Best place to live in the United States?

[Robertas]

Sup Warriors!?

In the near future, after about 3 years when I'll get my degree (as an insurance policy for life) I plan to move to U.S.
I don't know... I wanted to live in there since I was a little kid and now that desire became even stronger

This forum is mainly populated with the citizens of the United States and I am wondering what are some really places to live in?

If I'll achieve this goal I'll definitely move to somewhere where the climate is dry and hot: Nevada, Arizona, Texas?

What are your thoughts? And maybe someone could recommend a good website where I could get some info about the houses that are available for sale, because so far I've found websites which only have like 10 listings or the listings are in 10million+ range

[Alexa Smith]

This'll be an interesting thread!

For myself, I've always fancied Boston, which looks pretty cool. But what about Hawaii? That should be warm enough for you (don't know whether it has a "rainy season", though?).

[Robertas]

Originally Posted by alexa_s

This'll be an interesting thread!

For myself, I've always fancied Boston, which looks pretty cool. But what about Hawaii? That should be warm enough for you (don't know whether it has a "rainy season", though?).

Hawaii sounds sweet, but IMO - too isolated from the rest of the world + I think the property prices over the are astronomic

[christftw]

Do you have any specific wants or needs?

For example, I'm really into FPS gaming and sometimes play competitively. Two of my wants/needs I'd like to be able to consider if possible would be: an area with good Internet service that doesn't cost too much (Verizon FIOS would be what I looked for probably), and an area that wasn't taxed when buying from sites like NewEgg.com (that can add a LOT to the bill).

Or for the fun of the thread are we just taking weather/crime rates/etc. into consideration? :P Sometimes I go too far in planning (way) ahead, heh.

[Swaygirl]

Even though I'm from Canada, I would say Miami!!!

[Wakunahum]

I like the middle part of the United States.

It's cheap and the laws aren't too crazy and taxes are somewhat reasonable.

It's not cool to buy a home in an area where your property taxes will be almost as much as rent and a neighborhood where you can't control the color of your house, what type of lawn you have, etc. The larger established traditionally "good" cities to live in have all sorts of issues with new weird taxes and laws that really in long term are going to cramp your lifestyle.

I feel comfortable in a state like Oklahoma where these laws won't be passed to mess with affiliate commissions and whatnot unlike other states in the union.

Most of the "shopping" in the US are big box stores as opposed to niche stores in areas. It's a fallacy to think that only the coasts have shopping and the rest of barren nothingness.

Live in the middle and save the money to go visit any niche or specialty places.

One suburb of the city I live in, Broken Arrow, is one of the most sought out cities to live in today according to those places to live reports.

If you have the money, you might as well try out a few cities to get a feel for what you like and do some research on what laws may or may not effect the lifestyle you choose to live.

[BudWells]

I am a firm believer in living in the south. The food and the people fit my personality better :P

I'd prefer to be in a more rural area as well rather than in the city.

[HeySal]

Loaded question Robertas. I depends upon the style of living you love. I love the NW, but East of the Cascades because the population is less dense, the climate is dry, I love the mountains and the gem hunting. But we do have winter up here.

Texas has a thicker population and a few majorly huge cities. Arizona has a few decent sized cities but things are more spread out when you get outside of the major population centers. It's extreme in heat there in the summer and mild in the winter. If you are a rock and gem hunter, it's a mecca. They are having Mexican drug cartel problems right now. New Mexico is sparcely populated, hot except winters in the northern region and is also having a problem with illegals. IT is also a rock and gem hunting mecca. There are some pretty spectacular resorts in these states.

Utah has some stiff laws about liquor but it is a great state for those with archaeological and conservation interests - Nevada is a casino resort state and draws more city types to the larger cities, and there is a lot more social "fun" activities there. Northern Nevada and Utah both have cold winters. The major cities in any of these states are pretty spendy to live in as are any of the actual resort areas. When you get away from population centers life is pretty kicked back, and cheaper, but there aren't as many cultural activities available - or jobs. There is plenty of wilderness area though if that is what you are into.

HTH


Tell us what your fields and hobbies are and we can probably give you more help.

[seasoned]

Robertas,

I HATE to say it, but the US is changing WAY too much. I WOULD have said california. NOW, I might have said northern california in some nice community. WHO KNOWS now!?

As for sites? Real Estate Listings, Homes for Sale and Rental Property Listings ? REALTOR.com

Just in MY one little zipcode, it found 264 listings. Only 16 are $400K or over. of those only 3 are over 1 million dollars. One is JUST shy of 2 million USD. 5 bed, 10 bath, 13089 SF and 20 acres! Of course, that IS just the main house. The guest house has almost 4000sf!

Of course, they DO have a 1200sf home, 9750sf lot 3 bed 2 bath for $95,000.

Steve

[Vikuna2009+]

I've lived here for 22 years now and I really like it. I don't know what country you are from but you are going to need a green card. Getting one is not easy. Certain countries have a lottery through the embassy and I actually know several people who got their green card through the lottery.

I'm in California, an hour north of Los Angeles up in the mountains and I LOVE it. Air is dry, just a few days of snow (because of my altitude) and there are tons of things to do in and around L.A.

However, properties are expensive (except for Palmdale, Lancaster, Quartz Hill). Live THERE???? NEVER, too many criminals, desert winds and no jobs.

Lived in Pompano Beach, Florida, for a while. Fun place but very humid, couldn't stand it.

Vienna, Virginia is a neat little town, not to far from Washington D.C. Humid as well but not as bad as Florida.

Seattle is a neat place but it rains a lot. Beautiful area though. San Fransisco has a nice pulse but to constantly live in a big city like that, too big for me.

Stayed in Scottsdale, Arizona for a while. Man, did it get hot! (126F). Not for me.

You got plenty of time to do your research, good luck, lol!

[Robertas]

WOW - people you are great! I would like to thank all of you for your answers !

I've started to do some research using the website that seasoned had mentioned and man... Every location that was mentioned in this thread looks so amazing: the houses, the natural surroundings.. Beautiful country

Edit: The house prices don't look bad either

[ecoverartist]

If you like the outdoors, I recommend either West Virginia or Montana - both very outdoorsy-friendly in very different ways. Housing is much cheaper in West Virginia though!

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by CPALeadDavid

Reno, Nevada.

Such a great city. Don't believe any of the hype you hear about people calling it a "mini-Vegas" or something. It is a beautiful city which provides tons of things to do for any type of person. Reno has the mountain and Lake Tahoe for anyone interested in outdoor activities like rafting, sitting on the beach, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. Than it's got the nice dry valley that never gets to Vegas' crazy 100+ temperatures and seems to always be about 85 in the summer. Also an added bonus, the people. They are nothing like Vegas' fake over-cultured community. It is more of a small-town feel and everyone is nice.

YEAH! Las vegas is GAMBLING, TOURISM, MARRIAGE! Reno is almost as big, as I recall, and known for DIVORCES! Don't ask me why, but people ACTUALLY go to reno to get divorced!

Roberta,

As for moving here, you would probably fit in, speak english, and plan to come here as a graduate, so you will have a LOT of options. Even getting a greencard won't be that hard.

As for the site I pointed you to, you have to generally be licensed to sell other peoples homes in the US, and the people that are licensed have an association, and the biggest and oldest is realtor. In fact, most people think they are both the same thing. They ALSO maintain the MLS(Multiple Listing Service). This site is kind of a way for them to sell homes online. The catch, of course, is that each home is usually sold by a realtor, so they make their money that way. Other sites probably use the same list, or try to generate their own. Still, it is a good idea to be listed with the MLS even if you don't want to use a realtor, as it provides easy exposure.

ALSO, the US is probably one of the few places where you can own property, etc... without being even a resident.

Steve

[myob]

Come to LA. We have mountains, valleys, deserts, beaches, rivers, lakes, and shopping malls all within a 1 or 2 hour drive in any direction. And you can make a killing selling life insurance.

[seasoned]

Roberta,

One more thing. I don't know about where YOU live, but things here can be VERY different! Sewage, for example, can go to a septic system, or a sewer. If it goes to a septic system, it may be any of several types. Some even have TWO fields, and you basically should switch them about every 6 months. Some are just tanks, and have to be pumped and refreshed. Of course, sewers are generally maintenance free, but may charge a fee. Water could be from any of several sources, or even a well. Heat may be gas, oil, electric, etc.... And the US is FAR from perfect. California has earthquakes, florida has various weather disasters, etc... Crime can be from almost non existant, to COMMON. The weather can be VERY hot in summer, and cold in winter or practically no seasons. Phone systems can be basically AUDIO only, or have audio, digital, and TV. TV may be aerial only, sattelite, or cable. Mobile systems can be practically unavailable, digital, analog A or analog B. ALSO, though AGAINST THE LAW, coverage of various mobile phone companies varies GREATLY! For some stupid reason, the government seems to ignore the purpose of emminent domain and the cellular lottery. They started a lottery a couple decades ago to put up cellular towers. The winner was to provide the losers with service, and they charge a fee. That fee is passed onto the consumer as a "roaming charge". Sprint and Verizon appear to be the best mobile phone service providers here. TAXES vary! Various laws vary. The U.S. can have four sets of laws....City, County, State, Federal. Some cities, for example, won't let you do ANY business legally unless you have a business license. States may not let you be considered a permanent resident for more than a month, and drive, without getting a license and tag from them, etc...

HECK, the area that I live has many of those concerns. There IS a law that says that septic fields can't be used unless you have at least 2 acres. So any legal property in my area with less than 2 acres has sewer access, but 2+ acres means it may not.

What MYOB says about LA is true, but LA has ALL extremes! Some areas are affluent. Some are POOR! Some are SAFE! Some AREN'T! Some communities are NICE! Some AREN'T! And, frankly, I think EVERY area is getting WORSE! EVEN beverly hills is going DOWN HILL!

So DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Steve

[rtrotter]

Roberta, I of course think Lubbock, Texas is best. Great music tradition from Buddy Holly, Mac Davis, and Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks). Texas Tech University, Law School, Medical School. Nice 4 seasons, now about 100 during day but really dry. President Bush senior called it "the heart beat of America". They make great wine there also.

Rodney

[HeySal]

Before you listen to everyone about LA - do know it's a huge city of millions. If you like open spaces and small towns you are going to go freaking bonkers anywhere near that place. I find it polluted, crowded, smelly, unreasonably expensive, - and wouldn't drink their water if you paid me to. The people have a very different ethos in CA than the rest of the country.

[gareth]

Public Toilets, Brooklyn subway.

Cant be beat.

I've got family there.

[Dale_Anthony]

What....nobody mentioned Detroit!

We got....aaaa......uuhhmmm...well....uuhhmmm

We used to make great cars

Just kidding the suburbs are nice if you're not layed off


............

[Thomas]

Robertas,

If it helps, Chicago has been the favoured destination for immigrants from the Baltic Nations for generations.

Originally Posted by seasoned

ALSO, the US is probably one of the few places where you can own property, etc... without being even a resident.

Steve, I'm pretty sure non-residents can buy property in most countries, or, at least, most Western countries.

Originally Posted by gareth

Public Toilets, Brooklyn subway.

Cant be beat.

I've got family there.

Do you have family in Ireland too? If you do, I think I shot your cousin last week. Sorry about that. I think he was chewing on a lump of horse **** at the time. I did feel a bit guilty but, then again, it's my horse **** and he had no right to touch it.

[seasoned]

AGAIN, I think heysal is just a LITTLE too general. LA, Chicago, and detroit all have one thing in common! Part of the city is BEAUTIFUL, and you would LOVE to be there FOREVER! Low crime, nice people, etc.... The OTHER part is GARBAGE! Citys here can be LARGE! Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US, and possibly the second largest city on the PLANET! In short, NOBODY could say anything about LOS ANGELES in absolutes that is true. It has the best and the worst of almost any place on the planet. Chicago and detroit are ALSO large, and the SAME can be said of them.

HECK, if you pick the right two zipcodes, you will find that ALL THREE cities have some of the most and least expensive realestate ANYWHERE! WHY? Everything is just THAT different. BTW the city I live in is FAR smaller than LA! Realestate varies from a bit over $10,000 to the tens of MILLIONS! NOPE, I am NOT kidding! And the cheap areas tend to not speak english as well, be dirtier, and more crime ridden. BTW I live in the middle class area. Nearly every home within about 5 miles of me is over $100,000 and they go up to about $500,000. My home appraised just this february at about $265K. A bit farther out, there are homes that range from $700,000 to about $20 million. Go about 20 miles south, and it is VERY different!

Steve

[John Henderson]

I visited the US in 1997....
• Fell in love with New York, I'd say it was my second favourite city in the world (1st = Barcelona).
• Liked San Francisco very much -- lots of diversity and culture which gave it a kind of bustling vibe.
• Found Los Angeles and San Diego to be soul-less; like ghost towns that still have people living there.

JMHO!

[gareth]

I liked New York too but I would definitely not want to live there during winter.

[liquidroof]

I would like to say that New York is the best place. I just love New York city.

[seasoned]

San diego and new york ALSO vary greatly. MOST of New York(at least NY/NY), as far as I am concerned, is BAD! It is WORSE than that portrayed on Seinfeld. I went to part of armonk/NY a few years ago, and it was BEAUTIFUL! I worked at a little company that was practically in the middle of a forest. A few miles away, there was an airport, AGAIN, practically in a forest. BEAUTIFUL! But the parts of new york around Kennedy, La guardia, etc???? FORGET IT! As for san diego? Some parts are like slums, and some are like beverly hills USED to be.

Steve

[Kurt]

Las Vegas vs. Reno

I've lived in both, driven a cab in both.

Las Vegas is too hot in the summer. Parts of the valley today will get up to 118 F, but is nice during winter. Reno is milder in the summer, but gets cold and it snows in winter.

AS a cab driver, I felt much safer in Las Vegas. Reno has more hard core drunks than anywhere else I've ever been. I'd rather go on a "crack run" than deal with those drunks.

Reno has better scenery in the area, although you do have to drive 20 miles to get to it. LV is in the middle of the desert.

Rent/housing and the cost of living is about the same, with LV having a lot more options.

Both cities are hurting with tourism down, so jobs are tougher to get. But if you're in IM, you'll bring your "job" with you.

If you're in IM, LV can't be beat, as just about "everyone" comes to LV sooner or later.

Everything in LV is new and modern. This is good and bad.

There's an excitement on the Strip that you won't find anywhere else. Again, I drove a cab up and down the Strip day after day for years, and could still feel the excitement.

But if you're going to get hooked on gambling, both cities will be a disaster.


In general, I'd say Reno is better as a party town, and more friendly and personal. LV has much more opportunity.

Truth is, a lot of people move to LV evey year. But a lot of people that move here also leave within a year. Like everything else here, it's a gamble if you'll like it. You'll either love it or hate it.

And despite Steve's comments, LV is the REAL divorce capital of the World. (if it matters)

[John Rogers]

I've been contemplating this a lot over the past few years, and all things considered, I've just about settled on Texas. Actually, I'm thinking about keeping a summer place in western Washington state to come see the grandkids when they're out of school, and living in Texas the rest of the year.

John

[Lawrh]

Back in the early 80's I was riding my Yamaha north on Interstate 93 through Montana. I stopped at a highway side gas station and bar about 3 P.M. for a couple of beers. I was sitting at the bar looking out the window at some lunatics in a rubber raft being tossed around the rapids on the river across the highway, when this guy, completely ****faced, starts telling me about how great a guy the bartender was. Why was he great? "When I got out of jail he helped me get my gun back!"

Gorgeous scenery, very earthy people. If I were to move south I would certainly consider Montana.

[TeddyP]

I don't live in the USA - but I have only ever heard good-great things about San Diego.

[myob]

Originally Posted by TeddyP

I don't live in the USA - but I have only ever heard good-great things about San Diego.

Yes San Diego is a beautiful city, but it has a deep, ominous dark side. There is an aura and culture of drugs, sex, gangs and mayhem that hangs over the city. It will be a bit of a culture shock, but after awhile you do get used to it along with all the shootings and other criminal activities by illegal immigrants. Just don't go near the border because it is full of gangs who cross the border to smuggle in drugs, kidnap and rob. And do not drink the water; it is so heavily floridated that your teeth will become mottled within weeks.

[John Henderson]

Originally Posted by Robin25

Waukesha County was recently recognized as the eighth-best place in America to raise a family by Forbes.com. By default, this means that it is the 8th best place on Planet Earth to raise a family, as well.

How much of the rest of Planet Earth did you visit before coming to this conclusion?

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by John Henderson

How much of the rest of Planet Earth did you visit before coming to this conclusion?

Hee hee.

I'd like to know that too.

[HeySal]

Steve - too general doesn't need expounding upon if you HATE big cities! LOL.
If Robertas HATES big cities it doesn't matter which one you send him to he will be miserable being stuck in with millions of people. That's the way I feel about the
places. The smaller the population of the area, the finer the quality of life as far
as my preferences go. Let's give the guy a variety of lifestyles to choose from.

Robertas - if you can afford it and hate large cities - I will recommend the Columbia Gorge divide between Oregon and Washington. It's beautiful, a LOT of outdoor recreation, and the people are real earthy. There is winter but not extreme cold. Anywhere west of THe Dalles gets icy here and again. Winter is short - summer is hot, but not as bad as the SW. The climate East of Hood River is dry. West of that you get a lot of clouds, rain.

[Richard Tunnah]

Interesting thread this for non us guys. Like most Brits I visited a lot of small area's of the US since I was a kid particularly florida and the west coast. Love Florida but agree it's a bit brutal in summer. My Godfather emmigrated in the early 90's to the US and after making a small fortune from being an inventor has a place in laguna beach - which is fantastic but rather pricey!

Rich

[netstarmobile]

Garden City Beach, South Carolina is my choice. What a beautiful place to live. It's just outside of Myrtle Beach, a major tourist destination, which means great entertainment and dining. They have the best seafood I have ever had in my life. Beautiful beaches, unlike Myrtle Beach, they are not overcrowded. It's a golf Mecca, with some of the best golf courses in the country. The real estate prices are very reasonable. Taxes are affordable. I can't think of a nicer place to live.
Check it out: Dunes dot com sorry I can't post links yet. A dumb rule, I might add.

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by netstarmobile

Check it out: Dunes dot com sorry I can't post links yet. A dumb rule, I might add.

THAT is because you didn't really think about it. Let me tell you what you would REALIZE if you REALLY thought about it or you were some DISHONEST IDIOT....

Some IDIOTS get on a board like this and start posting links that are obscured, etc... They hope people will click for purposes varying all the way from making money to spreading computer viruses. By restricting initial access, the system operators can stop such tings before they get out of hand. That is the SAME reason for the limitation of WSOs.

Some DUMB rules actually have a LEGITIMATE purpose!

Steve

[Kay King]

Why not plan ahead (you have time) and spend your first 3 months here traveling around to see what area appeals to you? Could be a great trip and a wonderful adventure.

A boss of mine did that years ago to decide where he wanted to retire - he took an entire summer and cross the US along the northern states from east to west and coming back to the east he took a southern route. He and his wife chose Colorado on that trip and did retire there.

It's such a big and beautiful country and each region has it's own appeal - and it's own natural disaster risks, too

kay

[Ken Strong]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

I've been contemplating this a lot over the past few years, and all things considered, I've just about settled on Texas. Actually, I'm thinking about keeping a summer place in western Washington state to come see the grandkids when they're out of school, and living in Texas the rest of the year.

WHY would you want to leave the beautiful Olympic Peninsula for Texas?

I love Western WA -- salt water and mountains both close by, tons of trees, everything's green.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by seasoned

THAT is because you are either biased, honest, or STUPID! YEAH, I KNOW, it is probably because you are honest. Let me tell you what you would REALIZE if you REALLY thought about it or you were some DISHONEST IDIOT....

Some IDIOTS get on a board like this and start posting links that are obscured, etc... They hope people will click for purposes varying all the way from making money to spreading computer viruses. By restricting initial access, the system operators can stop such tings before they get out of hand. That is the SAME reason for the limitation of WSOs.

Some DUMB rules actually have a LEGITIMATE purpose!

Steve

Yeah, like rules against personal insults.

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by Kurt

Yeah, like rules against personal insults.

Frankly, the only insult I tried to make was against the stupid SCAMMERS/SPAMMERS! They deserve SO MUCH MORE!

Steve

[seasoned]

I would rather be in los angeles than NY,new york! ANY DAY! Hawaii DOES sound great. It IS isolated though, expensive, etc....

Steve

[rwbovee]

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

[Emma Ngin]

California... San Francisco to be exact. Love the place... i definitely left my heart in sanfo C",)

[Kay King]

I was just rereading this thread and seems to me recommending "places" is confusing.

If I were choose a place to live I'd narrow it down to choices based on what I personally prefer in an area.

1. climate (hot/cold/mixed - wet/dry)
2. views (rolling hills/flat/mountainous/lake/ocean)
3. interests (museums/theater/water sports/sports teams/schools)
4. population density (country living/solitude/crowds)
5. economy (jobs/cost of living/cost of insurance,taxes,housing)

You could come up with an amazing list of places in the US that offer the type of living you prefer and then have a targeted list to visit and choose from.

kay

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by John Henderson

How much of the rest of Planet Earth did you visit before coming to this conclusion?

Some people just figure the US is BEST. Frankly, I DOUBT that. With what I know now, I would be willing to move to parts of Western Europe, and think IT is good! And I would EVEN move to australia, even though there are somee NASTY poisonous creatures there. And I HATE eucalyptus. Sorry, but I do. From what I understand, koala bears REEK of it.

The US CERTAINLY has parts that are BEAUTIFUL, etc... but they ALL have warts. Hawaii sounds GREAT, but there is some bad land, volcanos, probably earthquakes, violent storms, a lack of real estate and real estate is EXPENSIVE. Also, it is isolated, and other things are expensive. Alaska has some bad animals, bad weather, and it is isolated so some things are expensive. California has theft, real estate can be rare and expensive, the culture can be bad, and there are earthquakes, etc......

Steve

[steffer]

i also want to immigrate to the U.S in a few years, so this tread is really great for me, thanks for all the advise guy's.

I am still doubting between the states of Oregon and Washington, which do you reckon would be best to live in?

[microb101]

Lower half of Virginia is mild in summer and winter. This past summer I don't remember more than two days of temperatures over 100 degrees. Winters may have reached a total of two inches combined for the past three years in the Virginia Beach area.

[KenThompson]

Interesting comments, here. Robertas, I think you probably
have enough food for thought so I won't make any specific
recommendations other than maybe one.

I've lived here in Delaware for over 30 years. It's in the mid-
Atlantic region of the US. I'm used to it, but it's not exactly
a place I'd recommend for a lot of reasons. Sure, there are
some cool things about this area.

I've lived in about 8 states and traveled in/through about
30 or 40. So I've seen a lot in my life. I also lived in Germany
for two years and traveled/visited about 12 European countries.

I've seen some truly spectacular places in Europe. So if you are
able to pack-up your work/office (doing IM), I would not rule
out Europe. I would not mind living there for half the time and
coming back here the other half.

I visited a place called Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the southern
part of Germany. Went there about 3 or 4 times. It's in the
German Alps and right on the border with Austria. Incredibly
beautiful place. Amazingly beautiful, IMO.

I went to the very small town near the Eiger mountain in
Switzerland. It was so cool because the land was just pure
and clean. The bluest sky I've ever seen in my life. Clean air.

All in all, I'd work very hard to become independent of a job
so you can have the flexibility it will provide. And of course
take your time and do a lot of research.

[GT]

Hi, Robertas:

I am Canadian (Alberta - the best place to live in Canada!) , but my favourite place in the U.S. is the Arizona desert. Tucson is a great city to visit and YES, I WOULD want to live there! (...If I could only convince my spouse to follow me. Of course, that would mean leaving the grandkids behind ... so ... I guess we'll be staying in Canada!)

GT

[John Rogers]

Originally Posted by steffer

i also want to immigrate to the U.S in a few years, so this tread is really great for me, thanks for all the advise guy's.

I am still doubting between the states of Oregon and Washington, which do you reckon would be best to live in?

There's no state income tax in Washington, and no sales tax in Oregon. Of the two states, Washington is more heavily taxed overall. The climates are similar with lots of rain west of the Cascades, and little rain east of the Cascades. Typically, the further south you are on the west side, the less rain you'll get. There is an anomaly in Sequim on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. It's gets very little rain, but it is very windy.

Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, house prices, home value estimator, recent sales, cost of living, crime, race, income, photos, education, maps, weather, houses, schools, neighborhoods, and more is a useful resource for researching facts on cities and towns in the U.S.

John