Looking for our hometown: Walkable, historical houses, and great schools under $550k?
As an ex-USAID Foreign Service family, we’ve spent the last 20 years repeatedly building community in embassies and housing pools all over the world. Doing it back in the U.S. has proven much harder.
One of the most difficult parts of my previous career was saying goodbye to great people every 2-4 years. Instead, we’re looking for a community that is easy for newcomers to integrate into and where neighbors stick around for decades to raise families and grow old.
Our housing budget up to $550,000. Household income around $170,000 (including husband’s remote job and my federal pension). We value affordability and tax efficiency, but we will pay higher taxes if they support outstanding public schools, libraries, parks, and community infrastructure.
Our kids are ages 9 and 11. We want a top-tier public school district (ideally top 10% nationally) that balances strong academic outcomes with a healthy, well-rounded childhood. The state should also have a high-quality public university system for long-term tuition value.
We love historical neighborhoods (Craftsman, Tudor, Colonial, Four Square) with mature tree canopies, active front porches. And we’d like a community where people actually walk, and neighbors paths cross at a central town common, park, or main street.
Our family is progressive/independent and values intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. Things like native-plant gardening, independent coffee shops, public lectures, and a vibrant local music scene.
We prefer a true four-season climate. However, my husband isn’t a fan of endless, bitter northern winters, and I prefer to avoid relentless, swampy southern summers.
We would love to hear your suggestions!