Moving: Oppotown reviews needed

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired) 08/26/2015 at 13:15 • Filed to: townoppo

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$%@#% I think my wife’s job is trying to move us again. Would appreciate any advice (especially from those familiar with these places) on pros/cons of the following towns:

Honolulu, HI, San Diego, CA; Orange County, CA; Oakland, CA; Galveston, TX; Corpus Christi, TX; Louisville, KY; Washington, DC; Virginia Beach, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Cleveland, OH; Portland, ME; Ottawa, ON.

Comparison to places I know well (Seattle, Connecticut shore), house prices, schools, daycare costs, speed enforcement, job prospects for someone with an engineering/computer background, etc would be most appreciated.

The Dummy Gummy > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:21

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I’ve been to all of those places except for Texas and Kentucky. I would recommend San Diego or Virginia Beach. San Diego cost of living is high, but not unbearable and it is absolutely beautiful. Virginia Beach is a lot more affordable.

I love Hawaii, but Honolulu is too much like NYC for me and almost double to live there. If money wasn’t an option I’d consider it. The rest are miserable. I mean beautiful for visiting, but not for living. Portland in the summer is great, but winter is absolutely brutal.

Hope this helps a bit. To round it all out, Virginia would be my final pick. Good luck!

CB > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:26

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Hey, I’m in Ottawa!

Housing, I’m actually looking at a chart right now. Average house price is about $360k CAD. Schools are pretty decent from what I hear (Zippy would know more about that than I would), and we also have French schools if you’re down for that. Daycare I have no clue. We have three police forces in the area (Ottawa Police, RCMP, OPP), so I’d say be a little concerned about speed enforcement. For someone with engineering and computer skills? We have a lot of tech here, and you could always work for the government.

It’s a beautiful city, but gods damn does it get cold over the winter. You get a week of -40 whether you like it or not. At the very least, plowing gets done pretty quick.

Anything more specific in mind?

William Byrd > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:27

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I’ll speak the ones I know well enough to speak to (odd for the internet I know)

Honolulu - Top 5 most beautiful places I’ve ever been. There are parts of the island that will take your breath away every time. But. It’s an island, and while there is a lot to do, being a big’ish city, you may still get island fever. I’m not sure I would, and if I did, I’d go over to a different island (Maui is supposed to be amazing). Not a great car scene. Prices: $$$$$

San Diego - Was for awhile my favorite US city I hadn’t visited. I’ve been a few times now and love it. Perfect weather. Like, all the time perfect weather. Plenty to do, I imagine it’s a good car scene being SOCAL and all. Prices: $$$$ (I haven’t been, but I imagine OC, CA is similar)

Washington DC - My current location! Be prepared for EVERY season in full force. It’s 100 in the summer, -10 in the winter and everything in between in fall and spring. Summers are particularly humid. Tons to do, DC is a great town and most of the top affluent cities/counties are here. Lots of employment, some of the best schools. Traffic sucks. A lot. Decent car scene. Prices: $$$

VA Beach - A typical resort town, lots to do when it’s warm, not sure what the rest of the year is like. Lots of work around the Navy, etc. Prices: not sure

Philadelphia - Sort of a working man’s big city. I love Philly, always had a ton of fun up there. Not sure what it’s like to live there (or the PA suburbs/S. Jersey where most actually live) but I always found it to be an inexpensive, beer drinking, good time. Prices $$$

Compaing these to Seattle is tough, I used to visit for work, but mostly stayed downtown and was kinda bored. I’ve heard there are fun areas that I didn’t make it to, so it’s tough to compare. Same with the CT shore, visited once.

I’ve been to Louisville, was a neat town. Wife went to UK in Lexington and spent some time there, she seemed to like it. Haven’t been to the rest.

Good luck!

Cash Rewards > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 13:32

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To add to the DC review: high cost of living, probably on par with San Diego. In VA suburbs, new houses are well over a million, and 40 year old houses on a quarter acre lot will run you 700,000. Some of the best school districts in the country (literally, the Fairfax county science &tech school was just rated #1 in America).

Patrick Nichols > CB 08/26/2015 at 13:35

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you down with OPP?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:36

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That is the most diverse list of “potential places to live” I’ve ever seen.

Any chance of Detroit area? Cheap houses, I can advice good school districts and engineering/computer background should be good to move into an auto industry job...

CB > Patrick Nichols 08/26/2015 at 13:36

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Pardon? I’m cool with the OPP, if that’s what you’re asking.

William Byrd > Cash Rewards 08/26/2015 at 13:38

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True, I still feel like per square foot, DC is cheaper than San Diego. Although downtown vs. downtown is probably similar. If you can stomach having a commute, the ‘burbs aren’t as expensive. I am in S. MD and have a 4K sq. ft. house that was probably half of what they cost in VA.

Toby F., Manager > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:39

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San Diegan born and raised here. With that said, cost of living and home prices are higher than average, but not impossible to own; schools are plentiful; daycare costs vary, but again are reasonable; speed enforcement is reasonable, and I don’t see any issues; job prospects for someone with an engineering/computer background are strong, as the headquarters for Qualcomm are located here, though they did just have a layoff. Many other firms as well call this place home - a tech/research/military/pharmecutical hub strong environment.

Patrick Nichols > CB 08/26/2015 at 13:40

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I said, you down with OPP?

nermal > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:40

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Cleveland sucks. Don’t go there. Same for Philly. DC is expensive unless you’ve got a lot of Olde Money to work with. VA Beach is home to a huge military base, and everything there caters to the soldiers.

Louisville is nice, but a bit old. The natives talk funny. The town revolves around the Kentucky Derby.

San Diego is amazing. Go there, if you can afford it.

CB > Patrick Nichols 08/26/2015 at 13:44

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I’m down with the Ontario Provincial Police.

Cash Rewards > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 13:50

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Yeah, its heavily neighborhood dependent. I’m in Vienna, and pay easy less than I would have in Potomac, or great falls, but probably more than Springfield

William Byrd > Cash Rewards 08/26/2015 at 13:51

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Sounds about right.

Oh and, greetings from Tysons Corner (at work currently).

GTI Sprinks > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 13:56

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Virginia Beach:

20 some years of residence, now living 3 hours away, still visit regularly for family and friends.

engineering/computer background in virginia beach means you’re probably working in/around department of defense facilities. take that as a plus or minus. Pretty much always hiring for something or other. Means you could be a part of the ~75% of the population that is involved with direct or supporting roles of DoD in the area. Means you fight the base/yard traffic day-in day-out. There’s only one real interstate (i64) between Hampton Roads and any of the not so distant cities (Richmond or DC). Also means if you want to go up or down east-coast, your directions will usually include: Drive on 64 to get to i95 (1.5-2hours, worse if traffic). While 64 is the heart of the interstate system around hampton roads, you’ll learn the branches will be what get you where you need to be most likely, 264,464, 564, 664. Speed enforcement is meh, speed limits set at 55 but everyone does 65 unless passing the very obvious speed traps. Nice thing is if you get lost on the interstate, it is literally setup as a big loop with 64 linking back to 664 eventually. Cost of living is good if you pick the right areas. Lot of variety in the area. Rural areas like Pungo are nice but a bit away from it all but put you near the air station. You’ll learn to love and hate the boardwalk and tourists. You can also go more beachy and find a condo or house in a quiet neighborhood pretty easily. Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads metropolis. That means you’re neighboring Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and bit of a drive from Suffolk. School systems are alright all depending on district. Standards of Learning (virginia required school testing) are dumb but required. Norfolk is nice (big fan of the Ghent neighborhood) and Chesapeake is the text book definition of surburbia. So lots of options.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 14:27

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Grettings from Crystal City! I work here, live in McLean... we rent though. My wife and I are looking to buy in the next 6 months or so. The cheapest house in the McLean zip code (not including condos) is $650k when I last looked a couple weeks ago. We’re probably going to end up moving out to Sterling area, where comparable houses are literally half as much.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:33

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Louisville’s actually a pretty cool town. Can’t speak much for the rest.

someassemblyrequired > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 14:36

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First off, thanks! That confirms my suspicions about Honolulu. Fun for two weeks, not fun long haul. Plus I would be legally obliged to purchase the red 308 here in town with the Robin 1 license plate, which is probably a bad financial decision. San Diego I could definitely live with, and I’ve been to DC enough for work to know what it’s like, but I’d prefer to live in Southern MD, but I don’t think it’s affordable enough, and would be a bad commute for the wife. I don’t like NoVa much, but was wondering if VA Beach area was any better - kinda ranking it lower just due to the frustrations of probably having to work in government/defense. I think Philly would be OK - I was ranking it a little higher than DC so this confirms what I was thinking. Lexington would be different that’s for sure, but it does sound like a cool town.

someassemblyrequired > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 14:41

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Yeah from my travels to DC, I liked Bethesda best of all, but I think it’s now as expensive as NoVa, and probably a bad commute to a lot of places in the area. Plus there seems to be a pay/housing cost disconnect in the DC area right now.

William Byrd > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:43

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Wait, where in Southern MD? That’s where I live, definitely more affordable. Not sure why people move way South to Fredericksburg or out to WV and commute into DC every day.

someassemblyrequired > CB 08/26/2015 at 14:43

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I used to be in Ottawa a lot in the 90s early 2000s as I lived in the 613(Queen’s grad) so I’m pretty familiar with the town. I think employment would be easy to find there, but with the dollar gone squirrely, might not go as far. I remember the place used to die about 5pm back in the day, and was pretty sleepy for a big town - is it any better than it used to be?

William Byrd > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:44

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Yep, Bethesda is quite pricey. Although MOST areas have relatively attainable rental units that are near a lot of cool stuff. Buying can be pretty rough though depending on how much of a downpayment you can swing.

someassemblyrequired > CB 08/26/2015 at 14:44

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This man certainly is:

CB > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:47

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It’s still pretty sleepy (I mean, it’s a government town), but ByWard and Elgin are still pretty lively. I find it to be a nice mesh of big city and smaller town.

My sister is headed to Queen’s this fall, speaking of that.

CB > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:47

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Not a fan of Kim Mitchell, to be honest.

someassemblyrequired > GTI Sprinks 08/26/2015 at 14:47

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Thanks! Yeah that was my view about that area - you’re either working for government (directly or indirectly, both still suck) or the port. But it’s sounding like a likely destination - if we draw the short straw which are the best school districts?

someassemblyrequired > The Dummy Gummy 08/26/2015 at 14:49

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Yeah VA beach sounds more affordable, but I think my job prospects are probably better in San Diego. Though it’s good to hear that VA is pretty good, that’s the one I’m dreading.

someassemblyrequired > Toby F., Manager 08/26/2015 at 14:50

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Yeah San Diego sounds pretty awesome - sounds like there’s lots going on and good weather makes all the difference.

someassemblyrequired > nermal 08/26/2015 at 14:52

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Yeah Cleveland did not seem like a good option, Philly at least you’re close to NYC but I have heard that it’s a mixed bag. I think we’d have to cut back quite a bit to afford DC and I’d rather not if San Diego’s an option.

someassemblyrequired > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/26/2015 at 14:56

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I wish - it was up there last time, but no dice. Other MI spots are way up north/UP so I nixed those. Sucks because Detroit would be awesome as I used to work with GM in grad school and still have some contacts. If it happened would buy a fixer upper with a big garage in GP for the contents of the spare change pot and enjoy the 10 minute commute downtown.

someassemblyrequired > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/26/2015 at 14:56

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Awesome thanks!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 14:58

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Damn.

someassemblyrequired > CB 08/26/2015 at 15:04

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Yeah that’s usually where we’d end up. Plus it has a Princess Auto. Queen’s is a great place to go to school - had an awful lot of fun back in the day, and it’s as good a school as you’ll find anywhere.

someassemblyrequired > CB 08/26/2015 at 15:04

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You will show respect to the inventor of the Bald Mullet!

someassemblyrequired > William Byrd 08/26/2015 at 15:08

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Yeah I like MD in general a lot better than VA. I don’t understand the people that commute from WV AT ALL. Commute time is unpaid work.

GTI Sprinks > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 15:10

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Best school district in VB is probably Cox High School (huehuehue), First Colonial High, or Salem High and the respective schools that feed into them. In Chesapeake best schools are Grassfield, Great Bridge, or Hickory. I can also say being a product of the less than the best school districts, it’s not really a huge big deal breaker not being in those high schools. Some of the best people i’ve ever met didn’t go to any of those schools. But i can understand the reason for the question.

someassemblyrequired > GTI Sprinks 08/26/2015 at 15:18

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Ok cool it sounds like that’s not a huge worry in that area. Thanks it’s often hard to get straightforward answers out of real estate agents.

GTI Sprinks > someassemblyrequired 08/26/2015 at 15:47

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Best of luck. If you need more help about the area later, feel free to ask.