Looking to Relocate .... need some pros and cons ..... Midwest, HERE I COME

In one years time, the wife and I are looking to put some serious effort into getting out of this God-forsaken state known as New York.

Iowa is leading the pack with Missoura :d a close second ...... who can tell me what about these states?????

Also, might there be another state I should be praying about ...


All replies welcome :d

 

Despite the good deer hunting, I couldn't recommend Illinois to anyone. I've never been to Iowa, so I can't comment on that. I lived in Missouri for a couple of years in the mid 90's, nice place. Beautiful scenery, good hunting, fishing, boating, etc. A friend of mine lives in Bonne Terre, MO....its like a whole different country than where I live in IL. Good luck with your choice.

 

Thanks Dave ..

I prolly should add the REASON we are looking to relocate ..... the mid-west seems to have more "real" people, as does the south .... the south is to flippin hot tho ... I also do not want to lose the 4 seasons and the snow, I just want less of it ... Ohio has also gotten some consideration ......

 

Minnesota...10,000 lakes and over 5 million acres of public hunting land...hard to beat.

 

Wisconsin's not bad, good tax rate,affordable housing,good deer hunting and theres alot od bowhunting.com members that live here or just across the border in IL.I can't speak for the other states. You know what IOWA stands for don't you?

 

Growing up in West Central WI was an absolute treat. Great people and tons of outdoor activities. With all the lakes, rivers, streams and public land to hunt, there's something to do every season.

Not to mention, the area itself is beautiful.

 

Congrats to you Tony, I've been in NY for about 5 years now, and I gotta say I really miss the lifestyle that even PA has compared to here. I've spent a significant amount of time in the midwest for work, and really like it out there as well, if I didn't have family that binds me to this area, I'd be out of NY in a heartbeat. I'd even pick rural PA over NY if I had the chance, and may even do this in the next few years if we can't figure something out for Lisa when she loses her teaching job this summer. It's amazing the taxes we pay in NY, and now they are looking to slash in the ballpark of 150 teaching jobs in the capital district alone, and will end up with 25+ kid classrooms because there is "no money". It's almost sickening to tell the truth, the taxes and overall cost of living are just out of control. You can find similar income potentials with lower costs of living elsewhere IMHO, and I'd get out if you have the chance. The entire northeast is that way really, New England is even worse.

The one thing I'd say from speaking with many in the area, is that if you are a fairly conservative person.......rural IL really seems to be held hostage by Chicago in terms of their politics, etc. I'd rule IL out just because of that myself.

 

Matt, PA and Ohio are thoughts .... but they really seem to be moving in a NY direction ...... and on IL, my thoughts as well




Thanks guys ... keep some more ideas comin' .... still waiting to hear from the Broke Back Boys :d

 

If you come to MO you won't be dissapointed with the hunting. That's all I'll say

 

Not that I like to spread this around but we could use a few more good, like-minded folk up this way; AK pays you to live here! I saw the writing on the wall for NY and got the heck out of there as soon as I turned 18 and haven't looked back. I get a week or two with the folks every year which is nice but the economy and politics are good reminders of why I left.

 

Midwest huh...........


Pros- Big deer


Cons- It ain't Texas:d

 

I was in similar scenerio as you not too long ago. I was living in an area(Big City) for about 6 years and even though it worked, I didn't really enjoy living there and neither did my wife. The area was once rated as the top 5 riches counties in the states and still is usually in the top 20 towns to live in. But one of the biggest things I missed was being part of a community everything can went along with it. Sure there are ways to be part of a community no matter where you live, whether it's the suburb you live in, the Church you belong to, or being involved with other community affairs. But it still just wasn't the same as a small town community. I wanted to be in area where the whole town was the community. Where you don't nessessarily know everybody personally, but you know of most of the people. Where the whole town can back the local highschool football team... where you can go to the grocery store and talk to 2-3 people you know before leaving. And where you value Reputation, personal and even business ethics, as those are the kind of things that "stick".

Other aspects that were important to me was Job Prospects, Real-Estate Costs, Attractions, and Outdoor Activities. I wanted to be far enough into the country to be in it, but not far enough where I couldn't find a good job or have to drive 2 hrs to go to a couple nice stores. Finding the right combination was key... and was what I looked at hard.

I currently live about 30 minutes from Manhattan Kansas. Manhattan is what I call a little Big-town. It's small enough to have just 1 public Highschool...but large enough to a Big College, nice Mall, all types of retail stores, and is situated in an ideal location in the Beautiful Flint Hills, surrounded by 2 of the largest lakes in KS, a nice river, and hundreds of thousands of acres of public hunting within a 20 minute drive. Trophy Whitetails, Mulies, antelope, elk, and a gazzilion turkeys. Can't beat the weather either.. there usually isn't extreme cold or snow in the winters, but enough to enjoy. The real-estate is reasonable. I bought my farm for probably 1/4 the cost, of what it would've brought closer to a major city like Kansas City. Plus you're only about 6 hours from the Rockies, in case you like Elk Hunting or going to Ski Resorts.

I'm sure there are plenty of towns in the midwest that will offer what you're looking for. Just choose the important aspects of what you're looking for in a location & start from there. Good luck.

 

I'd love to share the Northern Woods of MN with you Tony! We have all four seasons here:
Winter (Jan-March, but some times late Oct - Early May)
Spring (April-Mid June)
Bug (Mid June - Mid Sept)
Hunting (Mid Sept-Dec)

 

I forgot to mention that our Church is looking for a Pastor. Haven't had one for almost 2 years... seems to brought the church together though! Good people.

 

Mike, you sure live wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy UP THERE!!! What is the name of your church?

 

Yeah, any further north and you are either Canadian or have Palin as your Governor. We (my wife Sara & I)just started at this Church this fall, currently known as Ely Baptist, but they are in the process of possibly changing the name and maybe dropping the affiliation? Not exactly sure.

Here's the website: Ely Baptist

The Congregation is comprised of 90% retired couples, with only a handful of younger families, they want to change that. My wife and I came from a thriving Vineyard Church in Duluth, so its been an adjustment, but the folks here are great!

 

Jeff ... NC is too hot!!! There are so many NY transplants there too .... it was a state I used to always want to live in as a youth, tho ........ not out of the question .. what are its polotics?

 

Tony I'm glad I tossed that out there the other day, Boston, NO WAY, I couldn't do it at this point. It way to HOT in Missoura for me! I think I turned my air conditioner on for 3 days last summer! I have been to every state in the the lower hundreds of times. As an outdoors man and for the kids it would be WI, MI or MN. I like it here in Milwaukee, for me and work its great and I can be hunting in 30 minutes outside the city. Kinda like a big little town. MN and MI.....nuff said... big woods and a lot of lakes. Where ever you move I hope its close so we can do some hunting together!!!!!!

 

Oh yeah, we can bowhunt from mid September until the 1st week in Jan.

 

I may be biased but I love living in Missouri. Since hunting is your main thing, anywhere above the Missouri River is prime ground here. Typical midwest scenery with rolling hills, farmland and good chunks of woods. Good people throughout the state too as long as you stay far enough out of the big cities (St. Louis and KC). If you are into fishing look south of interstate 44. Tons of excellent streams to fish, some nice lakes, trout fishing and tons of public ground to hunt.

Whatever you choose, it has to be better than New York!