If I was to move from my home/native state,
I'd consider St. George southern Utah or
even Scottsdale wouldn't be a bad place,
but Scottsdale is pricey, but upon the list
(compared to or more expensive than St. George)
& I have friends in both places...
I have deep roots here, I was born & raised here,
I have moved a few times, usually about work, chasing the $$$$
& lived in Idaho, Oregon (school), Kansas & Alaska too,
all for short stints, I always came back...
I loved Alaska, I hated the long winters & mosquitoes...
I do love winter sports & skiing, hunting, shooting, fishing etc....
But;
In my case...
My family all mostly lives here still
& my dad lives with me,
I'd have to consider that too
the kids, that's a big freaken' deal right there,
(unless; if you have no kids or young kids in tow, it's different situations)
Most all my brothers & sisters, my aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,
most all my friends & serious contacts, business, income, is here...
I also own all my stuff, cars, trucks, houses, outright too,
no payments, other than property & income taxes
& typical monthly stuff , that makes it a bit easier...
over my 59 years here
Everyone needs to make that decision where they need to be
"on their own accord", for their own reasoning...
Mine &/or yours (or theirs) probably aren't the same...
You can't beat California weather, it's not a fair comparison...
I've been to almost all the states in my travels
(not to Maine or Vermont, too cold in the winter for me anyway)
I'm a ocean & mountains guy, I love the outdoors,
I love rural areas more now, wouldn't consider living in a city anymore...
I'm still interested in racing, cruising, trucks & cars, open areas...
I want to be in a car culture area no matter where I live...
I don't mind a little change of seasons, I have all of it now...
I know
I'm not big on snow shoveling or long cold winters,
or short or "humid as hell" sweltering summers (south or east),
or where they have all them freaken' bugs galore...
I know for me I'm not that type of guy...
That's partially why I listed the 2 places above,
it's a good compromise...
"albeit Scottsdale" is hotter than bloody Hell in the summer
but golf, A/C & a car culture, esthetics, nice cumminity all helps to make up
for "some of that"...
I do know I'd never live east of the Mississippi
(too damn many people)
just not my type of climate or places,
albeit some really nice rural areas, especially in the south...
They have some great people, down there...
Not a fan of the North at all...
Been back & forth across the country in a truck & trailer some 30+ times...
Seen most the country at it's best & worst...
Good luck
where ever you decide to go Greg
@Kern Dog
do your due diligence 1st, not all areas are equal, even on the surface
in politics/taxes or property taxes, expenses/costs etc., best bang for your buck
or weather, let alone community essentials, hospitals or shopping...