What is the best US State to move to?

Question

Moving form the UK in a couple of years, I will be looking for work as a high school teacher/college lecturer, my wife is an administrator/PA, we have two kids aged 6 and 9 . we had thought of moving to Maine, as we have family in the area, but have not fixed fully on where to go, realise it's a big place, but any ideas greatly received.

Answer 1

I would say Minnesota because it's one of the top places to raise your kids - however, it gets VERY cold here in the winter.  Nice summers though.  Maine is beautiful but I hear the education system is, well..not the best.  

Answer 2

Moving from the population dense UK to Maine might be a bit of a shock. Population density is low and there are no major cities. Having said that Maine and New Hampshire are very pretty. Any New England state will be fairly liberal, as is the west coast. Connecticut - in Hartford itself is a gritty city - but has many pretty rural areas and is close to NYC if you get yourself into a community on a commuter line (could be expensive). The middle of the country and the South can be a shock to the non-religious although I do not want to say that everyone is religious (but think anti-abortion billboards and very big crosses). California is the most expensive state to live in (taxes on petrol, etc) but I have lived in San Diego and travelled the north of the state and it is a gorgeous area.

Answer 3

California all the way.   Teachers are in high demand in CA. Apply at an under served district, clock in 5 yrs and they will pay for your student loans.  Northern CA is fantastic but its a little harder t get a job.  Southern california is great but its smoggy and a freeway h**l.  But the job market is huge.  Move to the coast in Orange or San Diego counties and work in those areas.  Make sure you live near where you work in CA because the freeways are h**l and you will regret it. Don't drive in the black and mexican neighborhoods as well and don't go wandering around LA at nght or you will regret it.

The state is huge, Job market is huge, lots of things to do, Northern CA is nicer, the coast is a great place to live by, and the pay is higher in CA too.

There is good and bad in CA but I think its a nice place to live.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I'm very happy in Maine.  I live in Portland, but there are some very fine small cities up and down the coast.  The Camden/Rockland area is particularly beautiful and offers many amenities of civilization--the Farnsworth Museum is world class among small museums.