DC is crazy expensive but the Montgomery County area has some great magnet schools (don't know about normal public schools).Remnantofisrael wrote:Its funny- I've been told that NC isn't great for kids, and that Nashville is over-rated. Further, that DC area is either TERRIBLE or STUPID expensive (like the bigger cities).texanokie wrote:I also have a family, plus a background in geography/urban planning, and am well-traveled within the US, and based on what you're looking for, I'd offer the following recommendations:
1. Research Triangle area, NC (Duke, UNC, etc.)
2. Chicagoland (I would live in certain suburbs, though, for the schools, or plan on paying for private education; it does get cold here, though - much colder than CT)
3. Atlanta/Athens, GA (Emory, UGA)
4. Dallas or Austin, TX (Texas, SMU)
5. Los Angeles (living in either Orange County or San Gabriel Valley suburbs for schools)
6. Nashville, TN (Vandy)
7. Washington, DC (so long as you live in the Virginia or Montgomery County, MD suburbs)
I am a big fan of Athens, (Weaver D's ftw), hate atlanta with a fiery passion, and just don't understand how chicago works- my wife grew up there however so I trust her that the close-by suburbs don't fall prey to the "rotation" in, say, Brooklyn, where an area is nice, so bad elements move in, crime increases, education falls, and the community/friendlier/educated move to a new area.
There are some established suburbs of Chicago that will definitely not have a "rotation" problem, as their school systems are well-reputed and have been established for quite some time. Land taxes are expensive (assessment fees aren't so great for condos/townhomes either), but you could always rent until the money starts rolling in.