# Is the West Coast the worst part of the US/Canada to live in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873 "2015-03-12T23:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/61 "2015-03-13T18:20:01Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > Why not, I mean what exactly is special about the West Coast? I mean a lot of places have mountains, trees, and beaches, some places even have warm beaches lol. I like the nature here don’t get me wrong but I’m not sure it’s superior to anywhere else. The entire planet is pretty beautiful as far as nature goes. > > I’d love to try greener pastures but unfortunately you need a small fortune saved up to move. I’m not willing to risk homelessness thousands of miles away from family. You NEED to live in other places if you really dislike living here. Only then will you know for sure what’s the best place for you. I lived for a considerable period of my life on the East before moving to California, that’s how I know that I do want to live here. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/62 "2015-03-13T19:09:00Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > I will say Bay Area food is excellent, no question, but the food in Portland is very mediocre, probably no better than what you’d get in Minneapolis or Cleveland. You want to know how I know you’ve never been to Minneapolis? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/63 "2015-03-13T19:26:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So you’re saying, “Aside from the ideal year-round climate, access to nature (with beaches and mountains both in easy driving distance), job opportunities (what with thousands of jobs in aerospace, entertainment and technology), great food (both in restaurants and available fresh from farmers markets) and so forth, what’s so great about the West Coast?” Does that about sum it up? All right… all right… but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order… what have the Romans done for us? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/64 "2015-03-13T19:39:11Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > You want to know how I know you’ve never been to Minneapolis? Yeah, it is to laugh. A quasi-foodie friend recently moved from the Bay Area to Minneapolis and had had nothing but praise for the restaurants out there. She has much less praise for frozen winters ;). Really, OP - this is a spectacular case of the “the grass is always greener.” There are legitimate regions to prefer other parts of the country - fall leaf spectaculars, warm thunderstorms, warmer ocean, regional cultures, the tremendous diversity of [plethodontid salamanders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungless_salamander) in Appalachia. But the west _objectively_ the worst part of U.S. to live in? That’s frankly delusional. And I say that as someone who was born in the East and has lived there, the Midwest as well as the West ( plus lengthy excursions into the South ). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/65 "2015-03-13T20:00:37Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > By that logic, China and India are the best places in the world to live? And to answer your question, because living on the West Coast makes it harder to save money and moving ain’t cheap! Moving certainly doesn’t cost a “small fortune.” I’m not saying you can do it for fifty bucks, but you can pull it off for a month’s rent, easy. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/66 "2015-03-13T20:07:08Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > I was born in California and I’ve lived in Oregon most of my life, so I know what I’m talking about. People on the West Coast pay out of the nose for everything and get very little back in return for it, aside from access to nature and mountains which the eastern US also has. Plus they have sea water that’s actually warm enough to swim in on the east coast. California has more poverty than any other state when you adjust things for the cost of living, though New York state is not far behind due to the absurd cost of living in the NYC area. I’m glad your family has done well but the fact is it’s so much easier to do well in **pretty much any other state** , including the other western states. You clearly have never had to deal with 30 inches of snow like we had in NJ just before I left. (I know, a sprinkling compared to Boston this year.) You never had to deal with an entire month where the temperature never got above freezing like I did in Illinois. You never had to deal with 110% humidity (well, it felt that way) like in South Louisiana. And bugs the size of your fist. Now, I wouldn’t live in the Central Valley if you paid me. Terrible weather, high unemployment, Republicans. But the Bay Area is pretty nice if you can afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/67 "2015-03-13T20:09:56Z")
I was born in Florida (fond but distance memories), raised in the midwest. I lived in Los Angeles for 30 years and now live in Sacramento area. The only thing that would get me to move back to the midwest would be nuclear fallout that made the west coast, Arizona, Texas and Florida uninhabitable. And I would still consider suicide to be a reasonable option. After a moments consideration, it would be suicide. I will NOT endure another one of those winters. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/68 "2015-03-13T20:11:09Z")
I would venture to say the south of the US (can’s speak for Canada) but southern California, AZ, New Mexico, Texas, Deep south US - all of it seems a nightmare to me. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/69 "2015-03-13T20:45:08Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > I’d love to try greener pastures but unfortunately you need a small fortune saved up to move. I’m not willing to risk homelessness thousands of miles away from family. Moving does not have to be expensive. At 25 I moved from the east coast to Northern California with 3 months pay (of a moderate paying job) in my pocket - and a car payment due each month. I couch surfed for a few months with friends until I found a job. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/70 "2015-03-13T22:11:50Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > I would venture to say the south of the US (can’s speak for Canada) but southern California, AZ, New Mexico, Texas, Deep south US - all of it seems a nightmare to me. Yeah, Santa Barbara totally sucks. How can _anyone_ liver there!? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/71 "2015-03-13T22:53:06Z")
If anything its the best part of the United States to live in-especially the belt from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/72 "2015-03-13T23:24:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, Santa Barbara totally sucks. How can _anyone_ liver there!? I know. Nobody can drive there. There’s too much traffic. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/73 "2015-03-13T23:38:52Z")
And the closeness of the Santa Ynez Valley just promotes alcoholism! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/74 "2015-03-13T23:52:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, Santa Barbara totally sucks. How can _anyone_ liver there!? I’d never want to move there. The place is so beautiful I’d never get anything done. “No, I will not look at the beach!” It would try Odysseus, it would. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/75 "2015-03-14T00:29:58Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Funny you say that. My Wifes from Pittsburgh, and I visit there more than any other place back east. Not so many bigots as rabid sports fans there. I mean rabid. For the real bigots you have to head north about a half hour. Butler through Clarion was, and as far as I know still is, a serious hotbed of Klan membership and activity. Most of the stuff passed around Pittsburgh and left on windshields originates from up there. As for sports; not many places beat people to death for not being fans - Pittsburgh does. [http://old.post-gazette.com/neigh\_south/20021225beating1225p2.asp](http://old.post-gazette.com/neigh_south/20021225beating1225p2.asp) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/76 "2015-03-14T01:17:59Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I’d never want to move there. The place is so beautiful I’d never get anything done. > “No, I will not look at the beach!” It would try Odysseus, it would. It really made going to class difficult while I went to the City College. “I could go to class and learn about the Civil War, or I could go across the street and be at the beach…” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/77 "2015-03-14T02:00:33Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > I was born in California and I’ve lived in Oregon most of my life, so I know what I’m talking about. The value of first hand experience is often limited by the abilities of the person having the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/78 "2015-03-14T02:05:38Z")
I think the West Coast is the best place to live if you’re upper middle class. The entire coast seems to be geared towards upper middle class sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/79 "2015-03-14T02:14:43Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I live on the coast in So Cal, we seldom ever hit 90 degrees. Very few air conditioners along the coast. I think we have some of the best weather in the world, it simply couldn’t get much better. Here in Sacramento, we do get 100+ degree weather every summer. It’s ‘hot’, but it’s nothing like the 90 degrees and 90% humidity that much of the East and Gulf Coasts suffer miserably through. And for two or three days every winter it dips into the upper 20s…it may not be “the best weather in the world” here in the Valley, but it’s a damn sight nicer year-round than lots of other places. And we have no earthquakes, no tornadoes, no hurricanes. It’s a horrible place…whatever you do, don’t come live here. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873/80 "2015-03-14T02:15:19Z")
**Protoboard** is correct. The nature in California is weird. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-coast-the-worst-part-of-the-us-canada-to-live-in/714873.md?page=5)