Where do you want to live and practice?

[illegallysmooth]

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Hey everyone,

I recently came across the CNN Money Magazine's report on the "100 Best Places to Live" - http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/

This got me thinking about what kind of area I'd eventually like to settle in, and how this might affect where and how I will practice medicine.

What do you value in a potential hometown/homecity? Do you think being near large academic centers is important for certain specialities? What population of a hometown or nearby city are you looking for?

Finally, we talk a whole lot about salary on SDN, but not as much about cost of living. Here in Buffalo the median home price is around 60k, and that's quite good for a city with a population of around 275k and a median income of around 40k. However, there's a catch - winter for at least 5 months or so 🙁 My dollar might stretch further here, but that doesn't mean I'll be happier. Would you rather live in a beautiful place and pay out the nose for it, or would you rather have your dollar stretch as far as possible and maybe take a few more vacations?

EDIT: Just found this while browsing:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/03/0302_affordable_suburbs/1.htm

 

[Morsetlis]

California.

 

[illegallysmooth]

California.

North? South? Coastal? Inland?

 

[Morsetlis]

Within 25 miles of UCSD.

Lots of Vietnamese patients around here.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'm staying in the Midwest. Cheap living, decent-sized cities, and higher pay is a hard combo to pass up. Kansas City, Chicago, and Denver are probably my top choices, in no particular order.

 

[Morsetlis]

I'm staying in the Midwest. Cheap living, decent-sized cities, and higher pay is a hard combo to pass up. Kansas City, Chicago, and Denver are probably my top choices, in no particular order.

I'll have to concede that living expenses / house prices are way better where there's no beaches.

 

[d1ony5u5]

I feel like the odd one out... Absolutely no preference. Well, I should be a bit more accurate: There are places I would avoid. Like most of the middle of the country. The south.

Otherwise, I could even see myself getting out of the U.S. (Well, after repaying debt and all)...

 

[illegallysmooth]

I've always figured I'd stay out of the south, but N. Carolina and Virginia are looking very attractive to me recently. Also some areas in Florida, but I fear the humidity will do terrible things to my hair unless some NASA scientists go to work in the cosmetics industry.

 

[organdonor]

Do you think being near large academic centers is important for certain specialities? http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/03/0302_affordable_suburbs/1.htm

Yes. At this (very early) point in the game, I think I want to work in transplant surgery. They don't do that just anywhere.

I would like to stay as close as possible to where my family lives, honestly more for my fiance than for me. But I still would need to move a considerable distance to the nearest transplant center. Therefore, I would have a comftorable 2-3 hundred mile "cushion" between my/her family and us. None of that "Oh I don't work this weekend lets visit my parents" bullcrap.

 

[metallica81788]

I will probably end up back in New Orleans, thus my desire to leave for a while before settling down back there. But the hospital situation leaves a lot to be desired - I would like to get out until the new hospital settles itself out and reevaluate the situation.

Some other places I could see myself - Colorado, Houston, Dallas, North Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii (not for the long haul, though)

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I'm thinking Virginia.

 

[Hope0913]

Washington, Vermont, Minnesota, Arizona🙂

 

[morning]

I'm torn, because I absolutely love my state, I'm very close to my family, and the Midwest is much better than anyone gives it credit for. But I absolutely hate winter and I get seriously depressed when it's cold and gray outside for months on end.

My ideal state: New Mexico, perfect mix of mountains and desert, snow and sunshine, cowboys and hippies.

Where I'll probably end up: Good old (15% unemployment) Michigan.

Wherever it is, I genuinely love rural areas, so I have no intention of living in a big city. I'm not planning on applying for medical school in a metropolis, either, which I think gives me a slight advantage.

 

[illegallysmooth]

Washington, Vermont, Minnesota, Arizona🙂

These are very different climates. I'm curious as to how you picked them.

 

[Daedra22]

I've lived in California, Tennessee and Texas, and Texas is definitely my home of choice. Texas has better cities, a more stable government, and it's where my friends and my husband's family live. Plus, there are plenty academic centers if I want to do academic medicine (I don't claim to know what I want to do yet). I don't have much of a preference otherwise... I like DFW a lot, but Copus Christi might be nice too. I miss the ocean.

 

[specter]

I'm thinking Virginia.

excellent state

 

[sm640739]

I know it gets a bad rap sometimes but I like Philly. Born in PA and been here my whole life... And I kinda like it here. Family is close by as well. 🙂

 

[morning]

I know it gets a bad rap sometimes but I like Philly. Born in PA and been here my whole life... And I kinda like it here. Family is close by as well. 🙂

Plus I hear it's always sunny there 😀

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

excellent state

Lol I currently live in Maryland, i've always found Virginia to be a lil'warmer.

 

[Geekchick921]

I know it gets a bad rap sometimes but I like Philly. Born in PA and been here my whole life... And I kinda like it here. Family is close by as well. 🙂

Same, part of me wants to stay here for awhile longer. Another part of me wants to live somewhere else for a time, as I've lived in the area my whole life.

I really doubt we'll end up in the South (east or west) or the midwest, because I like the ocean, but I think anything from Virginia to Maine and possibly Northern Cali to Washington might be fair game.

 

[coldweatherblue]

East Tennessee.

I'm going to school in Cali and there are a lot of things I like about it (snowboarding + surfing) but I dunno if I'd raise a family here.

I've known all my best friends back home since we were like 1 year old and we were boys through a lot of crazy stuff growing up, never had drama or anything, and ummmm basically family and friends are the greatest things that you can have, it sucks to spend time away from them.

plus the people are way nicer back home, land is cheaper, everything is cheaper, there's more water, less crowded, cleaner air, more peaceful, better compensation, etc. definitely going to make the most of the west while I'm here though.. 👍

 

[J ROD]

near the beach and in a small hospital nearby......👍

 

[DocMcCoy]

San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston. In that order. Texas weather and COL is hard to beat.

 

[Electronegative]

Maryland, and work at University of Maryland Medical center.

 

[SusGob711]

Ultimately wherever the job takes me but I would prefer a mid- to small-sized city even if it meant a pay cut. I'd rather enjoy a lower patient ratio and less stress so probably somewhere in the Midwest. I would love to spend time on the East coast though...Boston, D.C., or even NYC...definately not forever though 🙂

 

[orthomyxo]

Boston and BIDMC 😎

 

[illegallysmooth]

San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston. In that order. Texas weather and COL is hard to beat.

Why did you leave out Austin? Thought you might have some insight because of your signature.

 

[fatty19]

Pandora. The phosphorescent plant-life is a big plus, not to mention the ten-foot tall blue aliens.

 

[MilkmanAl]

San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston. In that order. Texas weather and COL is hard to beat.

If you love super hot and humid, it's the best! Cost of living, I'll definitely give you. How much can you charge someone for a house in scrub land, anyway?

 

[TheRach1025]

I've lived in California, Tennessee and Texas, and Texas is definitely my home of choice. Texas has better cities, a more stable government, and it's where my friends and my husband's family live. Plus, there are plenty academic centers if I want to do academic medicine (I don't claim to know what I want to do yet). I don't have much of a preference otherwise... I like DFW a lot, but Copus Christi might be nice too. I miss the ocean.

I suggest you cross Corpus Christi off your list. I used to live there and it was alright. However, I visited this summer and that place has become a s**thole. I guess because of the recession. I really hope it recovers. The city has a lot of potential because of all of the land and (of course) the beach.
If I decided to have a family, school systems would be a huge factor I'd have to consider. I think the potential for a good education is higher in large cities. I'm in Brooklyn now but NYC is far too expensive. I'd think somewhere like Chicago would be nice.

 

[Vvandenn]

I suggest you cross Corpus Christi off your list. I used to live there and it was alright. However, I visited this summer and that place has become a s**thole. I guess because of the recession. I really hope it recovers. The city has a lot of potential because of all of the land and (of course) the beach.
If I decided to have a family, school systems would be a huge factor I'd have to consider. I think the potential for a good education is higher in large cities. I'm in Brooklyn now but NYC is far too expensive. I'd think somewhere like Chicago would be nice.

I go to college in Corpus Christi at the moment. This place has a lot of potential and if you love the beach, you can have a lot of fun here. It's a small town, yes, so you'll have to get adjusted to that factor.

Personally, I would like to either practice in Austin (best city in Texas imo, but I'm a crazy hippy so it makes sense), SF, SD, Boulder, Denver, some east coast cities, etc. We'll see what happens.

 

[Wolfman89]

The Seattle area or the Denver-Boulder area.

 

[Revilla]

I've always figured I'd stay out of the south, but N. Carolina and Virginia are looking very attractive to me recently. Also some areas in Florida, but I fear the humidity will do terrible things to my hair unless some NASA scientists go to work in the cosmetics industry.

Former Floridian here. Get yourself a big bottle of Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier hairspray. It's a necessity for the humidity in FL and works great! 🙂

As for where you want to end up, Florida's way too hot and humid for me. I prefer New England.

 

[Cleavername]

plus i hear it's always sunny there

i c wut u did thar

 

[Flapjacks]

Hawaii

 

[Hope0913]

These are very different climates. I'm curious as to how you picked them.

Anywhere but the south. Vermont because they have good healthcare (and it was also voted the healthiest state for 7 times in 8 yrs), and they have an independent in the senate😎, MN because i loved the state, it was beautiful w/ the lakes and luscious green trees, the air smelled wonderful (atl's air doesn't cut it), Arizona because i can easily drive down to mexico and the little spanish that i know would come handy. I plan on becoming fluent in the language one day

 

[j4premed]

Although it probably isn't too practical...

I'd like to practice in the NW from April-Sept and Cali or AZ for the rest of the year 😎

 

[Hoody]

Wyoming. yee haw.

 

[surftheiop]

From SC, school in NY.

Most likely would like to live in SC, NC, VA. Im into outdoors stuff so somewhere near/in the Rockies in CO would be nice also.

I just hate big cities and gray weather.

 

[metallica81788]

Although it probably isn't too practical...

I'd like to practice in the NW from April-Sept and Cali or AZ for the rest of the year 😎

I like your thinking.

If I were going that route I would do Cali/Pacific NW in the summer, NOLA in the spring (before it gets too hot), Colorado in the fall, and Hawaii in the winter. 👍

 

[sf49rox]

.

 

[Morsetlis]

I like your thinking.

If I were going that route I would do Cali/Pacific NW in the summer, NOLA in the spring (before it gets too hot), Colorado in the fall, and Hawaii in the winter. 👍

Doctors Without (State) Border.

 

[Hope2008]

Australia? I heard Melbourne is a nice city.

 

[FloatOn]

Big city in the northeast, like DC, NYC, or Boston. Large teaching hospital. Small, nice place and a medium sized dog. Travel the world during whatever vacation time I have.

 

[GregoryMD]

Well I've lived in Arizona for a majority of my life. (Lived in Phoenix, going to UofA in Tucson now). Preferably, I'd like to go somewhere else for medical school. Eventually, I wouldn't mind living somewhere like NYC or Boston, but I'm not familiar with the east coast at all. Not really digging the midwest or the south. I may possibly just end up in Scottsdale, but who knows.

 

[Hoody]

Big city in the northeast, like DC, NYC, or Boston. Large teaching hospital. Small, nice place and a medium sized dog. Travel the world during whatever vacation time I have.

perhaps two medium dogs? or one medium, one smalls? although one medium would be easier to sneak into the office on weekends.

 

[Squeal]

I would really like to get out of the south for a while. East coast or west coast preferably.

I like the idea of the west coast being laid back, so I'd like to try out the bay area or the pacific northwest. If I went east North Carolina or the DC area would be neat.

 

[Morsetlis]

I think you guys just don't know how awesome the Cali weather and beaches are.

 

[FloatOn]

perhaps two medium dogs? or one medium, one smalls? although one medium would be easier to sneak into the office on weekends.

😕 Why would I bring my dog to the office?

 

[amakhosidlo]

If I were to throw down some roots, it'd have to be Western WA or B.C (commute across the border somewhow)

When things turn permanently South in the US, I'm totally making a beeline for Australia, gold coast in Queensland.