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The full list of 76 cities is available here: https://smartasset.com/data-studies/dd-what-100000-is-worth-2023 https://smartasset.com/data-studies/dd-what-10000

by malshe 4y ago

The full list of 76 cities is available here: https://smartasset.com/data-studies/dd-what-100000-is-worth-2023 https://smartasset.com/data-studies/dd-what-100000-is-worth-... As a proud Texan, I am very happy to see so many Texas cities ranked high on affordability. I often hear people say we should also consider the quality of life in expensive cities. Although I agree that quality of life on standard metrics might be better in NYC, SF, or Honolulu, I would rather save my money living in Texas and take vacations to pricy places.

Ancalagon 4y ago
Crazy to me how expensive my home state of AZ has gotten in the past few years. Growing up my friends and I believed it would remain cheaper than other states due to the hot weather, but homes prices have trended very high in the last few years for many of the more desirable areas. I feel like AZ used to be in the top ten for lists like these.
- qball 4y ago
  >Growing up my friends and I believed it would remain cheaper than other states due to the hot weather Interestingly, Arizona in particular is famous for its "snowbirds"; Canadians (and likely those living in the northern US states as well) tend to buy houses there to get more than 4 hours of sunshine in the winter.
- neilv 4y ago
  How are people in Arizona thinking about climate change? Does it seem rational (for people planning to live at least a few more decades) given the current state of science? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Arizona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Arizona
  - Ancalagon 4y ago
    There are many opinions, and I don't know the science well enough to tell you what the outcome will be long term. One town recently had its water supply cut off. But as far as I understand this wasn't so much because the town was running out of water but because the parent city it took its water from was growing very fast and needed that water for its new residents. There was something in the contract that allowed the parent city to do this. The Phoenix metro in particular has very advanced water recycling tech, most of the water that is taken in gets reused as long as its not used for irrigation (admittedly likely the majority of the water use in the city). Long term this means water will become more expensive, and the many golf resorts and hotels will probably need to change their lawns to fake turf or close up entirely. Most residences don't actually use that much water for irrigation, as a lot of the landscaping is desert-based already. Recent heavy rainstorms have lead some to believe the Sonoran desert may actually get wetter as climate change happens. And with this the state is planning to use its aquifers to store the water from those storms for the dry years. The Colorado river is low, but I believe Arizona has higher water rights than e.g. California. Meaning Southern California would lose its main water supply before the Phoenix metro would. On the other hand, I actually know at least one couple that decided to leave a couple years ago because of their concerns over water and climate change. There's also concerns regarding the water use of the exploding chip manufacturing industry being built there. These companies will require a lot of water and be able to pay the premiums even over residents.
  - treeman79 4y ago
    Remember that climate politicians are buying properties on the beach. They have no actual concern.
- malshe 4y ago
  If AZ used to be in the top 10, it has certainly fallen down a lot as it is now in 40s. Interestingly, Boise also shows up near AZ cities, which I guess happened due to the Californians moving there during the pandemic.
  - Ancalagon 4y ago
    Yup. I own a home in AZ and the prices have doubled in 6 years. Despite interest rate increases, they haven't really come down. Most of that is immigration from CA I'm assuming.
jeffbee 4y ago
Texas, with the notable exception of San Antonio, builds housing at an exceptional pace compared to coastal cities. That's their big affordability secret, and many big cities in Texas have plenty of cultural amenities. Houston, where I lived before moving to SF, has a symphony and opera and ballet and museums, food and entertainment and dancing and all that. And in my experience there you can participate in the culture as a normal person unlike in SF where you are always bidding against hundreds of literal billionaires.
- malshe 4y ago
  For me having a large house close to my workplace is a huge game changer. I get to spend a lot of time playing with my daughter outside on my property. I play pickle ball, jump on trampoline, etc. all on my property while living 15 minutes away from my office.
tayo42 4y ago
Living for vacations feels just like living for the weekend. And in the US how many weeks is that really? Feels unfullfilling.
- explaininjs 4y ago
  They didn't say they were "living for vacations", just "saving money and taking vacations to pricier places". They could very easily be living for the moment, enjoying every day, and still taking some time to go out exploring other more expensive areas now and then. It's a common fallacy of the new yorker to think they're the only one who has figured out living, and everyone else wants to be where they are but can't afford it. (not saying this was you, but it's something I've heard many a time)
  - malshe 4y ago
    Yes, that’s what I meant.
  - tayo42 4y ago
    > I agree that quality of life on standard metrics might be better in NYC, SF, or Honolulu, I would rather save my money living in Texas and take vacations to pricy places. How else do you interpret that other then they are sacrificing day to day quality of life in favor of more expensive vacations? The post admits that these cheaper towns have a measurably lower qol
    - explaininjs 4y ago
      You're interpreting on standard metrics as on metrics I agree with, which is unfounded.

by malshe 4y ago

Ancalagon 4y ago

Crazy to me how expensive my home state of AZ has gotten in the past few years. Growing up my friends and I believed it would remain cheaper than other states due to the hot weather, but homes prices have trended very high in the last few years for many of the more desirable areas. I feel like AZ used to be in the top ten for lists like these.

qball 4y ago
>Growing up my friends and I believed it would remain cheaper than other states due to the hot weather Interestingly, Arizona in particular is famous for its "snowbirds"; Canadians (and likely those living in the northern US states as well) tend to buy houses there to get more than 4 hours of sunshine in the winter.
neilv 4y ago
How are people in Arizona thinking about climate change? Does it seem rational (for people planning to live at least a few more decades) given the current state of science? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Arizona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Arizona
- Ancalagon 4y ago
  There are many opinions, and I don't know the science well enough to tell you what the outcome will be long term. One town recently had its water supply cut off. But as far as I understand this wasn't so much because the town was running out of water but because the parent city it took its water from was growing very fast and needed that water for its new residents. There was something in the contract that allowed the parent city to do this. The Phoenix metro in particular has very advanced water recycling tech, most of the water that is taken in gets reused as long as its not used for irrigation (admittedly likely the majority of the water use in the city). Long term this means water will become more expensive, and the many golf resorts and hotels will probably need to change their lawns to fake turf or close up entirely. Most residences don't actually use that much water for irrigation, as a lot of the landscaping is desert-based already. Recent heavy rainstorms have lead some to believe the Sonoran desert may actually get wetter as climate change happens. And with this the state is planning to use its aquifers to store the water from those storms for the dry years. The Colorado river is low, but I believe Arizona has higher water rights than e.g. California. Meaning Southern California would lose its main water supply before the Phoenix metro would. On the other hand, I actually know at least one couple that decided to leave a couple years ago because of their concerns over water and climate change. There's also concerns regarding the water use of the exploding chip manufacturing industry being built there. These companies will require a lot of water and be able to pay the premiums even over residents.
- treeman79 4y ago
  Remember that climate politicians are buying properties on the beach. They have no actual concern.
malshe 4y ago
If AZ used to be in the top 10, it has certainly fallen down a lot as it is now in 40s. Interestingly, Boise also shows up near AZ cities, which I guess happened due to the Californians moving there during the pandemic.
- Ancalagon 4y ago
  Yup. I own a home in AZ and the prices have doubled in 6 years. Despite interest rate increases, they haven't really come down. Most of that is immigration from CA I'm assuming.

jeffbee 4y ago

Texas, with the notable exception of San Antonio, builds housing at an exceptional pace compared to coastal cities. That's their big affordability secret, and many big cities in Texas have plenty of cultural amenities. Houston, where I lived before moving to SF, has a symphony and opera and ballet and museums, food and entertainment and dancing and all that. And in my experience there you can participate in the culture as a normal person unlike in SF where you are always bidding against hundreds of literal billionaires.

malshe 4y ago
For me having a large house close to my workplace is a huge game changer. I get to spend a lot of time playing with my daughter outside on my property. I play pickle ball, jump on trampoline, etc. all on my property while living 15 minutes away from my office.

tayo42 4y ago

Living for vacations feels just like living for the weekend. And in the US how many weeks is that really? Feels unfullfilling.

explaininjs 4y ago
They didn't say they were "living for vacations", just "saving money and taking vacations to pricier places". They could very easily be living for the moment, enjoying every day, and still taking some time to go out exploring other more expensive areas now and then. It's a common fallacy of the new yorker to think they're the only one who has figured out living, and everyone else wants to be where they are but can't afford it. (not saying this was you, but it's something I've heard many a time)
- malshe 4y ago
  Yes, that’s what I meant.
- tayo42 4y ago
  > I agree that quality of life on standard metrics might be better in NYC, SF, or Honolulu, I would rather save my money living in Texas and take vacations to pricy places. How else do you interpret that other then they are sacrificing day to day quality of life in favor of more expensive vacations? The post admits that these cheaper towns have a measurably lower qol
  - explaininjs 4y ago
    You're interpreting on standard metrics as on metrics I agree with, which is unfounded.