Wanting to move to new gaming city

[Meeki]

Here's a hint.. dont move to cleveland ohio. Lots of gamers in ohio... lots of good priced housing.... no jobs and bad schools oh also cold winters in the south and snowy ones up north... so if you really have the urge to move here go to columbus its in the middle of the state and isnt beaten down by the rust belt or next to kentucky like cincinatti

 

[SSquirrel]

Here's a hint.. dont move to cleveland ohio. Lots of gamers in ohio... lots of good priced housing.... no jobs and bad schools oh also cold winters in the south and snowy ones up north... so if you really have the urge to move here go to columbus its in the middle of the state and isnt beaten down by the rust belt or next to kentucky like cincinatti

Yeah I grew up on the Ohio/Kentucky border and the winters honestly weren't that bad, winters here in Iowa are worse. Lots of gamers near Iowa City (that's us!) but job market is made entirely of poo. Unless you have a masters degree or something. Iowa City is the most over educated city in the country. You wouldn't believe some of the jobs that they want 4 year degrees for.

Hagen

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Avoid Miami, cost of living is SUPER high, only one game store that's worthwhile (Outland Station) and its too small. There are gamers, but there's no organization or community among them.

AVOID MIAMI.

 

[Slovak DM]

Might help if you specified your profession.
As an example, I can see little employment for somebody in aquaculture in a landlocked state for instance.

IT sales and marketing, though I can apply those skills to other fields as well. I've also done retail management and sales.

 

[Elf Witch]

Avoid Miami, cost of living is SUPER high, only one game store that's worthwhile (Outland Station) and its too small. There are gamers, but there's no organization or community among them.

AVOID MIAMI.

I am north of you a little ways in Broward county Ft Lauderdale for non Floridians there are sevral gaming stores and a lot of Larps. Houses have gone through the roof and the job market is dismal. I have several people looking for games but they can't find a decent DM.

 

[Slovak DM]

Umm... where were you when I lived there??? Oh i see... middle TN... well I lived in Memphis for about 18 months and hated it... worst place in America, IMO.

I've lived in/around 3 major cities in my 28 years... Cleveland, Memphis, and Seattle.

But to answer your question I wouldn't move to any city based on gaming prospects... you're bound to find someone. Housing costs and job offers should be on the top of your priority list. Gaming gets a decent size of my time but I wouldn't let it dictate where I lived.

I put it first on my list because this a gaming site but it really comes farther down the list, housing costs are first, then job prospects, healthcare costs, educational system for my child, then gaming.

 

[jester47]

We have a great gaming community here in the seattle metro area, but no jobs and really high real estate prices.

Texas is a good bet. Dallas has a great housing market and a good gaming community. I would assume austin has one too. Higher housing prices in Austin. In Dallas you will drive a lot. Its a huge metroplaex.

Aaron.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

But originally I'm from south-east Wisconsin. The employment picture depends on what you're looking to do. Milwaukee has some opportunity, as do the smaller cities (though less so) and Chicago is nearby. Housing costs are reasonable and as far as gaming: I grew up less than 20 miles from Lake Geneva, original home of TSR and the birthplace of modern RPGs. There are many, many gamers.

I currently live in southeast Wisconsin, and as JimAde pointed out, in many respects it may fit the bill. There are a ton of gamers here, and at least five thriving stores (though of various sizes) in the greater Milwaukee area.

Just remember, they don't call it WisTAXsin for nothing. In the city of Milwaukee, you're looking at $3300 a year in property tax for a $130K home. In the DC suburbs, I have one friend with $1800 property taxes on a townhouse assessed at $340K. Now, I'll take lower cost property with higher taxes over an inflated price with lower taxes. But some people are irked by our high tax rate.

The job market isn't perfect here, but there are some high tech jobs--and Chicago is very close (with daily commuter trains from downtown Milwaukee).

 

[jerichothebard]

Holy cow! That is a mansion in Central Illinois. I just had a friend build a 4,700 square foot house that is unbelievable on 24 acres for $400K here. The proximity to the U of Illinois and a few other factors make this a decent place to live and work. Really depends on your vocation though...

HA! That doesn't even buy a CONDO here...




*sigh*



Mrs. theBard and I would really LIKE to own our own place... but it ain't gonna happen anytime soon. That's what I get for living in a San Francisco suburb.

jtb

 

[Fate Lawson]

Well, I have to second the Austin vote. A really large gaming community (hey, it is the home of Steve Jackson Games). A GREAT quality of life, a very relaxed live-and-let live attitude (due to the "old hippie" culture, although that has suffered a bit due to the influx of non-natives). Although, fair warning, the summers can be a bit hot for about 6 weeks, but considering that it hardly ever falls below freezing in the winter (maybe 10 days tops) that aint so bad. And they don't call it "The Silicon Hills" for nothing, even with the high-tech slump, it has stood up fairly well. All in all, I recommend at least a visit for a week or so to get the ral "feel" of the little bit o' heaven that is the Hill country.