The best states to live in

[Norman Bernstein]

According to CNBC:

1) North Dakota / Minnesota (tied)
2) Maine
3) Vermont
4) Hawaii
5) New Hampshire

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...#slide=1211741

[ron ll]

No thanks. I saw the movie "Fargo".

[Bill Griffin]

Well, I've never set foot in the Dakotas or Minnesota. Lived in Hawaii for a time, currently that's my #2 choice if I had to leave Maine. Vt. and NH don't have enough salt water to suit me, but I likes them just fine. Looks like I need to plan a road trip, maybe next summer.

[tigerregis]

Except for the Island they all have one thing in common.

[ccmanuals]

Read someplace that the best place to live if you are a retiree and on a fixed income is Delaware.

[Kaa]

Except for the Island they all have one thing in common.

LOL. You can even include the island if you formulate the criterion properly: "You don't have to set foot in another state to get from there to ... " :-D

Kaa

[tigerregis]

Yes, thank you. The Sandwich Islands were always a favourite of mine, although I do prefer the inhabitants name.

[Rich Jones]

Vermont, New Hampshire, the Adirondacks of NY and coastal Maine.
The rest of the country is just there to provide my needs.

[Kevin T]

Can one cut off the lower half of NYS? I'd take uptate. Then ME. I'd love to visit Alaska though as that might be one state that Id like to live on more of a permanent basis.

I didn't even realize there was a state north of 96th Street.

[Todd D]

Whoever wrote that must not have been to Minnesota or North Dakota in the winter. Both are a bit chilly for my current tastes. I used to live in Manitoba, so I do know what I am talking about. I view Vermont and New Hampshire as a sort of Appalachia north with yuppies. Not my style at all. So far (13 years) I find the coast of Maine acceptable, but I wouldn't mind less snow in the winter. I guess places like Washington state (where I am from) didn't make the list because of the massive population growth thee since the 70s and, well, eastern Washington

[C. Ross]

Quick, turn off the porch lights and draw the curtains. Maybe they'll go away and leave us in peace.

Go away! Its too cold here. You'd hate it!





Heh heh heh

[Dan McCosh]

The best states seem to have the fewest people.

[C. Ross]

The best states seem to have the fewest people.

Yeah, all of them are in the bottom ten for population.

Except Minnesota which is 21st largest.

[elf]

Snow? You mean any place has real snow any more?

Personally, I only visit states with blackflies.

[Rich Jones]

The best states seem to have the fewest people.

Yup. One of the reasons we moved to Vermont. One blinking caution light out on the highway, then 10 miles in one direction and 20 in the other before you get to the next light. NO TRAFFIC!!!
We live on a dirt road but also have frontage on one of the only paved roads in town. Even has a yellow line painted on it. Pretty hot stuff for this state! Ski mountain 7 miles away. Lots of small lakes for small boats. Very temperate seasons (although winter can get a tad chilly). Pure heaven.
After a lifetime of living in a very congested rat-race location, my only problem with the people of Vermont is that they're just too damn nice!

[Paul Pless]

Yup. One of the reasons we moved to Vermont. One blinking caution light out on the highway, then 10 miles in one direction and 20 in the other before you get to the next light. NO TRAFFIC!!!
We live on a dirt road but also have frontage on one of the only paved roads in town. Even has a yellow line painted on it. Pretty hot stuff for this state! Ski mountain 7 miles away. Lots of small lakes for small boats. Very temperate seasons (although winter can get a tad chilly). Pure heaven.
After a lifetime of living in a very congested rat-race location, my only problem with the people of Vermont is that they're just too damn nice!

Sounds a little bit like Hell. . .

[Garret]

I view Vermont and New Hampshire as a sort of Appalachia north with yuppies.

Wow. Which state has LePage for a governor & which has one who is leading the state to be the first one in the US with single payer? I mean really. Not just a glass house, but one with very thin glass.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of hearing LePage's absurdities, I recommend a google - he's quite something.

[George Jung]

From 'Life in Hell'..... could just be me, but anyone else see more than a passing resemblance to Pless???

[David G]

What madness. Anyone who'll think for just a moment will realize that the best states are Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia <ducking now>

[Willin']

Maine's mosquitoes will kick those big, blonde, Lutheran, Scandihoovian, Minnesotan mosquitoe's asses any day.

[George Jung]

Try runnin' 'em past the Hueys in Alaska....

[Chris Coose]

Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are not states. They are Maritime Provinces. .......... or at least that is what I'd like to think.

[Nanoose]

Well, we've lived in 2 of 'em.

[purri]

Well named as they made sandwiches of Cook.

Yes, thank you. The Sandwich Islands were always a favourite of mine, although I do prefer the inhabitants name.

[AussieBarney]

There is only one state to live in, one of complete ignorance..

And failing that, New South Wales, Australia is the very definition of Parasdise.

[Mcjim]

Inebriation works for me.

[2MeterTroll]

dont tell them that they will start heading this way AGAIN!

the PNW sucks; go to Maine or Minnesota! dont stop here on your way to Hawaii our weather is bad and the food sucks, We have no beer. We are starving and need aid all the time. We still have inter city wars we live in mud huts that are dank and unattractive; if you come here you will never see the sun, its always cold!

David i may have covered up for you; next time remember that the PNW is fogged in and cold 364 days a year and the 365th day it snows.

What madness. Anyone who'll think for just a moment will realize that the best states are Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia <ducking now>

[Gerarddm]

If it were in my power I'd move Vermont down to where RI is, or out here. All it needs is some saltwater coast, and
e perfetto. Done.

[ChaseKenyon]

Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are not states. They are Maritime Provinces. .......... or at least that is what I'd like to think.

+42

[johnw]

According to CNBC:

1) North Dakota / Minnesota (tied)
2) Maine
3) Vermont
4) Hawaii
5) New Hampshire

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...#slide=1211741

I've been to them all. Maine and Hawaii are my picks, but really, I'm fine where I am.

[leikec]

The Grand Traverse Bay area of Michigan is hard to beat.


St. Louis is a pretty nice area, if I have to be stuck in Missouri. I miss the big water though....


Grand Rapids, MI is a nice town.


I've spent about 6 hours in Vermont...it looked like very nice place to live.


San Francisco looks like a nice place to live if you have money.

Jeff C

[BrianW]

Don't know how Hawaii made the short list. The others mentioned are pretty nice.

[michigangeorge]

The Grand Traverse Bay area of Michigan is hard to beat.












Jeff C

Jeff, please delete this post - let them think all of Michigan is like Detroit. Basically anything south of the 45th parallel is northern Ohio anyway :-)

[bob winter]

I notice Florida didn't make the list. How surprising. Please note sarcastic content.

[George Jung]

It's a bit like having a great Professor - the saying is 'if ya have a great Prof, shut up about it, or they'll get rid of them'. Too true.

There are some wonderful places to live - but I haven't. Being close to family takes precedence; and moving all of them, wholesale, is a bit.... challenging. I always thought a late-career binge that involved doing locums, around the country (or world - why not?) would be a hoot - live in an area for a year or so, work / play / spend all you made - it could work! The Big Apple seems an obvious choice. But living coastal, and getting to sail - that would be a dream.

So... any of you sailers need a deckhand?

[Mrleft8]

Minnesota mosquitoes are biggerer, and meanerer than Vermont, Maine, or New Hampster mosquitoes. They don't bother flying. They drive Ford vans equipped with a complete phlebotomy lab, and just insert a pic line directly into your aorta.
If Vermont was in the Caribbean, I'd move back there....

[John Bell]

I look at the list at the top of this thread and think "there's no way I'd ever want to live in any of those places." I'm a warm weather guy and the climate in five out the six states mentioned would be a major turn-off. And I don't think I'd fit in with the culture in Hawaii, so it's out.

All the best state, city, town, country lists are always fun to consider even though they are in reality meaningless. The problem with them is the methodology the people use to put together the rankings. They usually gather a bunch of statistics from various sources and apply their own weighting to the various factors they've decided to use to figure out what's 'best'. Not only is their weighting of the factors very subjective and infected with personal predjudices, so are their choice of factors. The factors and weightings of those factors I think are important to determine where is the best place for me to live would certainly be different from yours. Then there are the intangibles of living in particular place such as whether or not you would feel at home the local culture, whether or not the landscape is appealing, whether or not a place feels like "home." Another thing to consider is the the "it's nice place to live but I would not want to visit" syndrome. Just because as a visitor you find some place boring or uninspiring, does not mean it's a bad place to live. Where I live is kind of like that. This place can be deadly dull to visit, but it's a pretty nice place to raise a family, to make friends, and to enjoy life.

Just because I wouldn't rank the states above particularly high doesn't mean they are bad places. I've been to all of them except ND and HI, and found much to commend about them. They just don't tick the list of the things I personally value as much as other places.

[leikec]

Minnesota mosquitoes are biggerer, and meanerer than Vermont, Maine, or New Hampster mosquitoes. They don't bother flying. They drive Ford vans equipped with a complete phlebotomy lab, and just insert a pic line directly into your aorta.
If Vermont was in the Caribbean, I'd move back there....

Minnesota mosquitoes are simply Michigan mosquitoes who were driven away from the herd....

Jeff C

[htom]

Quick, turn off the porch lights and draw the curtains. Maybe they'll go away and leave us in peace.

Go away! Its too cold here. You'd hate it!


Heh heh heh

Hush. This place is supposed to be a secret.

[Kaa]

By the way, what's the Bilge opinion of the Canadian side, specifically the Georgian Bay / Muskoka Lakes area? Is it built up with tony summer houses?

Kaa

[Mad Scientist]

What madness. Anyone who'll think for just a moment will realize that the best states are Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia <ducking now>

Canadians east of the Rockies refer to B.C. as British California, or Lotusland, or La-la land...when we feel like taking a break from picking on Toronto.

Tom

[switters]

Glad Colorado stayed out of the top 5. Fires, floods and freaks. Sadly the rest of country will be just like Colorado in 2016 when you have to answer to president Hickenlooper.

[Paul Pless]

and freaks

only in Boulder though, right?

[bob winter]

By the way, what's the Bilge opinion of the Canadian side, specifically the Georgian Bay / Muskoka Lakes area? Is it built up with tony summer houses?

Kaa

Unless you define Muskoka as extending to somewhere just south of North Bay, the prices are certainly more that I would be willing to pay. All very nice. Lake of Bays and Lake Rosseau are beyond belief, so are the prices.

[Kaa]

Unless you define Muskoka as extending to somewhere just south of North Bay, the prices are certainly more that I would be willing to pay. All very nice. Lake of Bays and Lake Rosseau are beyond belief, so are the prices.

How about Parry Sound and north to French River -- does it get better? Does the shore at some point become undeveloped or it's all summer houses?

Kaa

[switters]

only in Boulder though, right?

And northern Colorado Springs, the cultural counter weight to CU that keeps the state from tipping over.


Having lived on Oahu and spending some vacation time in BC I would choose Bella Bella over Kailua any day. When I'm made president for life we can work something out with americas trucker hat.

[switters]

New term I just saw for one of Colorado's famous outdoor activities, black water rafting. ouch

[spirit]

We need some better questions! E.G.:

Which state has the nicest warm clear water? Florida?
Which state has the most sensible health care system? Massachusetts?
Which state has the most beautiful mountains? ______________?

[leikec]

We need some better questions! E.G.:

Which state has the nicest warm clear water? Florida?
Which state has the most sensible health care system? Massachusetts?
Which state has the most beautiful mountains? ______________?

Michigan has warm water...sometimes.

Jeff C

[Garret]

Which state has the most beautiful mountains? ______________?

Depends on what you like. Colorado, Wyoming & Montana are impressive. Washington down through California ain't too shabby either. New Hampshire's are mighty nice in a more mellow way - as are the Adirondacks in NY. Anyone who's ever traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway knows that VA & NC have some pretty nice ones too.

Much as I love VT, the Green's are quite a ways down the list.