Where is the best place for a twenty something young professional to live in the Jacksonville area?
917871
nice part of town is away from downtown (orange park comes to mind)  but the good nightlife can be found along the beaches then again Ferdina Beach is very nice and peaceful as well. You already know about the Jaguars and the largest outdoor cocktail party every college season. as for affordiability it depends on your income but I can tell you this much amelia island offers homes in the 400K range and a lot of areas in the Jacksonville area are around 200k now you could go condo (about 100k) if you are into condos. Your next problem is insurance what you are paying now on your home pretty much double it when you come down here (triple if you live along the beach) . Car taxes none $35 or so for tags every year thats it. state income tax NONE. Grocery Tax NONE. Current gas prices around 2.35 (not bad) but nearby Georgia is lower. traffic NIGHTMARE especially at 5pm. two major interstates (one other is a bypass of 95) and they are jammed  with constant road construction. Just take yahoo and do a home search for teh jacksonville and good luck
1144108
It's a great place for a recent college grad to live, especially since your job is not far.  But you have to be aware of a couple of things:\n\n1.  During the winter most of the towns at the shore are ghost towns.  Very little activity and a lot of businesses aren't even open.  You can still find the necessities but there isn't nearly as much activity as during the spring and summer.\n\n2.  You can't even think about trying to rent a place until August.  Right now the rents are sky high for summer rentals.  In August start making the rounds and if you plan on staying there then make sure you sign a lease that carries you through the summer without an increase in rent.\n\nAs for a specific town, take your pic.  Belmar is great in the summer but very quiet in winter.  The further south you go, the more quiet it gets until you start nearing Atlantic City.  Then the activity (and costs) pick up.\n\nSpeak to a realtor who specializes in summer rentals.  They probably have plenty of clients who would love to rent out a place for the entire year.\n\nGood luck and enjoy!
363260
Im in the same situation, except I don't have a bf, never been married, and do not have kids!  If you are in Jax, good luck!  I have been here 2.5 yrs and can't wait to get out!
377628
Start by living in Florida
122235
Many places, but, from observation, a greater pecentage of African Americans live in Phoenix area.\nFor house hunting, try Realtor.com and for schools results try greatschools.net.\nIf you are looking for a "community" feeling I am not sure where to tell you to look, just that Phoenix has the largest cultural mix, followed by Tucson. Both places are very hot (I grew up in Phoenix) and school quality and quality of life can vary widely.\nGet a good realtor who really know the area to help you make a choice.\n\nForgot about jobs. It really depends on what type of work you do. There are plenty of entry level jobs in many areas, but the better paying jobs vary.\n\nGood luck
124771
Forbes Magazine did a special report in 2005 entitled "Best Places for Business and Careers." Using data from the research firm Economy.com, Forbes Magazine looked at business costs (labor, energy, tax and office space expenses) and living costs (housing, transportation, food and other household expenditures) to come up with their list. Texas and Virginia come up at the top of the list with 7 areas in the top 20 because of highly educated labor force, and relatively low business cost.\n\nThe Best Metros are:\n\n1. Boise ID \n2. Raleigh-Durham NC \n3. Austin TX \n4. Washington DC - Northern VA\n5. Albuquerque NM \n6. Huntsville AL \n7. Fayetteville AR \n8. Norfolk VA \n9. Atlanta GA \n10. Madison WI\n\nThe Forbes website (link below) also includes ranking by cost of doing business, job growth, educational attainment, population. They also have a ranking for small metro areas.\n\nIsabel Isidro\nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com
167725
I lived in AZ, it'll depend on why...If working in Phoenix, Casa Grande is about an hour south and a great city to live in...it is also about an hour north of Tuscon so same answer...If looking to retire or just live, I would recommend Wickenburg area
657711
Head downtown (Tribeca, Financial, Battery Park). There are a lot of new construction luxury buildings that are currently looking to fill doorman positions. Good luck.
1094660
That depends on your age and what you do for a living, what kind of things you like, what did you grow up with, are you an outgoing person and like social things or are you more into nature, or......?\n\nLater: Portland or Seattle. I know they aren't really far from Eugene physically, but culturally they are! Both have good economies, famous and fabulous night life, schools for everything, excellent public transportation, are ecologically minded and have lots of world moving stuff originating from there. I don't know what housing costs are but living a bit outside of the city doesn't limit you in what is available because it is so easy to get around.
70869
I have lived in St. Marys, GA (at Kings Bay) and in Jacksonville (stationed at Mayport).  I didn't have kids when I lived there, but I think the Kings Bay area would be the better of those two for a family. It's a beautiful little community, everything looks new and the people are friendly.  Jacksonville is so big, and is more adult-oriented, at least the closer you are to the base.  As I remember, the cost of living was about the same (they're only about an hours drive from one another). The gas was cheaper in GA.  The Kings Bay base is a WHOLE lot nicer than Mayport. I lived in the areas from 1993 to 1999.  Never lived in Pensacola, but I hope this helps with the other two.  Good luck, GO NAVY!
408760
Hi...well, I'm NOT looking forward to being where you are...I've spent the last 9 years as a single mom!  My youngest is 17, but good news is 21 year old daughter is moving home, but just for a year, til her husband gets back from second deployment in Iraq (he's US Navy) and they settle in their own house here.\n\nI started watching English football here (soccer), so I now have a pub I go to and watch it with the guys (I'm the only woman who is interested!) on those rare evenings I find myself alone.  I know people can tell you about hobbies, and crafts, gardening, etc., but what about volunteering at say, the local hospice center, or the hospital, or even your local elementary school?  These types of organizations always need help, and the benefits of helping are their own rewards!  Or you can do what I love to do when I have free time for myself...and that's go exploring...  I don't know where you live, but I am in Jacksonville, Florida, and there are so many places around here to see and enjoy, like St. Augustine, or the zoo, or just traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway highway for a change of scenery.  I also love going downtown to the city's center and just window shopping, stopping for a bit of lunch, and a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe.  I also have a list of junk/antique stores in the area, and try to visit one after the other on days when my time is free and home chores are done (and the girls are gone).\n\nAnyway...I've got a very adventuresome spirit...and I'm sure  you do too, considering you're a novelist.  Oh how I envy you...I've written stories all my life, and been published on the web, but I've yet to sit down and do what I love doing, writing just to complete a project!  Good luck...and most of all, HAVE FUN DOING IT! :)
211212
The West End is a good area to meet people. You haven't said the age bracket you are looking for but you could start there. Greenville Avenue is another area where people like to socialize. Good Luck!
1031834
check out the poinciana area which is inside Kissimmee area. The rates should be fairly cheap also you can go to apartmentguide.com and search for your ideal price range and area.
765236
Jacksonville is the best. They have all kinds of stuff to do.Plus put the word out at your job that your new in town.I'm sure that you will have volunteers that want to show you the town.I lived in Savannah about 2hours north and I went there to party for the weekend and met my boyfriend we have been together for 3 years now.It a friendly town.
586532
Hey! I grew up there! \nIt's a very small community, but I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find something. You might even be able to rent privately. My grandparents rented out their place, my friend is renting a house for like $800 a month. But you want something closer to civilization try finding a place in Hinckley (a 10-15 drive from Sandstone).
298363
It depends on what you want to do for a living.  You obviously want to go somewhere where you will be able to earn if you have to.\n\nHousing costs can make it prohibitive to live in places like Washington DC, where the unemployment rate is practically nothing, but a three bedroom townhome costs 400,000 dollars 1 hour out from the city.  \n\nThere are lots of nice cities in the mid west like Des Moines, and further west like Topeka, Lawrence, Omaha, Tulsa, etc, where the dollar still buys you a decent house and where you have adequate social offerings from local universities.  Yes, they do get some winter but offer four seasons and a nice balance.  Believe it or not, Joplin Mo, for example, is quite a jumping town for a little city, with a quaint city center and some light industry and other prospects keeping the economy going.  You can get a decent house there for 150,000.  Eastern Kansas, Eastern Oklahoma have hill country and trees and the snobbier sort of shallow people that sometimes "must" live on one cost or the other stay away, keeping the costs down.  If you must live on the coast, Wilmington NC gives you a little value, a quaint city center, and water sports, beaches, etc.  A little pricey for NC, but there you are.\n\nI would caution you at your age that moving is not very easy when you leave your support network and friends and move somewhere where the support structures are not transitory (people don't move away).  It can be hard to break in.\n\nGood Luck.
262937
hang out on Fillmore or in Hunter's Point.. or maybe South of Market.\n\na lot of entrepeneurs and good ol capitalism at its finest there.