3 Awesome Cities You Might Never Have Thought About Moving To
Some people dream about the peace and quiet of their country. Others thrive on the vibrant hustle and bustle of city living. If your ideal home puts you right in the center of a thriving city with all the amenities that come with it, here is a list of some big towns you may not have considered as a future home.
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Salt Lake City, UT
If you’re looking for a new place to call home, you owe it to yourself to take a look at Salt Lake City, UT. The entire state is booming thanks in part to the emergence of a major technology hub in the state. With a nearly 2% population increase over the past year, Utah is the fastest-growing state in the country, and city dwellers are gravitating to the state’s capital.
Salt Lake City offers everything you love about bigger cities and pairs it with easy access to some of the country’s best outdoor activities. Everyone knows that you can’t do much better than Utah if you love skiing, but just outside of Salt Lake City you will also have access to hundreds of incredible hiking trails, mountain climbing opportunities and lakeside activities.
Additionally, the great economy in the state is making it rate as one of the best places in the United States to start a business or to start a family, with the cost of living in Salt Lake City less than half that in New York or SanFrancisco. Aspiring homeowners can choose to purchase a vintage home in one of the city’s 14 historic districts, or those who want something modern can check out new construction townhomes Salt Lake City.
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The Woodlands, TX
This is a big city living on a slightly smaller scale. With a population of around 120,000, this is a moderately sized city made up of several villages that sprawl out over a couple of counties in southeast Texas.
The city residents tend to be highly educated with nearly 90% of adult residents having completed some schooling beyond high school and over 60% having a bachelor’s degree or higher. For families with children, the public schools are all highly rated. Residents also feel that diversity is one of the strengths of this Texas city, with 20% of the populace identifying as non-white. The cost of buying a home in The Woodlands is a bit higher than the national norm but significantly more reasonable than most cities its size. The average cost of a home is about $370,000 with an average individual income of $125,000.
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Cambridge, MA
Cambridge is a city of about 120,000 on the outskirts of Boston. This is a good choice for those who want to live adjacent to a big city but have the opportunity to escape to a different atmosphere at the end of the day.
Cambridge is home to the famed Harvard University and is the pinnacle of cool college towns. It’s rare to find a mid-sized city with such a quaint vibe. The neighborhoods ooze old-world charm and the downtown is full of quirky shops and restaurants.
As a city on the East Coast, the cost of living certainly isn’t cheap. With the average home price running north of $700,000 and the median income at just $104,000, most Cambridge residents rent instead of owning a home. However, long-time residents overwhelmingly feel that the charm, history and excellent public schools make it worth the cost. The combination of the quaintness of Cambridge and the easy access to Boston makes this medium-sized city a place that few who live here want to leave.
If city living is what you crave, make sure you don’t stop your search at the biggest and most well-known cities in the country. There are a plethora of lesser-known and moderately sized cities across the United States that have as much or even more to offer residents. It is possible to make a life in an urban setting without giving up your outdoor hobbies or destroying your budget.
