I visited San Diego for the first time in 2014 and made it my goal to move there in the future. Luckily, my job made that dream a reality and I've been here for the last two years. It's an adjustment from Northern California, even from LA. Its a major city with a smaller feel and easy to travel. If you have the money or the right job, it is a wonderful place to be.
San Antonio is a beautiful town with its own distinct charm. I’ve only been there twice but I loved it. It has its own unique blend of cultures. True story. I was having a meal at a restaurant on the river walk. A waitress dropped her entire tray one the floor. While she walked back to get cleaning supplies, the customers at the table got on the floor, picked everything up and placed it on the tray before she could return. Quick edit. If you ever visit the area, spend some time downtown but make sure you find your way into hill country…..you will not regret it
I was stationed there as the keyboard player in the Air Force rock band and played all over SA (we did travel all over the state and into the bordering states for gigs as well) but I never grow tired of the feel of SA. La Margarita restaurant (invented fajitas) is incredible, and there's just so much unique culture and architecture. The Alamo is smack dab in the middle of downtown and people ask, "Is this the REAL Alamo?"
Wife and I know SanTone quite well!! Great restaurant is Mi Tierra in the spanish market. Also, make sure to hit Shiloh's deli. Best rueben you will ever have...and yes...I include NYC.
Oh yeah, Mi Tierra is a fave too. Another interestng place that's off the beaten path is La Fogata. It's got a nice ambience and the food is prepared quite differently from the typical fare. It's near 410 and Vance Jackson I think. I'm getting hungry, and I had mexican food for lunch!
San Diego is still the city I'd most want to live in, if I lived out west. I flew there twice for business conferences in the 90's, and just loved it. Reno might be nice. Lake Tahoe was the most beautiful place I've ever been, though I was on the California side.
@@JBoy340a I went to college at SDSU. I remember it could get a bit cold just before the winter break. I ended up working and retiring in the Silicon Valley. But I've been thinking about moving to the San Diego to retire down there instead of the SF Bay Area.
@@Rhaspun It is hard to argue with SD for retirement. It never gets really cold or really hot. And the beach can be pretty near if you have SV house money to spend. You have great options!
If your a millionaire then yea SD is like heaven. If not then your going to waste all your hard earned money on rent, taxes, gas and food not to mention spending all day and night sitting in traffic.
Briggs, I loved seeing your clip of the hot air balloon fest around Albuquerque. I was out west doing a study of architecture, and spent some time in The Land of Enchantment. I had no idea when I booked a room that I'd be quite accidentally treated to the sight of the balloons - everything from traditional globes to Champaign bottles, animals, planets...it was amazing, especially at dusk, when they did "Moonglow" where everyone lit their balloons up, though securely tethered to the ground. Magic stuff!
Briggs, I sure hope you are right about the Albuquerque rebirth. I have lived here most of my life (military brat born here and keep coming back) but right now this place is a hole. Crime has been insane since prior to covid and it just gets worse. Once we kick this mayor, things might have a chance of "rebirth". It is still beautiful and I would like it to stay that way.
Oh how I used to love Albuquerque! It’s pretty dangerous these days. But in general I absolutely love New Mexico! Best food and culture in this whole country. Beautiful too. I miss living there but instead we visit often since we’re only 4 hours away in flagstaff now
Currently in Reno, but looking at property in either Winnemucca or Elko. Northern Nevada is totally different from Las Vegas. Lots of outdoor activities
Thanks for the Albuquerque Love. My wife and I moved here 2 years ago and we Love it! Any time you want to visit we have a casita here for you. We live in the NW and it was very affordable. We have 4 seasons but not too hot and not too cold.
Another informative video!! All of these places look fantastic, but way out of my price range. I would love to visit every single location on this list!
Great video Briggs! Shoutout to my hometown of Meridian! I hate that place, but it is really nice and a good place to raise a family. So I get the appeal to some extent
Better air. When I moved west from NJ, my asthma cleared up halfway through Oklahoma; I haven't had to use my inhaler medicine now for 5 years. When I go back east to visit, I start wheezing and coughing up phlegm every morning, and need my inhaler several times a day. Plus, my house has increased in value from 50K to 180K since 2018, but empty land is still inexpensive, and you can get a pre-fab house for about 40K. So retire out west, Northern Arizona and New Mexico, low taxes, low prices, and if you want entertainment, Las Vegas is right up the road.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs. I cannot leave posts on you tube. I use to be able to and like the last few videos I can't. I get them on all other posts. Is there that you can do? Thanks
Greetings from Jackson County Oregon, Mr. Briggs. Great video as always. I'm glad to see that two of my favorite western cities made the list; Tuscon and Albuquerque. If you had done this list 15-20 years ago, Portland, Oregon would have been on the list. But unfortunately, Portland has become, well.... enough said.
Good list. I knew Los Boise, Idaho would be on the list. It is what it is. I have family living in Kuna. Some long time residents there are getting weary of the non-stop growth. Although their house has nearly doubled in value since they moved there many years ago. So they have benefitted from it. I tell them traffic in Boise is moderate compared to living in Seattle or even Portland. Los Boise is not that bad.
I did take the job in Compton, from 1998-2001. I'm white, and I didn't feel the least bit scared as long as I was there during daylight hours on normal work days. I also enjoyed visiting the little barbecue shacks for lunch, where I could get a half a chicken & a side of potato salad for like $7. But it was a different story on the weekends! I'd drive in on Monday and see fresh tire tracks in the road from street racing. And one day, all the local news vans started pouring in across the street, and we eventually figured out it was because there was a dead body in a parked car. Fun times!
We live in San Antonio and own a second home in Meridian, Idaho. Most newcomers to San Antonio would go up north to the Stone Oak area way before Leon Valley. Meridian is great as long as you can avoid Eagle Road during peak traffic hours.
San Diego, lived there 43 years during my adult life. Nice place to visit if you stay in Cardiff by the Sea, or Encinitas along the Coast Hwy. Don't go anywhere else. Get the beach vibe for a week, go to Seaside Market for groceries, and Swami's for a sunset, then go straight back home.
I lived in Cardiff by the Sea! I loved that place. Seaside Market wasn't what it is today--it was small--and the area has gotten built up. Still beautiful and I love to stop there when I head south to SD.
Can you do a video on University towns, please? I'm a West Coaster so am most interested in that area. I never hear anything about Chico, CA and it seems like a great town!
Hey Briggs, I have been watching your videos for couple of years now and today I finally subscribed to your channel. I believe you publish unbiased original content that gives insights that we can't get easily without living there. You are one of the best. I would love you to do a direct comparison between bigger cities, not at state level. Like say NY vs LA, Denver Vs Minneapolis. Phoenix vs Columbus etc. And I mean by living in the larger metropolis area and not just the city municipal boundaries. Or maybe do a countdown of mega cities and mid size cities.
As an Arizona resident, the extremely wealthy neighborhood in Tucson, Catalina Foothills, is technically a part of the Tucson city limits, but it should be its own suburb. Tucson is affordable.
I agree about Catalina foothills. Only place I would live down that way. It’s so damn hot tho. I’m pretty lucky to be in flagstaff but damn it’s expensive here!
Hard to beat San Diego we have the weather the food beaches deserts mountains Mexico to the South ,things to do snow not to far away .Beautiful State ,parks museums zoo sea world wild animal park etc you will never get bored .I honestly can't think of a US city that beats San Diego .Never been to Miami or New York City so I don't know.
Boulder City, Nevada doesn’t have gambling. It also has a good zoning system, and controlled growth rate. Both vestiges of it being a government camp, and having a city government charter written by the engineers, accountants, and attorneys of the Bureau of reclamation.
It's good to see colorado springs on this list in terms of geography if you want a big city and want to be close to the mountains colorado springs is much closer than Denver.
I look at this list shaking my head. Housing not affordable for most people now, prices only continue to rise. Most concerning issue is lack of water. Water shortages will also get worse in years to come.
Seattle doesn't have good weather, high homeless and crime rate and insanely high house prices. And Portland, Portland would be great if they swapped the populous with Boise or any other city, really.
Freezing one day, 50F the next, that's Salt Lake Valley for you. I'll stick with Utah Valley, same temperature. Either place, winter is really inconsistent this year.
I've lived in the San Diego area for the past 45 years. La Jolla is beautiful but it does Not have the laid back attitude or friendly vibe that most of the rest of San Diego has. Great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!. Encinitas or Solana Beach would be better beach town choices. Inland choices would be Santee or Escondido. Love your videos
I LOVE Encinitas. There are parts of it along Coast 101 that look the same as it did 30 years ago. I really miss Moonlight beach. I sometimes regret moving away.
I lived in the Bay Area back in the eighties and loved it then. Would never move back there now. Or California until the government changes. Same with Colorado although Colorado Springs is very tempting.
I’m surprised nothing in the Phoenix area made your list? Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley all very affordable - compared to LA and San Diego, plus good jobs and low crime. Yes, insufferable heat in the summer, but not too cold in the winter! Show us some love! 💕 😂
I HATED Tucson when i lived there. Possibly due to being homeless....with 2 young kids. Im from Washington and we moved there cause my now ex husband was from there. Hate hate HATE the heat. Im glad i moved back to WA - with help from my parents and have been here since
Born, and raised in San Diego. Moved to Brookings, Oregon in 1993. Kept both homes, our daughter has San Diego, and we have a granny flat. Elon’s homes he’s designing are looking pretty good now.
Colorado spring might be a good place for someone to get a job but don’t count on that. Cost of living is high don’t move here without a job lined up already. It’s very expensive here and if you come without a job that can pay the CoL you will end up on the street.
I love Belize! I visited Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico a few years ago. Almost like your trip to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico! Dude, the Mayan sites!!! I'm also Irish and Scandinavian and I hate the heat and the sun, lol.
Briggs, I'm from LA too (Redondo Beach), but I would have to disagree with you about Manhattan Beach being the wealthiest. It's up there, but I have to go with Rolling Hills and the Palos Verdes area. Maybe even Playa del Rey.
Lived in Denver, COS, and currently ABQ. Loved all the cities but probably Denver the least due to cost, overcrowding, and lack of culture. But the west always does it best!
We lived in Meridian, ID for three months while looking for our retirement home. Nice, but growing too fast. We ended up four miles outside of Middleton and are astounded at the number of Californian’s here. Probably three quarters of the people we meet aren’t native. Biggest surprise for us was how mild winters are compared to what we expected. We get a foot of snow average per year and winter temps get down to 15-20 degrees regularly. We bought all sorts of winter gear and don’t really use it. Los Angeles?
I'm from Reno NV and I saw in the local news the other day that the median home price for 12/2023 was 620,000. I was looking for the article to attach it here, but couldn't find it.
Your number 1 just so happens to be my number 1. If I had the money but I don’t. So I settled for Savannah GA. Hey it doesn’t snow here so I’m half way there. But it sure isn’t San Diego.
I have been to about all on this list . I absolutely love Tucson , great to visit but due to the climate I couldn’t handle living there. Going to see the Old Tucson Studios where Rio Bravo was filmed is on my bucket list. I love Salt Lake City and Utah in general,Perfect mixture of mountains and desert . Although I love Boise , my favorite place in Idaho is Mountain Home. As far as New Mexico goes , I love Santa Rosa , Las Cruces , and Alamogordo. I love Southern California for sure , just not to want to live there. San Antonio is in my opinion the best area in the state of Texas. I would have to say my favorite city on this list though would be Colorado Springs. Perfect climate for a person like me , beautiful mountains and wildlife, and still close enough to Denver for me to attend Broncos and Avalanche games
I really like most of your videos. And this is no exception, except for 1 city. I love their hot air balloons it is great but their high crime rate is no joke.
San Diego resident here - Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Del mar - beautiful areas and super family friendly. But yeah, if you have the money. 1700 sq. ft "duplexes" (and not particularly impressive) are sitting at $1.2M. These super cheap "town homes" down the street (1300 square foot, no yards) that are far less appealing than our apartments are asking just under $800,000. The moral around here is SO low for most people who don't previously own a home, and those pulling it offer - as I found out - are strangled with credit and hardly ever home to enjoy it. Even people I know with 6 figure double incomes are stressing because they can't really save much. I love where we live. San Diego is amazing and I hope we never need to leave. But the living cost has many of our residents moving away...and I find myself on Zillow now and then.
Says Denver is great, tells ypu to live in a town almost an hour away lol. As someone who currently lives in the briargate area of Colorado springs, its definitely nice but the crime is starting to creep up from the south side of the city. Not saying its terrible right now, but down the road it might be so fyi if ypu plan on moving here.
In yr video on Reno you said schools are decent. I live in Reno. You can find various ranking numbers but the most recent I could find tanks Nevada schools between 38 and 49 in US. Reno schools are Washoe Valley Schools and ranked 5th best in state. These. Numbers do not look decent to me. Again, I know stats can be found many places.
I used to be represented in an art gallery in La Joya some years ago and my prices were marked up at least four times as high as any other gallery I was represented in any place else in the country but living there even then was way above my income level. I can only imagine how high it is now. It is a beautiful little town but good luck finding a place to live. As far as Albequerque goes. I wouldn't live in that place if you paid me to. The crime is horrible there, why do you think the cost of living is so low there?
Really like your vids and as a decade-long resident of SLC I appreciate how you generally praise the city but can you please stop talking about how BRUTALLY cold it is ?? The number of days we get in the single digits can also be counted in single digits.. Have you been to Montana or Wyoming, anywhere in the midwest ? SLC has super mild winters in the valley
I am just saying it is cold when I am there and I can only fit so much information into 20 minute video. Besides, I am sure most people understand it isn't freezing half of the year.
I live in Calif. and was born and raised there, specifically the suburbs east of the Oakland tunnel. Fairly nice place to live great weather, plenty of things to do, close to the big cities, a pretty awesome deal. Crime going up some out here in the 'burbs, but in most places the crime rate is far from terrible. Biggest problem is moving INTO CA, or even from one place to another in-state. Every time a place is sold, the property tax is fully re-evaluated while longtime real-estate owners stay at their old rate. In other words, someone who has lived in a house they bought in 1968 for $30k and still paying property taxes based on that value could very well be living right next to someone in a virtually identical house that is paying property taxes based on a $900k value, just because he bought the place last year. And as far as I know, there is no way around this for any recent home buyer. This is all because of Proposition 13, which was passed sometime in the mid-70's. I have heard, but can't verify, that even if you've live in a place a long time, but do a major remodel, your taxes may get remodeled, too. The tax percentage compared to other states isn't really that high, but since property value is REALLY high, tax totals are also high. I am renting a room, but if I ever decide I want to get my own place, there is zero chance I'd be able to afford to stay in CA.
My brother remodeled his house which is in Sunnyvale. It was a huge remodel. More of doing upgrades and added a fence so his property taxes didn't jump up tremendously. It's right down the street from the new Apple campus. He bought it back in the late 70s for less than $60k. I don't why some people would have an issue because a neighbor who hasn't moved around is paying a much lower property value. People keep on moving to get a bigger and more expensive house so expect to pay a higher property tax.
Salt Lake City does have a dark side. Air pollution. The Great Salt Lake level is low due to drought, and that has exposed dry salt flats. When the wind picks up, the salt dust becomes airborne. Combine that with the industrial pollution there and Salt Lake City's air can get pretty bad.
The Best place to live here in US is Texas..the weather is good and cost of living is so affordable ❤..I've been to Houston and Dallas and New Mexico....they are so amazing 🎉
Didn't think San Antonio was part of the west. Also, I just realized how big downtown San Diego is. I can't believe how big the Los Angeles metroplex is, and yet its downtown is very small. I also just realized the nickname of the town I live in in the metroplex that's not in this list.
Briggs 🙂 you say : "Be nice to each other" faster than you used to , I just wanted to say it doesn't sound as heartfelt and I am just pointing it out for you to notice and see my point , it's not an insult , I don't think you know this. . .
I loved Tucson and miss it. Beautiful area with cool plant and animal life. Getting a good job seemed tough. I’d love to move out west again. Any towns where you can buy a condo for say under $120k in a decent area? Tucson used to be that way but I don’t think is anymore.
I'm curious about your reason for heading to Galveston. That's where I live until I get moved back to Utah or somewhere up north. My family is also from Norway and Ireland and global warming is kicking my butt most of the year down here.
Sis & BIL moved from Silicon Valley to San Diego for forced early retirement reasons. Stayed in SD for year; didn't like socal in general and missed norcal so moved from SD to Petaluma (Sonoma Co.) and logistics of living closer to San Francisco vs. further from LA. First world problems I guess.
Damn- you had to go and name the place that's at the top of my list of places to flee to one day. Hopefully most people will bail out of this video before they get to 2/3 through the list 😅
I was thinking about moving to Vernal or somewhere in the Heber Valley in Utah, maybe Midway or maybe Wyoming or Idaho. Those three, I think, would feel like home while not being as expensive and not as populated as Colorado, and it's expensive in this state. I honestly thought Salt Lake City would be cheaper than Colorado Springs.
I visited San Diego for the first time in 2014 and made it my goal to move there in the future. Luckily, my job made that dream a reality and I've been here for the last two years. It's an adjustment from Northern California, even from LA. Its a major city with a smaller feel and easy to travel. If you have the money or the right job, it is a wonderful place to be.
San Antonio is a beautiful town with its own distinct charm. I’ve only been there twice but I loved it. It has its own unique blend of cultures.
True story. I was having a meal at a restaurant on the river walk. A waitress dropped her entire tray one the floor. While she walked back to get cleaning supplies, the customers at the table got on the floor, picked everything up and placed it on the tray before she could return.
Quick edit. If you ever visit the area, spend some time downtown but make sure you find your way into hill country…..you will not regret it
I was stationed there as the keyboard player in the Air Force rock band and played all over SA (we did travel all over the state and into the bordering states for gigs as well) but I never grow tired of the feel of SA. La Margarita restaurant (invented fajitas) is incredible, and there's just so much unique culture and architecture. The Alamo is smack dab in the middle of downtown and people ask, "Is this the REAL Alamo?"
Wife and I know SanTone quite well!! Great restaurant is Mi Tierra in the spanish market. Also, make sure to hit Shiloh's deli. Best rueben you will ever have...and yes...I include NYC.
Oh yeah, Mi Tierra is a fave too. Another interestng place that's off the beaten path is La Fogata. It's got a nice ambience and the food is prepared quite differently from the typical fare. It's near 410 and Vance Jackson I think. I'm getting hungry, and I had mexican food for lunch!
La Fogata is so good!
Yep! Thanks for the validation!
San Diego is still the city I'd most want to live in, if I lived out west. I flew there twice for business conferences in the 90's, and just loved it. Reno might be nice. Lake Tahoe was the most beautiful place I've ever been, though I was on the California side.
San Diego has the best weather. 50-80 degrees year round. Sunny most days
@@JBoy340a I went to college at SDSU. I remember it could get a bit cold just before the winter break. I ended up working and retiring in the Silicon Valley. But I've been thinking about moving to the San Diego to retire down there instead of the SF Bay Area.
@@Rhaspun It is hard to argue with SD for retirement. It never gets really cold or really hot. And the beach can be pretty near if you have SV house money to spend. You have great options!
Downtown Reno is a shithole.
If your a millionaire then yea SD is like heaven. If not then your going to waste all your hard earned money on rent, taxes, gas and food not to mention spending all day and night sitting in traffic.
San Diego born and raised still live here. I field trip like a tourist. It’s a blast here and it’s beautiful.
Love that you mentioned Tucson…we just bought there six months ago and in Poets Square. I’m now a realtor here so I’m loving it.
Briggs, I loved seeing your clip of the hot air balloon fest around Albuquerque. I was out west doing a study of architecture, and spent some time in The Land of Enchantment. I had no idea when I booked a room that I'd be quite accidentally treated to the sight of the balloons - everything from traditional globes to Champaign bottles, animals, planets...it was amazing, especially at dusk, when they did "Moonglow" where everyone lit their balloons up, though securely tethered to the ground. Magic stuff!
Briggs, I sure hope you are right about the Albuquerque rebirth. I have lived here most of my life (military brat born here and keep coming back) but right now this place is a hole. Crime has been insane since prior to covid and it just gets worse. Once we kick this mayor, things might have a chance of "rebirth". It is still beautiful and I would like it to stay that way.
@@strang3rsthingsI hope you get your beautiful city back. Vote!!
Oh how I used to love Albuquerque! It’s pretty dangerous these days. But in general I absolutely love New Mexico! Best food and culture in this whole country. Beautiful too. I miss living there but instead we visit often since we’re only 4 hours away in flagstaff now
SAN DIEG❤!!! I grew up in La Mesa. No complaints.
I moved to Elko, NV for work. A small town, but right in the middle of most of these. Being from New England, it has been great!
Good to hear about Elko. The one thing I knew about Elko is that it's the closest place to Salt Lake City where gambling is legal.
Currently in Reno, but looking at property in either Winnemucca or Elko. Northern Nevada is totally different from Las Vegas. Lots of outdoor activities
Great list, I love living in San Diego so much to do and our weather is warm and beautiful!
Thanks for the Albuquerque Love. My wife and I moved here 2 years ago and we Love it! Any time you want to visit we have a casita here for you. We live in the NW and it was very affordable. We have 4 seasons but not too hot and not too cold.
Another informative video!! All of these places look fantastic, but way out of my price range. I would love to visit every single location on this list!
You should! Thanks for watching Amy.
Great video Briggs!
Shoutout to my hometown of Meridian! I hate that place, but it is really nice and a good place to raise a family. So I get the appeal to some extent
I love the Western side of the US. Way more laid back and less suffocating.
Me too
Better air. When I moved west from NJ, my asthma cleared up halfway through Oklahoma; I haven't had to use my inhaler medicine now for 5 years. When I go back east to visit, I start wheezing and coughing up phlegm every morning, and need my inhaler several times a day. Plus, my house has increased in value from 50K to 180K since 2018, but empty land is still inexpensive, and you can get a pre-fab house for about 40K. So retire out west, Northern Arizona and New Mexico, low taxes, low prices, and if you want entertainment, Las Vegas is right up the road.
Y’alls so right!
Yeah, I've been everywhere. "The west is the best" - a lot of people and Jim Morrison, RIP.
The west is the best
Another great video thanks Briggs!
Glad you enjoyed it
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs. I cannot leave posts on you tube. I use to be able to and like the last few videos I can't. I get them on all other posts. Is there that you can do? Thanks
Love your lists. It sounds like you spend a lot of time doing your research.
Greetings from Jackson County Oregon, Mr. Briggs. Great video as always. I'm glad to see that two of my favorite western cities made the list; Tuscon and Albuquerque. If you had done this list 15-20 years ago, Portland, Oregon would have been on the list. But unfortunately, Portland has become, well.... enough said.
When I lived in Portland, OR 30 years ago, the city was number one!
Hello from Medford 😊
@@lorettaolson8748 And hello to you. It's good to meet another person living in southern Oregon.
Good list. I knew Los Boise, Idaho would be on the list. It is what it is. I have family living in Kuna. Some long time residents there are getting weary of the non-stop growth. Although their house has nearly doubled in value since they moved there many years ago. So they have benefitted from it. I tell them traffic in Boise is moderate compared to living in Seattle or even Portland. Los Boise is not that bad.
I live in the Boise area, been here since 2011 and grew up in eastern Oregon. It has definitely changed over the years.
Unless you own more than 1 house, how did they benefit from it? Every house around them went up too.
Salt Lake sucks. Don't move here.
I did take the job in Compton, from 1998-2001. I'm white, and I didn't feel the least bit scared as long as I was there during daylight hours on normal work days. I also enjoyed visiting the little barbecue shacks for lunch, where I could get a half a chicken & a side of potato salad for like $7. But it was a different story on the weekends! I'd drive in on Monday and see fresh tire tracks in the road from street racing. And one day, all the local news vans started pouring in across the street, and we eventually figured out it was because there was a dead body in a parked car. Fun times!
compton is nothing like it was then. Its probably safer than atlanta, houston, dallas or orlando these days
@@SA-hz1rs I road on the bus through Watts to my hjob in downtown LA in college.
That’s a nice, radioactive green shirt you’re wearing in the thumbnail, buddy!
Another great video as always though!
Thanks!
We live in San Antonio and own a second home in Meridian, Idaho. Most newcomers to San Antonio would go up north to the Stone Oak area way before Leon Valley. Meridian is great as long as you can avoid Eagle Road during peak traffic hours.
San Diego, lived there 43 years during my adult life. Nice place to visit if you stay in Cardiff by the Sea, or Encinitas along the Coast Hwy. Don't go anywhere else. Get the beach vibe for a week, go to Seaside Market for groceries, and Swami's for a sunset, then go straight back home.
I lived in Cardiff by the Sea! I loved that place. Seaside Market wasn't what it is today--it was small--and the area has gotten built up. Still beautiful and I love to stop there when I head south to SD.
Can you do a video on University towns, please? I'm a West Coaster so am most interested in that area. I never hear anything about Chico, CA and it seems like a great town!
I live in Chico, and it really is a great town.
Hey Briggs, I have been watching your videos for couple of years now and today I finally subscribed to your channel. I believe you publish unbiased original content that gives insights that we can't get easily without living there. You are one of the best. I would love you to do a direct comparison between bigger cities, not at state level. Like say NY vs LA, Denver Vs Minneapolis. Phoenix vs Columbus etc. And I mean by living in the larger metropolis area and not just the city municipal boundaries. Or maybe do a countdown of mega cities and mid size cities.
I loved living in San Diego (Oceanside). I was 1/2 a mile from the beach. I moved to Seattle a couple decades ago to be near family.
This is a great video. I really appreciate including the good neighborhoods.
This is a great list of wonderful places. I want to eventually leave the NYC area and move to San Diego.
That’s exactly what I did. A good idea a little $$ but worth it
If you move to San Diego , don't come here and vote Democrat
As an Arizona resident, the extremely wealthy neighborhood in Tucson, Catalina Foothills, is technically a part of the Tucson city limits, but it should be its own suburb. Tucson is affordable.
We almost moved there but chose Kingman instead. Love Tucson but the road system isn’t what they need.
I agree about Catalina foothills. Only place I would live down that way. It’s so damn hot tho. I’m pretty lucky to be in flagstaff but damn it’s expensive here!
@@aimeekreutzer-malkawi here in Phoenix, it is definitely hot, but we don’t have to shovel sunshine.
Live fulltime in a rv, we spend most of our winters in Marana, just outside of Tucson.
Hard to beat San Diego we have the weather the food beaches deserts mountains Mexico to the South ,things to do snow not to far away .Beautiful State ,parks museums zoo sea world wild animal park etc you will never get bored .I honestly can't think of a US city that beats San Diego .Never been to Miami or New York City so I don't know.
MIAMI is a dump. So overrated. Bleeding population, fast.
Miami sucks
Yes but SD is less affordable than most of these places
Good selection of cities. I've been to each of them, and agree with your reasons for selecting them.
Boulder City, Nevada doesn’t have gambling. It also has a good zoning system, and controlled growth rate. Both vestiges of it being a government camp, and having a city government charter written by the engineers, accountants, and attorneys of the Bureau of reclamation.
Neither does Panaca
love visiting Boulder City.
You should have mentioned Tesla for Reno. They have a giga factory there and they're always hiring.
Cant believe he missed all company's out in USA Parkway
It's good to see colorado springs on this list in terms of geography if you want a big city and want to be close to the mountains colorado springs is much closer than Denver.
It’s become terribly overpriced in any of the decent areas
This video is useful, thanks for your job
You are welcome
I look at this list shaking my head. Housing not affordable for most people now, prices only continue to rise.
Most concerning issue is lack of water. Water shortages will also get worse in years to come.
No Oregon or Washington. Surprised. I live in Washington.
Seattle doesn't have good weather, high homeless and crime rate and insanely high house prices. And Portland, Portland would be great if they swapped the populous with Boise or any other city, really.
Freezing one day, 50F the next, that's Salt Lake Valley for you. I'll stick with Utah Valley, same temperature. Either place, winter is really inconsistent this year.
I've lived in the San Diego area for the past 45 years. La Jolla is beautiful but it does Not have the laid back attitude or friendly vibe that most of the rest of San Diego has. Great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!. Encinitas or Solana Beach would be better beach town choices. Inland choices would be Santee or Escondido. Love your videos
I LOVE Encinitas. There are parts of it along Coast 101 that look the same as it did 30 years ago. I really miss Moonlight beach. I sometimes regret moving away.
sis in law just moved to kaysville, its pricey.., way more than she expected.
another great video Briggs
I lived in the Bay Area back in the eighties and loved it then. Would never move back there now. Or California until the government changes. Same with Colorado although Colorado Springs is very tempting.
COS resident. Can confirm. Love it here. I have lived all over
I’m considering visiting to see if I like it! :)
I’m surprised nothing in the Phoenix area made your list? Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley all very affordable - compared to LA and San Diego, plus good jobs and low crime. Yes, insufferable heat in the summer, but not too cold in the winter! Show us some love! 💕 😂
Phoenix has more crime than la
I HATED Tucson when i lived there. Possibly due to being homeless....with 2 young kids. Im from Washington and we moved there cause my now ex husband was from there. Hate hate HATE the heat. Im glad i moved back to WA - with help from my parents and have been here since
Briggs, you rock! Peace
Abq. Is rebuilding and improving. The city is actively working to improve,especially the down town area.
good to know. Might move there in the future.
Born, and raised in San Diego. Moved to Brookings, Oregon in 1993. Kept both homes, our daughter has San Diego, and we have a granny flat. Elon’s homes he’s designing are looking pretty good now.
Colorado spring might be a good place for someone to get a job but don’t count on that. Cost of living is high don’t move here without a job lined up already. It’s very expensive here and if you come without a job that can pay the CoL you will end up on the street.
I love Belize! I visited Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico a few years ago. Almost like your trip to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico! Dude, the Mayan sites!!! I'm also Irish and Scandinavian and I hate the heat and the sun, lol.
Briggs, I'm from LA too (Redondo Beach), but I would have to disagree with you about Manhattan Beach being the wealthiest. It's up there, but I have to go with Rolling Hills and the Palos Verdes area. Maybe even Playa del Rey.
I agree
briggs doesnt know anything about LA
@@SA-hz1rs LOL, he's FROM LA. Torrance I believe.
@@dietpepsivanilla3095 he talks like he knows nothing about it.
In Redondo Beach, the median family income is reported to be $118,545. On the other hand, Manhattan Beach had an average household income of $214,496.
❤❤❤😮😮😮😊😊😊 Briggs good job
I reccomend the basement tour at the Alamo.
Marana is actually pretty good for a more affordable option to Oro Valley around Tucson.
I know from visiting salt lake city there is a fine outdoor scene.
Lived in Denver, COS, and currently ABQ. Loved all the cities but probably Denver the least due to cost, overcrowding, and lack of culture. But the west always does it best!
We lived in Meridian, ID for three months while looking for our retirement home. Nice, but growing too fast. We ended up four miles outside of Middleton and are astounded at the number of Californian’s here. Probably three quarters of the people we meet aren’t native.
Biggest surprise for us was how mild winters are compared to what we expected.
We get a foot of snow average per year and winter temps get down to 15-20 degrees regularly. We bought all sorts of winter gear and don’t really use it.
Los Angeles?
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is on my bucket list
Interesting video. I think I'll stay at the Malibu ranch.
Malibu is in Los Angeles County, California. I live around the corner from you in WLV, Yeah, I`m going to stay also:)
I'm from Reno NV and I saw in the local news the other day that the median home price for 12/2023 was 620,000. I was looking for the article to attach it here, but couldn't find it.
GREETINGS FROM THE PPRC GREAT VIDEO LOVE THE WEST. Guess I’ll just pick Reno out of the group.🇺🇸🍺🍺
Don't forget Colorado Springs also is home to Stargate Command. 🤪
Surprised to not hear Tampa or St Petersburg, FL. Probably good reasons, but surprised
"Western US Cities"
To be honest. I always wanted to go to Pueblo Colorado- when we were kids, everything was mail order whatever to Pueblo Colorado 😅😂
The Government printing office is what I associate with Pueblo.
Your number 1 just so happens to be my number 1. If I had the money but I don’t. So I settled for Savannah GA. Hey it doesn’t snow here so I’m half way there. But it sure isn’t San Diego.
I have been to about all on this list . I absolutely love Tucson , great to visit but due to the climate I couldn’t handle living there. Going to see the Old Tucson Studios where Rio Bravo was filmed is on my bucket list. I love Salt Lake City and Utah in general,Perfect mixture of mountains and desert . Although I love Boise , my favorite place in Idaho is Mountain Home. As far as New Mexico goes , I love Santa Rosa , Las Cruces , and Alamogordo. I love Southern California for sure , just not to want to live there. San Antonio is in my opinion the best area in the state of Texas. I would have to say my favorite city on this list though would be Colorado Springs. Perfect climate for a person like me , beautiful mountains and wildlife, and still close enough to Denver for me to attend Broncos and Avalanche games
I really like most of your videos. And this is no exception, except for 1 city. I love their hot air balloons it is great but their high crime rate is no joke.
It can be hard finding a doctor, let alone a specialist in Albuquerque. Nice people there, though, and no one gets angry when you drive slowly!
All the places I love to vacation to and wish I could move to!
As a resident of Tucson, I approve of number 4. As a former resident of Albuquerque, I disapprove.
San Diego resident here - Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Del mar - beautiful areas and super family friendly. But yeah, if you have the money. 1700 sq. ft "duplexes" (and not particularly impressive) are sitting at $1.2M. These super cheap "town homes" down the street (1300 square foot, no yards) that are far less appealing than our apartments are asking just under $800,000. The moral around here is SO low for most people who don't previously own a home, and those pulling it offer - as I found out - are strangled with credit and hardly ever home to enjoy it. Even people I know with 6 figure double incomes are stressing because they can't really save much. I love where we live. San Diego is amazing and I hope we never need to leave. But the living cost has many of our residents moving away...and I find myself on Zillow now and then.
Says Denver is great, tells ypu to live in a town almost an hour away lol. As someone who currently lives in the briargate area of Colorado springs, its definitely nice but the crime is starting to creep up from the south side of the city. Not saying its terrible right now, but down the road it might be so fyi if ypu plan on moving here.
In yr video on Reno you said schools are decent. I live in Reno. You can find various ranking numbers but the most recent I could find tanks Nevada schools between 38 and 49 in US. Reno schools are Washoe Valley Schools and ranked 5th best in state. These. Numbers do not look decent to me. Again, I know stats can be found many places.
I used to be represented in an art gallery in La Joya some years ago and my prices were marked up at least four times as high as any other gallery I was represented in any place else in the country but living there even then was way above my income level. I can only imagine how high it is now. It is a beautiful little town but good luck finding a place to live.
As far as Albequerque goes. I wouldn't live in that place if you paid me to. The crime is horrible there, why do you think the cost of living is so low there?
Really like your vids and as a decade-long resident of SLC I appreciate how you generally praise the city but can you please stop talking about how BRUTALLY cold it is ?? The number of days we get in the single digits can also be counted in single digits..
Have you been to Montana or Wyoming, anywhere in the midwest ? SLC has super mild winters in the valley
I am just saying it is cold when I am there and I can only fit so much information into 20 minute video. Besides, I am sure most people understand it isn't freezing half of the year.
I live in Calif. and was born and raised there, specifically the suburbs east of the Oakland tunnel. Fairly nice place to live great weather, plenty of things to do, close to the big cities, a pretty awesome deal. Crime going up some out here in the 'burbs, but in most places the crime rate is far from terrible.
Biggest problem is moving INTO CA, or even from one place to another in-state. Every time a place is sold, the property tax is fully re-evaluated while longtime real-estate owners stay at their old rate. In other words, someone who has lived in a house they bought in 1968 for $30k and still paying property taxes based on that value could very well be living right next to someone in a virtually identical house that is paying property taxes based on a $900k value, just because he bought the place last year. And as far as I know, there is no way around this for any recent home buyer. This is all because of Proposition 13, which was passed sometime in the mid-70's. I have heard, but can't verify, that even if you've live in a place a long time, but do a major remodel, your taxes may get remodeled, too.
The tax percentage compared to other states isn't really that high, but since property value is REALLY high, tax totals are also high.
I am renting a room, but if I ever decide I want to get my own place, there is zero chance I'd be able to afford to stay in CA.
My brother remodeled his house which is in Sunnyvale. It was a huge remodel. More of doing upgrades and added a fence so his property taxes didn't jump up tremendously. It's right down the street from the new Apple campus. He bought it back in the late 70s for less than $60k. I don't why some people would have an issue because a neighbor who hasn't moved around is paying a much lower property value. People keep on moving to get a bigger and more expensive house so expect to pay a higher property tax.
born and raised for 55 years there. Left 6 mos ago and moved to Nevada.Less people, less drama and more things to do in my opinion,
New England might price me out someday, but I'll never leave on my own.
Sweating like I'm being interrogated by the KGB 🤣🤣🤣
San Diego, CA sunshine tax
How about doing one on the best place for veterans to live? VA hospital near by, military base near by which veterans can use the base exchange etc.
I moved from Cali my allergies were off the map there. Cities are too suffocating for me. I love rural America. You can keep the rive gauche
It's actually the opposite for me
Colo springs has no skiing nearby
Not a ski city
Salt Lake City does have a dark side. Air pollution. The Great Salt Lake level is low due to drought, and that has exposed dry salt flats. When the wind picks up, the salt dust becomes airborne. Combine that with the industrial pollution there and Salt Lake City's air can get pretty bad.
Salt Lake City is also a bowl that suffers from wicked inversions in the winter. Basically a worse version of LA.
Im bullish on buying in midwest cities. Bad climate, but cheap housing
How about Madison? Rochester, MN?
Love your videos❣️
The Best place to live here in US is Texas..the weather is good and cost of living is so affordable ❤..I've been to Houston and Dallas and New Mexico....they are so amazing 🎉
Didn't think San Antonio was part of the west. Also, I just realized how big downtown San Diego is. I can't believe how big the Los Angeles metroplex is, and yet its downtown is very small.
I also just realized the nickname of the town I live in in the metroplex that's not in this list.
LA has numerous downtown like areas
Could you do a video like this from the eastern US? If you already did I apologize I could not find it
Briggs 🙂 you say : "Be nice to each other" faster than you used to , I just wanted to say it doesn't sound as heartfelt and I am just pointing it out for you to notice and see my point , it's not an insult , I don't think you know this. . .
I hadn’t realized. Thank you
I’m sure glad you like to travel because I get to see it too! Thanks!
I loved Tucson and miss it. Beautiful area with cool plant and animal life. Getting a good job seemed tough. I’d love to move out west again. Any towns where you can buy a condo for say under $120k in a decent area? Tucson used to be that way but I don’t think is anymore.
🤣La Jolla, good luck with that
I'm curious about your reason for heading to Galveston. That's where I live until I get moved back to Utah or somewhere up north. My family is also from Norway and Ireland and global warming is kicking my butt most of the year down here.
The Olympic Training Center is in the middle of the city and is the former Ent AFB.
Lots of nice suburbs north of Denver.
Sis & BIL moved from Silicon Valley to San Diego for forced early retirement reasons. Stayed in SD for year; didn't like socal in general and missed norcal so moved from SD to Petaluma (Sonoma Co.) and logistics of living closer to San Francisco vs. further from LA. First world problems I guess.
The one time I went to Albuquerque, they happened to have the balloon festival.
I'm here in Los Angeles rolling my eyes so hard all you see is white and red.
What about Las Vegas
Damn- you had to go and name the place that's at the top of my list of places to flee to one day.
Hopefully most people will bail out of this video before they get to 2/3 through the list 😅
Briggs looking pretty yolked in the thumb
I think it's worth mentioning that Albuqerque, NM is also the home of Bugs Bunny!
I was thinking about moving to Vernal or somewhere in the Heber Valley in Utah, maybe Midway or maybe Wyoming or Idaho. Those three, I think, would feel like home while not being as expensive and not as populated as Colorado, and it's expensive in this state. I honestly thought Salt Lake City would be cheaper than Colorado Springs.