Best State to Live Permanently?

[webny99]

What would everyone's criteria be for determining where to live permanently?
For me, I'd be looking primarily at climate, housing prices, and distance to relatives.

(where I was born and raised) remains my personal sweet spot.

I have to agree with JN on this one.
Four seasons would be an absolute must for me. Plenty of great day trip destinations would be another.
I haven't thought too much about affordability, but that may change as I get older.

Much of the West Coast reminds me of Canada in terms of housing, and not in a good way. Small houses on small properties, and generally not as much space in your own neighborhood as I'm used to.

Western NY has a lot in common with the Midwest, so I think I could tolerate anything north of I-80 between here and the Twin Cities. (That excludes most of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and intentionally so. Minnesota would probably be my next choice, with Michigan #3.)

I wouldn't mind being in the 4-6 hour range from relatives, because I actually really like that length of trip. Long enough to feel like a legit road trip, but not too long that it feels like a drag or has to be split up. Having basically the entire East Coast (at least the DC-Boston portion) within that range is another big bonus of living here in Rochester.

[kphoger]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

I like the changing of the seasons too but, with each passing year, I realize more and more I could do just fine without winter altoghether.

My perfect climate would have high temps between 50 and 80 for ten months of the year, with one month of hot summer and one month of cold winter (snow included).  Of course, that climate doesn't really exist, so...

[hotdogPi]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

My perfect climate would have high temps between 50 and 80 for ten months of the year, with one month of hot summer and one month of cold winter (snow included).  Of course, that climate doesn't really exist, so...

Mexico City seems to have temperatures between 50 and 80 almost all the time. If you want snow, move into the mountains just the slightest bit.

[kphoger]

Mexico City seems to have temperatures between 50 and 80 almost all the time. If you want snow, move into the mountains just the slightest bit.

The problem is that, when I say "snow", I mean storms that drop eight inches on the ground.  I'd rather have that or nothing.  In-between weather is my least favorite of all, such as 30 degrees and raining.  I'd much rather have zero degrees and a foot of snow or 105 degrees with no clouds.

[webny99]

I like the changing of the seasons too but, with each passing year, I realize more and more I could do just fine without winter altoghether.

I think I've heard my parents, and many other people over 30, say this in some form or fashion so many times that it's become almost cliche.

However, the result has been that I'm expecting to like winter less and less as I get older, so I'm just enjoying it while it's still enjoyable. There's always at least a few days each winter that remind me what I love about it. This past winter, it was a February trip to Letchworth park the morning after about 8-10 inches of snow had blown in off Lake Erie. Fresh snow and winter sunshine is an incredibly breathtaking combination.

[kphoger]

Strangely, I looked forward to winter more and enjoyed for longer last year than has been the case in probably five years.

[kkt]

There are definitely four seasons here, however they manifest themselves differently than they do in the northeast.

winter = plant dormant season, short dark days.  some years a snowstorm or two which rarely sticks more than a few days
spring = everything comes back to live.  plants bloom, birds have chicks, lambs
summer = hot (as it gets here) and sunny.  grasses go dormant
fall = relief from the hot, quieter birds, harvest

[oscar]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

The joke I've heard in San Diego is that they have their four seasons: "early summer, summer, late summer, and next summer". (I'd sub in "autumn" for "next summer", they definitely have a non-summer season late in the year.)

I'd otherwise prefer to skip the four seasons, if that meant avoiding my least favorite season, autumn.

Hawaii doesn't have an autumn, but the price of that (cost of living about a third higher than the mainland, a/k/a the "paradise tax") is too much for me. Florida doesn't have much of an autumn/winter, but much of the state is a hellhole in the peak summer months. It's better for snowbirds who can afford to maintain two homes (or one home and an RV), to winter in Florida and summer in some northern clime like Maine.

[GaryV]

I realize more and more I could do just fine without winter altoghether.

My wife wants a place where winter lasts from about Dec 20 to Jan 2.

[Roadgeekteen]

I realize more and more I could do just fine without winter altoghether.

My wife wants a place where winter lasts from about Dec 20 to Jan 2.

I would be fine without any winter at all.

[GaryV]

I realize more and more I could do just fine without winter altoghether.

My wife wants a place where winter lasts from about Dec 20 to Jan 2.

I would be fine without any winter at all.

Nah, gotta have a White Christmas.

[kkt]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

The joke I've heard in San Diego is that they have their four seasons: "early summer, summer, late summer, and next summer". (I'd sub in "autumn" for "next summer", they definitely have a non-summer season late in the year.)

I'd otherwise prefer to skip the four seasons, if that meant avoiding my least favorite season, autumn.

Hawaii doesn't have an autumn, but the price of that (cost of living about a third higher than the mainland, a/k/a the "paradise tax") is too much for me. Florida doesn't have much of an autumn/winter, but much of the state is a hellhole in the peak summer months. It's better for snowbirds who can afford to maintain two homes (or one home and an RV), to winter in Florida and summer in some northern clime like Maine.

Warm and humid, though.  Not someplace I'd pick to live, though I might visit someday.

[Brandon]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

Of course, you could choose the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's UP.  There, the seasons are:

1. Brief, warm summer, also known as just the Fourth of July.
2. Fall, starting July 5, and ending before the end of September.  The leaves don't always get a change to fall from the trees before the snow starts.
3. Big Snow Season.  Lasts from September to May, with snow occurring in May, and maybe even June.  I had freezing rain the first week of June there for geology field camp.  Be prepared for at least 160 inches of the white stuff at a minimum, 390 inches at a maximum, with 220 inches average.  There's never been a season without it, but they do know what to do with it.
4. Sloppy Season, known in some places as spring.  All the runoff from the big snows as well as the sand used for winter traction flows down the hills towards Portage Lake.  Usually ends by July 3.
Repeat. 

[Roadgeekteen]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

Of course, you could choose the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's UP.  There, the seasons are:

1. Brief, warm summer, also known as just the Fourth of July.
2. Fall, starting July 5, and ending before the end of September.  The leaves don't always get a change to fall from the trees before the snow starts.
3. Big Snow Season.  Lasts from September to May, with snow occurring in May, and maybe even June.  I had freezing rain the first week of June there for geology field camp.  Be prepared for at least 160 inches of the white stuff at a minimum, 390 inches at a maximum, with 220 inches average.  There's never been a season without it, but they do know what to do with it.
4. Sloppy Season, known in some places as spring.  All the runoff from the big snows as well as the sand used for winter traction flows down the hills towards Portage Lake.  Usually ends by July 3.
Repeat. 

Yikes that's way too long of a winter for me.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Any place I want to live permanently would have to have an autumn at minimum. I go up to Grand Marais for a week around every first week of October.

[Ben114]

Four seasons would be an absolute must for me.

Of course, you could choose the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's UP.  There, the seasons are:

1. Brief, warm summer, also known as just the Fourth of July.
2. Fall, starting July 5, and ending before the end of September.  The leaves don't always get a change to fall from the trees before the snow starts.
3. Big Snow Season.  Lasts from September to May, with snow occurring in May, and maybe even June.  I had freezing rain the first week of June there for geology field camp.  Be prepared for at least 160 inches of the white stuff at a minimum, 390 inches at a maximum, with 220 inches average.  There's never been a season without it, but they do know what to do with it.
4. Sloppy Season, known in some places as spring.  All the runoff from the big snows as well as the sand used for winter traction flows down the hills towards Portage Lake.  Usually ends by July 3.
Repeat. 

As long as there are places to ski, this is paradise.