What are some affordable blue places in the US?more bookstores than church

[fujiyama]

I'd like to know if there are any towns or cities in the US where there are more bookstores than churches.

As most of us know, blue states and cities are expensive. I would love to live in NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, or Portland, OR...but these places are very expensive.

Are there any affordable blue areas in the US? I posted another thread regarding Canada, because it's worth considering...

But I would rather stay in the US. What are some decent, affordable blue areas in this country? They don't necessarily have to be in a state that went blue (though I'd prefer it). The only other things I'm looking for is that they have jobs available (hopefully in technology/engineering), the people are tolerant, and the surrounding environment is nice (and even better somewhat scenic - mountains perhaps).

[trotsky]

1. Boulder, CO

Many places in Vermont.

Others will probably have many more suggestions.

Mpls/St. Paul is where I live, solid blue, and not all that expensive. Lots of tech jobs, high standard of living.

[MsAnthropy]

2. Minnesota! n/t

[LightTheMatch]

3. Some ideas

Austin, TX
Minneapolis, MN
southeastern MN
Wisconsin (Esp. Madison)
Northern New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos, etc... but housing directly in Santa Fe is very expensive)

[bluesoccermom]

6. the city that works

come to chicago..great city, well maybe just to visit because not a lot of tech jobs. Btw, I hear great things about MN.and Madison.

[MemphisTiger]

4. Memphis, TN is very reasonable

even for a red state. Parts of Memphis have alot of dems, but the suburbs are mostly repub

[dmkinsey]

5. Kalamazoo, MI

n/t

[buddysmellgood]

7. I understand, but can't you stay put and fight?

[fujiyama]

8. Why?

Is there something wrong wanting to be in a place where people have similar beliefs? I wouldn't want to live somewhere surrounded by Bush/Cheney signs.

I live in a blue state, but the margin was too close. There are certain places in this state which are decent, but somewhat expensive.

[Lorien]

16. Just out of curiosity

how do you propose those of us in red states "fight"? Specifics?

[bif]

9. The Detroit area is pretty cheap. And almost no traffic jams.

But it's not the nicest place to live. Very racially polarized.

[fujiyama]

10. Yeah I live in SE MI

It's OK. I would prefer a city which is safe as well. I go to Detroit for school (commute from a suburb). I'm not sure I'd want to actually live in the city though.

[Philostopher]

11. If you're looking for affordable ...

I'd say Pennsylvania -- anywhere, really -- and Illinois outside Chicago. Chicago's a great city, but very expensive, I have several friends in the city and know it's ridiculous (though not as ridiculous as L.A. or NYC, it's still prohibitive).

Really, Pennsylvania migh tbe your best bet, the Tuscarawas Valley is very pretty especially in the fall. If we bail on Ohio, that's one of our options.

[madrchsod]

12. Chicago suburbs

i45-175 for new housing. no mountains! Madison Wisconsin is another city worth living in or around. i`m not sure of housing costs-alot depends on where you want to live and how far you want to drive. for scenery 50-100 miles in any direction is the some of the best scenery of any place in america.

[Ravenseye]

13. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There are lots of churches here, but many of them are closed or re-used as micro-brewerys etc.

Plenty of bookstores, both Barnes and Noble types and small used bookstores, and half priced books type places.

It's also inexpensive. You can rent a full house in the city for under 1000 a month, and I'm talking house, yard, 4 bedrooms, nice place, good walk, good public transit. You can buy homes for under 100k in certain neighborhoods that aren't necessarily bad, and 125k will get you a great place. Huge homes in the city that are totally modern price out at around 300-350k...thats top of the line. To spend more you have to move to the suburbs with HUGE houses, mansions, 'elite' neighborhoods etc. You can get smaller apartments for 200-300 a month.

Pittsburgh itself is highly blue. I think the county itself is like 65% Blue, but in the city in places like Squirrel Hill where I live it's more lik 90% Blue.

There are tech and engineering jobs, and as far as I know that sector is growing here, though the biggest growth area is in biotech.

The people are tolerant and friendly, there are great outdoors areas in the city, as well as nearby with the Laurel Highlands within an hour with whitewater rafting, skiing, hiking, mountain biking. Lakes, rivers, etc.

I'm telling you....Pittsburgh is the way to go.

[nedlogg]

14. And therein lies the rub.

Affordable and progressive generally don't coexist.

You mentioned NYC. Very expensive, but if you don't need to live too close, upstate NY can be reasonable. A college town like New Paltz for example is about a 3-hour drive to the city.

Forget Long Island. A 3-hour drive to the city still puts you in areas where decent housing starts at $300,000.

Good luck!

[eallen]

15. Any blue towns on the southeast or gulf coasts?

The only problem with Providence, RI, is that it is too damned cold in the winters. Are there any progressive towns on the southeast shore, or the gulf coast? Yeah, I know those are all red states. But surely somewhere along the water....

Water colors people blue, right?