Best piece to move?

[ztbrowning]

Hey yall, my wife and I recently moved from central Montana to Charlottesville, Virginia. I absolutely hate it. Fortunately, we are both nurses (ER/ trauma ICU and orthopedics) and can basically get a job anywhere in the United States without much difficulty. We are stuck here for one year but plan to move immediately after our contract ends. I’ve began researching potential places to move to next and am posting to see if anyone has any opinions or advice that may be helpful.

Essentially the only requirements for a place to live is 1. Near large amounts of public land 2. Near mountains, 3. Reputable hospital nearby (leveled trauma centers preferred), 4. Younger towns preferred but not required (I’m 24, she’s 26).

The current list of potential options I have gathered is as follows;

Helena, MT
Kalispell, MT
Boise, ID
Couer d’Alene, ID
Colorado Springs, CO
Denver area, CO

Appreciate any input yall have!

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Billings has the best hospitals in the state. Good luck OP.


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[bowhuntercoop]

Good luck, looks like liberal city central compared to where yall are at now.

The western states are always fun to hunt but I never understood the point of living there with the political climate and the weather is not for me to say the least.

 

[wind gypsy]

Huh? Montana and ID are liberal states? Fooled the heck out of me.

I could live in Kalispell or CDA for sure. Haven't spent time in Boise or Helena. Colorado is pretty easy pass. Was in Denver 2-3 weeks a month last year for work. Would have made life a lot easier to just move there but my $500-600k housing situation in MN would probably be closer to 1.5 mil there without a sub 3% mortgage.. Cost of living is a main downside.

 

[philos]

Kalispell, MT

 

[IdahoBeav]

Good luck, looks like liberal city central compared to where yall are at now.

The western states are always fun to hunt but I never understood the point of living there with the political climate and the weather is not for me to say the least.

Idaho and Montana are farther right than South Carolina on the political spectrum. As for the weather, many find that southern humidity is more difficult than mountain west winters.

 

[LongWayAround]

Denver wouldn't be on my list. I'm an hour north of there and avoid it as much as possible.

No idea about our hospitals, I've successfully avoided them.

 

[BuckSmasher]

Hey yall, my wife and I recently moved from central Montana to Charlottesville, Virginia. I absolutely hate it. Fortunately, we are both nurses (ER/ trauma ICU and orthopedics) and can basically get a job anywhere in the United States without much difficulty. We are stuck here for one year but plan to move immediately after our contract ends. I’ve began researching potential places to move to next and am posting to see if anyone has any opinions or advice that may be helpful.

Essentially the only requirements for a place to live is 1. Near large amounts of public land 2. Near mountains, 3. Reputable hospital nearby (leveled trauma centers preferred), 4. Younger towns preferred but not required (I’m 24, she’s 26).

The current list of potential options I have gathered is as follows;

Helena, MT
Kalispell, MT
Boise, ID
Couer d’Alene, ID
Colorado Springs, CO
Denver area, CO

Appreciate any input yall have!

Very, very different areas there. Where did you live in MT? You like it?

Huh? Montana and ID are liberal states? Fooled the heck out of me.

I could live in Kalispell or CDA for sure. Haven't spent time in Boise or Helena. Colorado is pretty easy pass. Was in Denver 2-3 weeks a month last year for work. Would have made life a lot easier to just move there but my $500-600k housing situation in MN would probably be closer to 1.5 mil there without a sub 3% mortgage.. Cost of living is a main downside.

You prefer MN to CO? Don't get me wrong the front range in CO isn't for me but being a rokslider/western hunter it seems preferable to MN. Sad thing for me is that 15-20 years ago I was dead set on moving to CO, but when we left Texas in 2020 it had already left the list. Beautiful state. Maybe the most scenic in the US.

 

[wind gypsy]

You prefer MN to CO? Don't get me wrong the front range in CO isn't for me but being a rokslider/western hunter it seems preferable to MN. Sad thing for me is that 15-20 years ago I was dead set on moving to CO, but when we left Texas in 2020 it had already left the list. Beautiful state. Maybe the most scenic in the US.

MN is afflicted with some of the same political viruses as CO and I'd much prefer the outdoor recreation available in CO (hunting/shooting/skiing/backpacking). Not so much the traffic getting from front range into the mountains though. My family and my wife's family are here and the cost of living (housing) is in a different universe. We have a house we love that we could pay off tomorrow if we wanted and have recreational land that's paid for. There's a peace about that financial security and being near family that has kept us here.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If you aren’t dead set on moving back out west, take a look at Southwestern Virginia, southern West Virginia, Western North Carolina. There’s are some nice places around and between Beckley, Lexington, Roanoke, Asheville, etc.

Lynchburg, VA is also young and conservative thanks to Liberty. Good hospitals too. Good hiking nearby and you should be able to find affordable private hunting land if you are patient. The city schools aren’t very good, but there are good places around there in the adjacent areas.

Good luck!

 

[43.6N]

Pm inbound

 

[Marbles]

Pocatello, ID looked interesting when I was looking at places back east. I would add it to your list.

Anchorage, AK would be my choice for a place with a larger hospital.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Idaho and Montana are farther right than South Carolina on the political spectrum. As for the weather, many find that southern humidity is more difficult than mountain west winters.

As a whole state maybe, the cities he listed not so much. The population boom everywhere is crazy these days, but the winters would be a hard pass, and I grew up in pa. Hate snow and cold with a passion besides hunting in it.

It was 86 degrees, sunny, and no humidity and I was in my pool yesterday, not bad for late November…

 

[North of 60]

Idaho and Montana are farther right than South Carolina on the political spectrum. As for the weather, many find that southern humidity is more difficult than mountain west winters.

It is difficult to express just how bad the heat/humidity are in the gulf south for most of the year.

 

[Ope]

I can understand you not liking Charlottesville, unfortunately most major cities across the country seem to be the same way. But it is close to mountains and public land though, so at least for the next year you can explore a bit.

Q is right about looking into other parts of Va if you like it here but don't like Charlottesville. I'm fairly local to Lynchburg. Its small, decent, lower cost of living than Charlottesville, but lower pay also. I don't know the income possibilities of medical careers here though. We have 2 hospitals. One is a general hospital the other is for birthing and mental patients.

Hunting is mostly private land here, but if you're willing to drive an hour or two you can find a good bit of public land and mountains. I don't know how affordable leasing is, as I'm too broke, so I only hunt my small piece of private and the surrounding public. Good luck in your search.

 

[Front Range FNG]

A good piece to move is 1. e4

There’s also MCR north of Denver


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[North of 60]

OP, i get it and would do some more research and go visit those cities/hospitals for yourself to get a better sense of the landscape.

Missoula isn't on your list and the ED at St. Pats looked more equipped than Community when i was doing evals in those EDs. Not sure what level for trauma they are though.