What is the smallest town that you would consider living in??

[SmileyBoy]

Poll question: What is the smallest town that you would consider living in??

I've been thinking lately about what kind of place I'm gonna live in once I finish college. It depends on if I get a good job, and everything. Also, the quality of life, economy, etc.

So, here's the deal: Suppose you were offered the greatest job opportunity of your life from an emplyoer in a hypothetical city or town. What's the smallest you would be willing to have that town be and still live in it, ASSUMING that the quality of life, schools and economy, etc. were good or above average?? Personally, I could stand living in someplace as small as 15,000, and someplace as big as about 1,000,000. I hate big cities, but I also hate really small towns. I need a happy medium.

We're assuming metro area numbers, not city proper.

You could live in someplace as small as...

[scarlet_owl]

1. I've lived in a city of 350,000 and a small town of 300.

Currently I live in a population center of about 100,000, and I'm relatively content. We have great parks and lots of culture, but we don't have bad traffic and high crime rates.

[SmileyBoy]

3. I like a size like that.

My city's metro is approaching 200,000, and we're starting to see some real problems that very big cities face. Drugs, other crime, traffic, etc. It's still personally a good size for me, as I don't think we'll ever top 1 million, but we're still going through problems that other cities that are growing rapidly go through. There's a lot more robberies, car thefts, an increase in murders, etc.

But the good news is that we're seeing a LOT more culture here than we've ever seen. We're the only city in the Upper Midwest with a Chinatown (granted, it only covers a few commercial buildings, but still). We've also seen a huge spike in upscale, urban culture. It doesn't hurt that we're also a college town.

I would definitely stay here if I was offered a really good job.

[tyedyeto]

2. I currently live in a town of about 12K but..........

I moved here from a town of about 2K. The county in CA I moved from did not have one traffic signal. Road rage? What's that?

My daughter's graduating HS class was 30 students in 1999. I loved it there, small towns are great. Yes, everyone knows what everyone else is doing but it's a great place to raise your kids.

The major problem was that it was a long drive from any kind of shopping, even the everyday grocery sort.

[SmileyBoy]

5. I couldn't handle a very small town, because of no choices to eat.

There's usually no chain franchises in those towns, and a lot of small towns (~1,000 or so) that I've been in have only had small mom-and-pop restaurants who's food wasn't very good. I know it varies from town to town, but still. If you want to stay in town and eat, you have to cook in your own home, because little or no choice of eating out.

But that's just me, because I eat out a lot. The campus cafeteria food kind of forces me to.:)

[tyedyeto]

8. My old (CA) town had no college campus and no franchises.....

but it did have some good, cheap places to eat. Not many but what we had were good. Plus it had an awesome saloon........smile

[Bouncy Ball]

4. Dammit I voted before I noticed you said

metro area numbers, not the city proper.

Which would make my vote even higher on the scale.

I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area, which has a pop of a few million (gotta be).

I honestly wouldn't go smaller than that, unless it was to move to Austin. Short of that, no. Only bigger.

[SmileyBoy]

6. You wouldn't live in a metro of half a million??

Medium-size city living is a lot more than you think.;)

[Bouncy Ball]

9. No, I wouldn't live in a metro of half a million.

That's too damn small. Unless, like I said, we're talking Austin and I think they hit half a million easy.

Short of that, it's BIG cities for us. I've realized that about myself. Cultural centers are just too important to us.

And suburbs suck, at least around here. All the traffic and congestion of the city, but almost none of the culture.

And none of the pleasures of the country, either.

Suburbs are a slow death and I want out.

[SmileyBoy]

11. Nothing's better than the urban centre of a city of 100,000, IMO.

You don't get the traffic, you get the culture, and you get the small town-style community feel.

[Bouncy Ball]

15. 100,000????

The burb I live in is at least 150,000 and we're bumping right up against Dallas!

[SmileyBoy]

17. Yeah, but remember, it's a burb.

A central, urban city of 50,000 is always better than a burb of 250,000, in my book.

[tyedyeto]

14. 'Burbs suck.............give me.............

rural any day.

I lived on 10 acres for 25 years and now live on 5 acres here in AZ. I love the rural feeling.

[Justitia]

7. You are at least 5 mil + in the Metroplex, "Hi" from Houston!

I used to live in the Metroplex, now living in the Big City of Houston. I wouldn't go smaller either, 'cept to Austin also - Texan Nirvana!

:hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

10. Thanks!

So five million, that's better. Yep, it's Austin or straight into a big city for us. And short of leaving Texas, that pretty much means Austin, since I won't live in Dallas or Houston proper. I might Ft. Worth, but if we're moving anyway it's going to be to Austin.

[Justitia]

23. awww....Houston is great - 2nd bluest city in TX

:-(

the city proper is great here, Democratically inclined, very diverse, LOADS to do, lots of cultural venues.

Moving from a Dallas suburb (Frisco / Plano) to here was like a breath of fresh air. Even if Poppy Shrub does live around here somewhere....

We went for Kerry 55%!

[elehhhhna]

37. Chicago now Houston...wouldl maybe go San Antonio or Austin...

[CanuckAmok]

12. No smaller than fifteen square feet.

any smaller than that, and I'd have to sleep satnding up.

[SmileyBoy]

16. I prefer king-size beds, myself.

:D

[CanuckAmok]

13. No smaller than fifteen square feet.

any smaller than that, and I'd have to sleep satnding up.

[Radical Activist]

18. Small towns are fine. Suburbs are not.

I can live in a small town or near the center of a major city. I would die before I lived in a suburb. Especially ones like the cookie cutter newer suburbs outside of Chicago. Borders, Best Buy, Walgreens, Borders Best Buy, Walgreens, repeat until you look and talk just like everyone else.

[SmileyBoy]

20. I know what you mean.

Here in the Fargo suburbs (especially the southwest), it's Taco Bell, Target, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Target, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Target, Starbucks, lather, rinse, repeat.

[Redneck Socialist]

19. The smaller the better

I grew up in a town of about 1,100 people and I know live in a 'city' of 20,000+ and it is disgustingly huge. I can't wait until I get my finances back in order and move out of here.

Give me the woods and a small general store where the folks know me by name!

[tyedyeto]

21. Been there, done that for many years and I loved it!! n/t

[SmileyBoy]

22. Most people in my state would agree with you.

I think people are starting to move here in larger numbers because they want the peace and quiet.

But then pretty soon, if enough people come in, it ceases being the paradise everybody wants.

[jojo54]

25. You got that right!

Lived in Hillsboro, New Hampshire for about 1 1/2 yrs and I loved it! I also happen to like snow, but that's besides the point. I don't know how many people live there but when I moved out of state, there were starting to experience economic growth, and a lot of people hated it. What can I say, I love the trees, meadows and the small town togetherness (as long as they stay out of my business).

[serryjw]

24. Big city gal here

I have lived in NY, LA, Atlanta and Denver....I'd like to try a small town of 10,000..........as long as it's only a few hours to a BIG city for the arts.

[realisticphish]

27. i moved from

a town of 3000 to the 15th largest city in the country (Columbus, OH). and i love both :shrug:. but i miss the woods and the stars...and toilet papering :P

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[EFerrari]

26. I've lived all over CA but my favorite was Boulder Creek

About 3K in pop, and about 2 hours from SF and 30 minutes from Santa Cruz. My neighbor once got out of his shower to help me jump start my car. And once one of my neighbors opened her store to let me buy $1 worth of thread.

Blackberrys, raccoons, river in the back yard. Culcha you can get anywhere. Quiet + community was really nice for a few years.

[Redstone]

35. Hey, my wife used to live up the road from you

in Bonny Doon. She really liked it. (Though I don't know if you were in B.C. at the same time she was in Bonny Doon.0

Redstone

[EFerrari]

39. It was great. My two kids used to go out with a bucket

to pick berries, come home with blue faces and tell me, "We couldn't find any!"

lol

[Celeborn Skywalker]

28. I want to live in a town of about 20,000

no further than 2 hours from Boston, Seattle, or New York City.

[RevCheesehead]

29. Well, I don't have a choice in the matter.

I go where the Bishop says to.

But, I have lived in very small towns and medium-sized cities. What I have found is that virtually anything is do-able, as long as you're within an hour's drive of a city. Then you have to practice going out, on a regular basis, for sanity's sake.

At least we have the internets. What did people do before then?

[EFerrari]

30. We turned stuff into other stuff

We melted wax and made rose shaped candles.

Dried rose petals and made potpourri

We took long pine needles and made then into baskets.

I once hosted the Wednesday Night Ladies Sewing Circle and Anarchy Club.

lol

Seems like so long ago, not so long ago. These days are much mo' bettah :)

I have to stay where I am as my larger half is disabled. But, I love hearing word from the outposts.

/evil spelling demons rule the keyboard

[enigmatic]

31. I've lived just about everywhere across North America...

And since I'm a loner anyway, if the town has broadband internet I'd live in a ghost town w/o a second thought..

[ladeuxiemevoiture]

32. 3 mill or over for me

I get bored, you see. :D

[terrya]

33. 1,000,000 people for me. That's the smallest city I'd live in. n/t

[Renew Deal]

34. Check out this website...

www.findyourspot.com

[China_cat]

36. Actually 0-100 would suit me better.

[Maine Mary]

38. My town has 881 people in it

And was considerd one of the largest in my legislative district.

In 2000, one of the towns I represented had 100% voter turnout with 22 people. They always have a high turnout because the poll worker is allowed to go home when everyone has voted. :-)

Furthermore, I represented a geographical area the size of Rhode Island. There were neither traffic lights nor fast food chains anywhere within the district.

I often crave the annonymity of a large town or city, and I HATE having to travel 'umpteen million' miles to get groceries or even go to the bank (the closest ATM is 10 miles- the bank is further)

BUT there is much to be said about this kind of life. If something happens, such as my daughter's car accident, friends I didn't even know I had came out of the woodwork w/casseroles, help with the wood for winter; ect.

Plus, up until the town clerk died, I could get my car registered AND inspected on the same day since they were husband and wife. It could even be on a Sunday if I wanted, as long as they were home. (We have no town office)

This probably doesn't help much since you said you hate small towns. You're young. I don't blame you for not wanting this type of life at your age. Perhaps though, when you are ready to settle down w/a family, you might.

Good luck and I hope whatever you find whinds up being a wonderful choice for you.! :-)

[Ivan Sputnik]

40. I grew up in a "town" of less than 1,000

I wouldn't go back (except to visit). Way too many limitations. So many worlds opened when I moved to the city.

[SmileyBoy]

41. Kick

:kick:

[Tektonik]

42. Smallest place I lived in was Palmdale, CA

The Antelope Valley had almost 250,000 (Palmdale accounted for almost half of that figure) people when I lived there, and I enjoyed it there. I would consider moving to any small town just as long as it was a short drive from a nice commercial center

[Withywindle]

43. I grew up in a town of 250...

It made me allergic. Chicago's about as small as I can stand now.

[Nikia]

44. It depends where the village is

My last 2 years in high school, I lived in a village of around 1,000 people. I have a friend who lives in a similiarly sized village. Living in either one would not be awful if you had a car because they are within 20 miles of larger towns (not large cities). In some really rural areas though, a village of 1,000 people is the largest "city" within 50 miles or more or the roads are bad enough that driving 20 miles on them is a lot different then driving 20 miles on a straight well maintained road.
As far as towns 5,000 to 1000,000 people go, they differ a lot culturually. Twons of 10,000 can be culturually superior to towns of 100,000. You really need to check your potential new town or city if you are considering a job in a place where you are unfamiliar.

[donheld]

45. It would depend on the town

A nice liberal town like Telluride Colorado, i might concider it. Most smaller towns, however, forget it.

[AngryAmish]

46. Mexico City