Come to South Dakota


 

Cities, Salaries, and the Quality of Life

A new city could mean a higher salary or thethings  that  matter  to  you.
career you've always dreamed of, but things
like cost of living, quality of life, andYour  Future  Home:  Things  to  Consider
your specific needs need to be taken into
account. Whether you're heading to a newHealthcare. Does a loved one need special
place alone, or you're taking a big family,care nearby--a heart hospital, for example,
you  can  find  a  city  that fits your life.or a children's medical center? Keep your
family's  future  health  in  mind,  as well.
Salary:  Only  Half  the  Story
Environment. Are parks and hiking trails an
Your job prospects may be the biggest part ofafterthought of a city, or does the
a new move. You need to land on your feet inenvironment bring the community together? If
a new city, with enough savings to last youyou're thinking of moving into a big city,
three months' rent if you don't have a jobconsider the importance of nature in your
lined up already. Think of your careerlife.
possibilities, and compare the details of a
new  city  to  your  current  situation.Crime. Crime rates are easily available on
many city police websites. Often, you can
Some areas that seem like obvious choices forsearch within a certain neighborhood or area.
a career could actually be dead ends. One big
example is technology and the Bay Area.Climate. From monsoons to snow drifts, U.S.
According to an article in eWeek, the highweather can vary drastically from state to
cost of living and the rise of telecommutingstate. Make sure you can tolerate both the
are decreasing the Silicon Valley's power asyear-round seasons and the allergies in the
a technological hub. "A $70,000 salary in thearea.
San Francisco valley doesn't even ensure that
an individual will break even," according toEducation. Distance learning may be an option
the article. While that kind of money mightfor college if there are no nearby schools.
allow you to live comfortably in a city likeIf you have children, be sure to research
Miami or Phoenix, everything from homes tograduation rates, class sizes, and the school
gas to food costs more in the Bay Area, andsystem's  budget.
you don't want your entire paycheck going to
rent  or  a  house  payment.Employment. Large companies in the area may
mean more traffic on the freeway, but they
Keep in mind that workers in largecan also mean more jobs and a stronger
metropolitan cities make more money theneconomy.
those in small towns. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports that workers in citiesExperts who study quality of life statistics
made an average of $19.37 an hour, comparedtry to take every aspect of the average
to the $14.63 hourly wage in smaller towns.American life into account. Aspects like
Workers in the Mid-Atlantic region includingeducation for all ages and big business might
New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania madetake priority over a city's amount of
the most money at $21.19 an hour, and thenightlife or tourism. Here are the top ten
East South Central region (includingplaces to live in the U.S., according to
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, andCNNMoney:
Mississippi) made an average of $14.66 an
hour. Wages can vary drastically based onTop  Ten  Cities  in  the  U.S.
region and city size, and you always have to
take  cost  of  living  into  account.1.  Fort  Collins,  CO
Lowest  Rent  in  the  U.S.2.  Naperville,  IL
The following states had the lowest average3.  Sugar  Land,  TX
housing costs for renters in 2004, according
to  a  report  by  the  U.S.  Census:4.  Columbia/Ellicott  City,  MD
•  Alabama5.  Cary,  NC
•  Arkansas6.  Overland  Park,  KS
•  Iowa7.  Scottsdale,  AZ
•  Kentucky8.  Boise,  ID
•  Oklahoma9.  Fairfield,  CT
•  Mississippi10.  Eden  Prairie,  MN
•  MontanaMaking  the  Choice
•  North  DakotaFrom schools to weather, healthcare to
housing, you have a lot to think about when
•  South  Dakotait comes to a move. When your list of
possibilities is narrowed down, look at the
•  West  Virginialist in terms of your education and career
options. Keeping your education and training
•  Wyomingin mind, use employment Web sites and city
statistics to estimate the demand for your
Rent may be dramatically higher nearwork.
universities, but it will be nowhere near the
cost of living in the most expensive placesMoving to a city with a higher demand for
to live in the U.S.: A house in Newportyour field will make it easier to move if you
Beach, CA costs an average of $1,362,500.don't already have an employment plan. If
Homes in Greenwich, CT cost $1,129,000, andtechnology is your field, for example,
Santa Barbara, CA homes average in atconsider cities like New Jersey,
$979,500.Philadelphia, and Boston, where tech jobs are
booming. If you want to continue your
Quality  of  Lifeeducation but you don't want to live in a
college town, consider taking courses online,
Keeping costs low isn't the only way to bewhere you'll have the freedom to work on your
happy in a new city. The quality of life in adegree  from  anywhere  in  the  world.
city is hard to measure, and is different for
every person. If you love to lose yourself inMoving to a new city is an exciting time and
art galleries, the museum districts inshould involve a lot of planning and research
Houston or San Francisco might be morebefore you even start packing. Spend some
important to you than how much you pay forquality time researching your new home, and
rent in those areas. Contact a city's tourismyou'll be able to make your move with
board or research online with a list ofconfidence.



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