May move...could use input.

[Trabitha]

Hey y'all. So, my husband works in a position that allows for us to grow within the company often. This sometimes means that we need to move for a better opportunity. We've almost moved to Indiana but that fell through...now we may have an opportunity to move someplace between Ohio and Kansas. To make it easier on me, I'm focusing on Illinois right now and staying completely out of Ohio.
Anyone have any pro's or con's I should keep in mind? Does anyone know an affordable, safe, and low populated area in South/western Illinois?

Any input will be appreciated.

[crashdive123]

If you have a choice, I would move to a state that does not have a state income tax and is a right to work state. IMO those states will recover much more quickly than the others.

Oh - and a state that defends our Second Amendment Rights. That tells me a lot about those that are running the state.

[Trabitha]

All good points that I didn't take into account. Thank you!

[Trabitha]

Oh! Just got informed that we can REALLY be picky when it comes down to it. If he gets it...we can pick ANYPLACE from Ohio to Kansas...and anything south to the gulf! Wow...

Tell me what you like about your state! LOL!

[Sourdough]

I would move to a state with lots of food, relative to the population, like Kansas. More food & less humans makes me happy. Abundant Water could be a factor. Kansas has good hunting also.

[Rick]

Oh, my dear Heavens. Do NOT move to southern Illinois. I was raised there and you do NOT want to go. First, the state just passed a new progress tax. That means they progressively drain you. They just increased state taxes 67%!!!!!!

There is no concealed carry in Illinois and YOU must be registered to own a firearm or buy ammo.

Southern Illinois is economically depressed. That's the reason I moved from there 20+ years ago. We go back often to visit family so I know the current status as well.

You'll like Indiana if you don't move to Marion county. Taxes are a bit high there right now (home to Indianapolis) but the rest of the state is doing well. Taxes are reasonable as are utilities and cost of living including housing.

I think Tennessee is the only state in the Midwest (sort of midwest) that doesn't have state income tax but they do tax dividend and interest income.

If you are forced into Southern Illinois then look at Carbondale or Marion. Carbondale is a college town with all the pros and cons associated with that. If you get up around Belleville then you have the crime of East St. Louis to worry about. (hangs head in shame).

[Trabitha]

Yeah, I wasn't happy with the gun laws in illinois and what you pointed out, it's totally out of contention. Tennessee would put us SMACK dab in the middle of the territory so it IS an option if we needed it to be. Indiana IS a beautiful place, and I was trying to get him to consider that again...but for some reason he's not fond of the idea. I get the impression that if he's too close to the home office, they make him commute in each day which will defeat the point of his interest in this job. He really needs to get off the road.
Missouri looked like an option too, as it seems you get a lot of bang for your buck. He's fond of West Virginia...but I'm not sold on it yet.

[Pocomoonskyeyes3]

Of the states that are in contention(I think) Tennessee is the only one in that area other than Florida that has no income tax.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_income_tax

As far as "Castle Doctrine laws", this would also make Tennessee another good choice.....

As of the 28th of May, 2010, 31 States have some form of Castle Doctrine and/or Stand Your Ground law. Alabama,[9] Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island,[10] South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,[11] West Virginia and Wyoming have adopted Castle Doctrine statutes, and other states (Montana, Nebraska,[12] New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington) are currently considering "Stand Your Ground" laws of their own.[13][14][15]

Also Tennessee has what seems to be a good Concealed Carry Law.....
http://apps.carryconcealed.net/legal...state-laws.php

I have lived in both Nashville and Knoxville and while both are pretty decent cities Nashville and the area around it is pretty nice. There is always a lot to do in Nashville if you like Country Music. I saw Rascal Flatts in a bar the night they signed their contract on their way to the "Big Time". I was the "Designated Driver" that night, as I was EVERY night my Room-mates wanted to go out.LOL Which was fine with me they bought my soft drinks/coffee and cover charge!

This is a list of the major cities and their Population, Most of them are around the Nashville area, Those being Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin........
http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Tennessee.html

Quite Honestly IF I HAD to live in a big city, Nashville is my personal first choice of those I've been to. You can always live near Nashville in a small Rural Town and still have it close by.

[finallyME]

Just remember, they don't call it Misery (Missouri) for nothing. Well, actually I was only there when in the army and in training, so my opinion is skewed. But personally, anything east of the Mississippi is...well...not as good as west.

[BENESSE]

Virginia is beautiful in so many ways. Is it too far southeast for you, T?

[crashdive123]

Florida:
No state income tax
Right to work state.
Castle doctrine state
Easy to buy weapons and ammunition (no registering)
CCW

I haven't shoveled snow here in the 22 years that I've lived here.

[Rick]

Dang it! The snow and tax part part beat me.

[Trabitha]

Virginia is beautiful in so many ways. Is it too far southeast for you, T?

I like Virginia too, but yea...too far to the east for his territory.

[Trabitha]

LOL! My son wants to go to Florida too. I can't live without my mountains and real trees and seasons. That's why I had to get the heck out of AZ. As much as I loved it there, I couldn't get used to it.

[Pocomoonskyeyes3]

LOL! My son wants to go to Florida too. I can't live without my mountains and real trees and seasons. That's why I had to get the heck out of AZ. As much as I loved it there, I couldn't get used to it.

LOL Sounds like Tennessee is gonna' win!(BTW I am not associated with Tennessee, nor do I work for them) Cumberland Plateau, and the Smokies, Plus the area around Chatanooga. Personally, If/when I move again it will be to go back home to Georgia/Florida line area. Yeah.... I'm a flatlander. The only "High Ground" where I'm from is Road beds, Indian Burial mounds, Gator nests, and Fire Ant beds.

[Trabitha]

AHHH! I remember visiting my uncle in GA and experiencing my first fire ant bed!! I was swimming and came out to play. I got tired! How was I to know that nice little bump wasn't a place God placed there JUST for me to sit on?

[your_comforting_company]

What I like about my state?

Rich resources, from freshwater springs to full wild gardens year long. Wide open spaces and dense forests, lots of nature and good people. Temps never below zero.

cons? well.. there's gnats, and mosquitos, and gators, and snakes, and wasps, and ants... Rick has a list somewhere.

[oldsoldier]

Trabitha.... IMHO I would avoid Illinois because it seems to be getting more restrictive every week. They have some of the toughest gun laws in the country. Virtually no handgun rights among other things, Like crash said maybe some where a little less restrictive. While I live in Indiana if I had my choice I would probibly choose Tennessee, colorado, wyoming or Montana. While these states are not in your relocation area, still IMO great places to live.

[Pocomoonskyeyes3]

AHHH! I remember visiting my uncle in GA and experiencing my first fire ant bed!! I was swimming and came out to play. I got tired! How was I to know that nice little bump wasn't a place God placed there JUST for me to sit on?

I could have gotten arrested because of a fire ant bed. I went for a walk one night and sat down to think, all was well with the world..... until the colony that suddenly attacked me made me strip and streak home!!! Good thing there was no traffic and no one was out that night!!! I had over a hundred bites, that made tiny little blisters.

[Brazito]

You don't want Illinos, it's currently run by idiots. Actually it's been controlled by idiots for quite a while. The capital city of Chicago is un-aware of anything existing south of I-80, take for example the real capital Springfield.