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Comment by ianleeclark | Hacker News Reader

It always seems like I'm one of the few in my age cohort (~24), but I'd rather work in Montana than SV/NYC any day. It feels like everyone just wants to be downtown to some major city, but I just want a respectable house on 1/2 acres with mountain views and snow every winter.

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I think downtown in a major city would be fun for a few years while building up the start of a career, then switch to somewhere like Chattanooga or Asheville and get a comfy house somewhere in the mountains (small cities but not rural). I think my problem is that I like constant novelty. I'm not sure any location is "best" for me — I seem to want different scenery every few years.

I think for a lot of people, it is hard to find employment in small cities in their field of work. If you want to have a finance career or software career, you need to be in a big city.

How many software engineers does Billings, Montana hire with comfortable compensation?

This is actually a severe problem that I have. I'd really like to work remote, so that I could live anywhere. At the same time, however, what if my company goes under, I get laid off, &c., I'm essentially stuck in a sub-optimal position.

I really wish remote were more frequent a benefit.

We have significant trouble hiring developers here in Socorro, NM. Most are of the downtown favoring variety. But here, you can get a modest house for under $100K, have lots of great hiking opportunities, see a lot of open space. I think my lot is 1/4 acre with a 1200 sq ft house on it, and I paid $95K. (You'd have to compromise on the snow.)

I think you're right about your cohort. But in the next 15-20 years, I think there will be a swing in the other direction. These things are cyclical; your cohort hated growing up in suburbs with nothing to do, but their parents hated growing up in crime-addled cities packed with people, and their parents hated growing up bored on a farm, etc.

Most people agree with you. There are far more young people living outside SV/NYC than inside.

This is definitely true, but I spend too much time on HN and living in Austin and it definitely affects my views on my peers.

How do you like Austin? I've been looking for jobs there and am curious what it is like.

Depending on whatever you like (small, medium, large) in companies, they've got it here. It's too damn hot and humid and I've lived here all my life.

I'm personally not a fan, but if you want a tech-oriented city with a huge music scene, this will be your place. Downtown prices are ridiculous (3300/month for 650ish square feet if you want to be on 6th street), but I have a nice place on the outskirts 2b/2ba for 1100/month).

Thanks! Wow, those prices are pretty ridiculous; that's approaching SF levels.

You can easily commute to NYC from Jersey. :)

Yes but Jersey is not going to give you the 1/2 acre property for nearly the same price as Montana, let alone the mountain views :(

Plus my girlfriend has a strict "No New Jersey" rule.

Sunshine every day is the reason by a couple of my friends for moving back home.

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