Which state is best?

[esommer2500]

I'm going to be graduating in December from Purdue U with a degree in Building Construction Management. I'm trying to decide where to live/work after school, and thought I might hit you guys up for opinions.



I have lived in Indiana my entire life, worked in Denver, CO for one summer, and am interning in Cincinnatti OH this coming summer. I REALLY liked Colorado, but REALLY disliked living in/around Denver. I am not a big city guy, but I could probably handle working around one if I could live outside. I guess I should also mention that my line of work has mostly involved concrete, both residential and commercial (worked on the Bronco's stadium and a 13 story apartment building in Denver), but I should be qualified for most any job that is construction related, especially management positions.



I would like to stay around the midwest, but am open to any location.



So, how's your living index, taxes, state growth rate, etc. ? Any info or opinions would be welcome.



TIA



Eric

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Building Construction ... ... ... ... ..... No Brainer ..... North East







http://www.neepecon.org/

 

[esommer2500]

I have a good friend that lives in Burlington area. He was going to school here, but decided to transfer back to a college in NH. He has talked to me several times about the possibility of working in the area. It's pretty, but the roads are so messed up I think it would take me a few years just to figure out where I was going. :-{} Ya'll talk funny anyway. :-{}

 

[Ken B]

Eric,



I've lived in many different areas of the country, and the best advice I can give you is pick a couple of places YOU would like to live. Then talk with people who live in the area that you're considering, and do the research that you're asking about. Go to yahoo or google and do the search "the town of your choice, i. e. Denver" cost of living, taxes, etc. You'll find all the info you're looking for and more!



There's many great places to live in this country... but it's all in the eye of the beholder! Good luck, and keep us posted. -Ken



Ps. . To answer one of your questions, the overall economy in Washington and Oregon is down, but construction remains very busy. It's one of the only sectors that is staying steady or growing. If you've never been west of Colorado, then it's time to travel!

 

[TowPro]

I agree. Plus PA has some neat things as well. I live in the country (my neighbors are Amish) and its only an hour to center city Phila. The land around here is being eaten up so quick with houses and office buildings. Plus we have great trout fishing within an hour or 2 west of me, great hunting for Deer, Turkey, etc ( Avian flu took out all the pheasants in the 80's). You can be in the Mountains of PA in the middle of the state within 3-4 hours.



I used to install cell sites for GTE in the 90's all over North America. I did get to see many beautiful areas (most places in the north USA west of the Mississippi are great, but not much work) but it was always nice to return to the Green east coast with its Trees.

Originally posted by ToolManTimTaylor

Building Construction ... ... ... ... ..... No Brainer ..... North East







http://www.neepecon.org/

 

[Shovelhead]

I'm not too sure if I'd want to LIVE there, but in a few weeks there ought to be a lot of new building/construction jobs in and around Bhagdad.

 

[jmtandem]

which state

esommer



Construction seems to be busy in Las Vegas. There is no state income tax and houses are reasonable for the West. But, go visit before you consider any plans to move there as it is very different from the midwest.

 

[merryman]

I hard to know whether you would really want to live in an area untill you spend some timer there---more than a vacation visit.

If you could manage a short term job a several different regions it might be helpfull.

Vaughn

 

[skobylenski]

Originally posted by esommer2500

It's pretty, but the roads are so messed up I think it would take me a few years just to figure out where I was going. :-{} Ya'll talk funny anyway. :-{}

Heck, I've lived here for my whole life (18 yrs. ) and I STILL don't know where I'm going half the time. Of course, that could just be me Whaddaya mean we talk funny?!? Sounds normal to me

 

[Mike Ellis]

As much as I love Texas (and the Oklahoma - New Mexico area too), things are going downhill fast here from the illegal immigration boom and the amazing (and endless) influx of Kalifornia types into the bigger cities. Politics and such are changing fast, will end up being like Kalifornia or New York someday.



If I had a portable skill set that could get me a job in a less-populated area, I would light a shuck for Montana, Wyoming, or Alaska. Building trades might not be as booming as they are in the populated centers, but I have heard nothing but positives from people who live up that way.

 

[The patriot]

New Jersey..............

Good for making money, bad for everyhting else.

Best comprimise, work in NJ, live in Pa.

Eric

 

[bighammer]

If you can put up with a few tourists, (summer months) Traverse City is awesome. If I can help in any way, let me know.

 

[esommer2500]

Ahhh, northern Michigan... . one of my favorite places. I don't know why, but I had never even given this area any thought as a place to make a career after school. Thanks for reminding me bighammer!



My aunt and uncle own a condo on Lake Charlevoix. The place is called Hemingway Pointe, and is near the Ironton Ferry that runs across the south arm of Charlevoix. I usually head up that way for a long weekend in both the summer and winter months, but I missed this winter.



If I remember correctly, there was a lot of construction going on up around Bay Harbor. We went up that way in the boat and looked at some of the $10-$20M homes going up around the golf course there. I'm going to have to do more research.



Thanks

Eric

 

[SnoDawg]

I have always been fond of the state of Denial Oo. Oo.

 

[dseabaugh]

Go to florida, My son and law and daughter just moved to Florida as he was transfered by Anhyser-Bush. Both of them are Chemical engineers. She had a really tough time finding a job because every available job was for the building trade, engineers and job managers. I did some internet searches and spent 6 weeks down there and building ,building engineers/management/inpections/designs is HOT HOT HOT down there. Missouri is DEAD. If someone would offer me a decent price for our realestate here I'd be down there as soon as my old Dodge would get me there.

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by Mike Ellis

As much as I love Texas (and the Oklahoma - New Mexico area too), things are going downhill fast here from the illegal immigration boom and the amazing (and endless) influx of Kalifornia types into the bigger cities. Politics and such are changing fast, will end up being like Kalifornia or New York someday.



I have to agree with Mike Ellis on Texas . Hey Mike , I say the same thing all the time ( word to word ) . Well ~~~~ I have never said New York , but I always say California !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Best]

Eagle,Idaho. Check it out you will love it .

 

[Andy Perreault]

I'm sort of in the same boat. I'll be done with school this August. I posted a topic similar to this about six months ago or so, and I got some pretty informative replies.

The sticking point with my situation is that the company I work for (a major cargo airline, I'm halfway to retirement, so I'm going to stay with them) only flies to the big cities. So, the trick is to find a place where I can live a rural life and not have a super long commute to the airport. I grew up in an L. A. suburb, and now live in a semi-rural area out of Seattle, and I want even more room to breathe.

I'm thinking of Boise, Great Falls, Spokane, Reno, or Grand Junction. Those are the smaller cities in the west that my company flies to. Other possibilities are Anchorage, Albuquerque, or here in Seattle (the congestion is bad here, though).

Andy

 

[Andy Perreault]

I found the topic I posted, Eric:

Which state is best? (moneywise, re: taxes, etc. )

Good luck, Andy

 

[JR2]

What ever you do don't come to Alaska, you would hate it.