Okay, so I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want to settle down, especially now that I’m, you know, a “young adult.” I wanted to find a place that’s got good job opportunities, isn’t crazy expensive, and actually has stuff to do. So, I started my great “best states” research project.
Digging into Data
First, I googled things, like “best states for young professionals” and “most affordable states to live in.” I got a bunch of articles and lists – some helpful, some totally not. I made a note to avoid any list that seemed to be written by a robot or was just trying to sell me something.
I started to see some states popping up again and again: North Carolina, Texas, Colorado… those seemed to be the usual suspects. But I needed to go deeper. I wanted real data, not just opinions, right?
My Spreadsheet Obsession
So, I grabbed a spreadsheet. Yup, I went full nerd. I created columns for things like:
- Cost of Living: How much does it cost to rent an apartment, buy groceries, etc.?
- Job Growth: Are companies actually hiring in that state?
- Average Salary: What’s the pay like? Can I actually afford to live there?
- Unemployment Rate: Is it hard to find a job, even if there’s “growth”?
- Fun Factor: This was my own totally subjective rating. Are there cool cities, outdoor activities, a good music scene?
I spent hours (okay, maybe days) filling in this spreadsheet. I found data from government websites, real estate sites, and even some job boards. I compared the numbers, looked for patterns, and tried to find the sweet spot between affordability and opportunity.
Narrowing it Down
After all that research, I started to eliminate some states. Some were just way too expensive (looking at you, California!). Others had surprisingly high unemployment rates. Some just seemed… boring. No offense, but I need a little more excitement in my life.
I focused on a handful of states that seemed to have a good balance of everything. I read local news articles and checked out online forums to get a feel for what it’s really like to live in those places. I even virtually “walked” around some neighborhoods using online map tools.
The Verdict (For Now!)
It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few top contenders.I found that what state is best for you depends on many things, and will change state by state.I plan on visiting a couple of these states in the next few months to get a real-life feel for them. I mean, you can’t make a big decision like this based solely on spreadsheets, right? Wish me luck, It is a tough process.