have California at home”

NC - the California at home

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ToyotaSupra00@reddit

Arizona. Big lakes to boat, mountains, snow on em in the winter. Hot most of the time. Lots of sun.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

That sounds fun. I’ll take a look. Thanks!

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Cootter77@reddit

Piedmont triad area, North Carolina… particularly west metro Winston-Salem

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thank you!! I’ll definitely look into it

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The_Zealot_Almighty@reddit

Depending on what you consider "nearby," South Carolina might also be worth checking out. Specifically northern South Carolina, near Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Charlotte, NC is near the border, so you can get pretty close to Charlotte in South Carolina, too. Been a while since I've lived there, but when I did it was a bit cheaper than North Carolina.

North Carolina is great, too, this isn't meant as a "South Carolina is better!" comment, more as a suggestion to check there, too, and see which fits your wants better.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much! That’s the type of info I need! The perfect places even doesn’t exist, I’m aware of that. So I like to have options to look at.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

I grew up in the North Carolina Piedmont and I loved my childhood, I second this

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southerntakl@reddit

So you want everything California has to offer but not in California

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

That would be awesome

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southerntakl@reddit

It would be, but if it existed then people would already be living there and it would be unaffordable too

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

It’s not the pricing that makes me want to take off California as an option

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thirtyonem@reddit

I think you might have some misconceptions or stereotypes because you said you don’t want to live in Texas or California. There’s nothing really in common between those two states that would make you not want either, aside from that those are large states and therefore have a lot of stereotypes/jokes by Americans

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I never said I didn’t want to live in Texas …?

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unnecessaryCamelCase@reddit

Can I ask what this is for? I’m intrigued. Are you looking to move somewhere? Are you writing a story?

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sleepygrumpydoc@reddit

Just curious why do t you want California? There are a lot of areas here that fit your description that are not LA or Bay Area and are actually not that expensive. Lots of Spaniards here too.

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southerntakl@reddit

What is it?

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EspressoOverdose@reddit

That doesn’t exist. But your next best option would be the Carolinas.

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aphasial@reddit

San Diego, CA circa 1997.

Otherwise, not sure what to say… :/

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PinchePendejo2@reddit

Not including California, somewhere in North Carolina probably comes closest to this description. Winston-Salem comes to mind, maybe Wilmington.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much! Lots of people recommending NC

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thirtyonem@reddit

You will hate NC as a European I promise you

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I’m now in Arkansas. Is it anywhere close to it? Haha

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InterestingWork912@reddit

I grew up in NC - while it might meet your desires weather wise, it’s def not gonna meet your requirements small business wise. So much of it is strip malls.

Also keep in mind “nearby” to Americans is different than I think most Europeans. It’s about six-seven hours to go from the beach in NC to the mountains. Eastern. NC has beaches - but it is fairly conservative. Very heavy military influence (I grew up there outside Camp Lejuene, largest Marine base on the East Coast).

You could try the piedmont ares / triangle near the big colleges but that’s in the middle of the state and probably 2-3 hrs from the beach or mountains.

People in NC are nice - but be prepared for folks being religious, more conservative…and lots of big corporate chains. I went to school at UNC, and it’s a nice area but it’s a college town, so not sure if that’s your vibe or not.

Hurricanes are real there - so just keep in mind that is a thing you’ll need it be prepped for. Also transit sucks so you’d be driving everywhere!

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KR1735@reddit

I mean, you described several coastal cities in California here and you're just gonna take it off the menu? This is California to a T, except for housing not being "super expensive" which I suppose is all relative.

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

You have to live inland to get better housing prices here.

OP forgot to mention political preference. California is, yes, a liberal state. Some of the other states mentioned will be much more conservative. Laws can vary quite a bit between states and that should factor in.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I didn’t forget, I just don’t want to make this post political but yeah, I don’t want to live in a very liberal state

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InterestingWork912@reddit

I think you’ll probably want to do some research on what conservative / liberal means in the US. I say that bc I have a friend who is German and I think things he takes for granted would be considered some crazy leftist idea here. So I don’t think conservative/liberal spectrum in the US necessarily matches Europe.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I know that. Thank you!

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AskAnAmerican-ModTeam@reddit

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Turdulator@reddit

You describe an extremely desirable place, and then you say “housing not super expensive”…. You can’t have both of those things at the same time.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Than you can adapt my criteria. Think about places that aren’t that desirable but you consider I could like based on my taste. Or tell me the perfect places even if they’re super expensive. I may want to take a look at them!

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Turdulator@reddit

You basically described the suburbs of San Diego perfectly (except housing costs are very high)

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Bright_Impression516@reddit

Spain fits that description

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

Spain and Southern California are a lot alike in so many ways.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Agreed

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unnecessaryCamelCase@reddit

I was thinking California until your last sentence lol

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JakeTheeStallion@reddit

I live in FL and it’s warm all year round! But your post reminds me a lot of Asheville NC

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flameheadthrower1@reddit

Warm’s a bit of an understatement for half the year

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23onAugust12th@reddit

Yeah, try “hot and humid as Saran’s armpit.”

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Hahaha I love that type of weather

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JakeTheeStallion@reddit

Same. I lived in NY for 20 years and I’m never going back to snow 😂

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Interesting! Thanks

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Macquarrie1999@reddit

Take California off the list

Because it fits your requirements the most?

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mytextgoeshere@reddit

Was thinking Palm Springs, but not too sure about the need for makeup artists there.

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deltronethirty@reddit

It's too obvious.

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Itwasntaphase_rawr@reddit

I was thinking “you want California” and then I saw “not super expensive” and chuckled when I got to the part about taking California off the list. Honestly, take most places off the list

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Macquarrie1999@reddit

Good weather is expensive

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Happyturtledance@reddit

Texas it is then. South Padre is a real nice town. Good people, good food.

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Purple-Display-5233@reddit

This is true. I live in L.A. I am very lucky because I've been in the same rent controlled apartment for 20 years. I pay the same for a 2 bd/2ba than lots of 1 bd/1ba.

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Brownie_McBrown_Face@reddit

“Yeah I’m kinda just looking for the perfect place, with perfect weather and great social scene, oh and make it cheap too”

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I said literally it doesn’t need to fit with all the description.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

The southeast isn’t “cheap” but it fits most of this.

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Jessgitalong@reddit

Hawaii exactly fits.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Because it’s too liberal

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Old_Promise2077@reddit

TBF they don't say anything about harsh summers. So hot climate us on the rable

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Yes. Lol.

Joking. I can’t live in a super liberal state and I knew lot of people would say California.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

$$$

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Chica3@reddit

Tucson, AZ area -- St. George, UT area -- El Paso, TX -- Albuquerque, NM area -- Prescott, AZ area

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

Northern Arizona in general is such a great area

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Chica3@reddit

I agree! Some parts do get harsh winters, though.

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GOTaSMALL1@reddit

St. George, UT area

Nah. It sucks. Don't move there.

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GardenWitchMom@reddit

Fresno California

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Recent-Irish@reddit

She literally said not California

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jastay3@reddit

Most of Oregon is like that. We have nice but not scorching summers, great springs and falls. The winter is to muddy but it is ok and I am sure it is not to bad. There are plenty of small businesses like the kind you mention.

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deltronethirty@reddit

Lake Oswego or Vancouver, WA are nice suburbs of Portland where OP could set up shop and housing isn't too expensive.

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Mediocre-Proposal686@reddit

Love Oregon 🩵

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Naive-Beekeeper67@reddit

Well. I would have said Southern California Suppose if you care about loving somewhere backward or not

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thatsad_guy@reddit

if you care about loving somewhere backward or not

huh?

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I thought my English was bad , I didn’t understand that either

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Consistent-Mouse-612@reddit

That place does not exist in the US.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

And the one that approaches the most it would be…?

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

California. Sorry. 🤷‍♀️

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Mediocre-Proposal686@reddit

Well, it does but she specifically said no to California.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

There’s other parts of the country that fit than California.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

Yes, it does.

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N3w3stGuy@reddit

Puerto Rico

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EtchingsOfTheNight@reddit

New Mexico maybe or parts of Nevada

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I’ve been to Nevada and I love it!

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

Henderson may be a good fit but summer will be hotter than hell, even at night.

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Somewhat_Sanguine@reddit

Florida. Some of the outskirts of Miami, like homestead, have small local businesses. Honestly a lot of little beach towns in Florida have small towns full of farming and local business. Only thing of course is the hurricanes and COL.

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

The only problem are those pesky hurricanes.

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houndsoflu@reddit

Except Florida is completely flat.

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thatsad_guy@reddit

They have said that what they are looking for doesn't have to match all the criteria perfectly

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whatsthisevenfor@reddit

So first off you need to realize how big the Continental USA is. We have 5 mountain ranges and we have coastlines that go from Mexico to Canada. There are nice towns in every state so you need to figure out what type of PEOPLE you want to be around. Is mountain or beach more important? Is affordability vs booming local business more important?

Think about the things that are often mutually exclusive and pick which one you prefer, then revisit this ☺️ this is said out of love from an American that can never decide where I'd like to live if I move

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thank you but this post is already helping me a lot to figure out where to start. It’s not that easy like “I prefer beach “ because it’s a mix of things so it need evaluation

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Jessgitalong@reddit

Hawaii

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einTier@reddit

Austin, Texas fits all that pretty nicely. But August can be hell on earth.

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TheRealDudeMitch@reddit

I’ve never been, but it sounds like somewhere like Savannah might check a lot of your boxes.

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deltronethirty@reddit

This was my first thought. It's one of my favorite cities.

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backintow3rs@reddit

We have way more lakes and rivers than Europeans realize.

North Caroline for ocean beach, Tennessee for lake beach. Both have mountains.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thank you!! I know you do. But the distances are huuuge sometimes!

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backintow3rs@reddit

Yes, we are gigantic! I hope you enjoy America!

We love Spain 🇪🇸 💛

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geekteam6@reddit

Oahu, the main island of Hawai'i, has all this, even housing -- it's expensive, but not in the top ten by rent. Also, if you're willing to buy a very small condo, Waikiki has many made from converted hotel rooms that cost less than $100,000.

And of course, there is much work available for a bridal makeup artist, as weddings happening Oahu all year long.

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x---HI---x@reddit

Georgia

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GotMyTimberlandsOn@reddit

I’m from Chattanooga, TN and it checks a lot of your boxes! No income tax in TN, beautiful mountains, lower cost of living than most states. Chattanooga prides itself on supporting local businesses as well. I'm never bored here, and it's only 1.5 hours to Atlanta and 2.5 to Nashville.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

That was on my favorites list!!! I’m glad you recommended

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skimaskschizo@reddit

Chattanooga is a great recommendation for sure. I live in Georgia and go there a few times a year.

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Greeneyesdontlie85@reddit

New Mexico

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taoist_bear@reddit

Some of the urban parts of New Mexico and Arizona.

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p1nk_shampain@reddit

El Paso, Texas Las Cruces, New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Tucson, Arizona

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Jayyykobbb@reddit

Huntsville is a pretty cool place. Largest city in Alabama now, and about an hour and a half from Nashville, Birmingham, and Chattanooga and 2 1/2 hours from Atlanta. We’ve got us a little mountain of a state park and lots of great nature within north Alabama. Plenty of good food, live music, and a rapidly growing city!

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nine_of_swords@reddit

Most places have decent local small business support. But the most local happy metros (low franchise rate ) have been the West Coast, the Northeast, Florida and, oddly, Alabama; and Texas being the worst. In terms of cost based off those, the Birmingham suburbs are the best bet. Drone footage of landscape

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Wit_and_Logic@reddit

Texas hill country

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andmewithoutmytowel@reddit

Santa Fe is my first thought.

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Real-Psychology-4261@reddit

It doesn’t exist unless you consider Hawaii to be “not super expensive”. Your criteria are too restrictive.

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

I’m just putting out there what I like so I get good recommendations. USA it’s a huge country and every state is different so I’m sure that some states would be better for me than others.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

The southeast exists

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Recent-Irish@reddit

Central North Carolina! Hot summer cool but not cold winters, if you leave the city there’s nature but it’s also Raleigh (city of 1.2 million), mountains and beach are within 2.5 hours by car, etc.

I grew up in the region and loved it, if you have any questions!

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much!

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Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit

Kailua, or somewhere between Virginia and northern Georgia. Maybe Greenville (SC)

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Thank you ! I take notes

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NIN10DOXD@reddit

You just described North Carolina.

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TexasForever361@reddit

Raleigh North Carolina

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Alternative_Ear_1629@reddit (OP)

Cool!

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Recent-Irish@reddit

Agreed

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El_Burrito_Grande@reddit

Texas Hill Country

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leftwinglovechild@reddit

LOL no. Not even a partial fit for their list

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latelyimawake@reddit

…you are describing California

Sorry. But it’s true.

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Nice-Stuff-5711@reddit

San Diego

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Recent-Irish@reddit

What state is San Diego in?

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VioEnvy@reddit

San Diego - it’s perfect here

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Recent-Irish@reddit

What state is San Diego in?

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VioEnvy@reddit

It doesn’t matter, it’s what he wants.

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Recent-Irish@reddit

It’s a she and she explicitly said no California

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VioEnvy@reddit

Well he needs to come here anyways. I need more friends 🥺

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Alarmed-Parsnip-6495@reddit

North Carolina

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Top_Location_5899@reddit

Charlotte

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pablitorun@reddit

What about San Juan?

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anotheronelikeyou@reddit

Virginia Beach

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oxichil@reddit

If you also take off the beach and mountains you might enjoy St. Louis. Big enough to have a downtown, small enough to have nature nearby. With an urban park bigger than NYCs.

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JacobDCRoss@reddit

Well, discounting California (which has everything you want but is too expensive) you're looking at another coastal state. New England is out, as you would hate its weather. Honestly, most coastal states are expensive. I'd kinda recommend southern Oregon, a bit inland from the coast, and you'd have good weather.

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cainkilledabel6@reddit

Any of the states near on the gulf of Mexico

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butt_honcho@reddit

Mobile, Alabama.

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Deep_Contribution552@reddit

Sounds like the farther parts of Atlanta metro, besides the sunshine; basically look into places in the Southeast near the mountains, or maybe Phoenix/Tucson/Albuquerque (how do you feel about 2-3 months of 40C days? Albuquerque is a bit cooler than the Arizona cities). Or, I guess, Austin/San Antonio? I think the parts of central Texas that are the best match for you are also getting pricey, but there may be places that are “good enough” while still “cheap enough”.

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