Whats a good place to move to raise children?

Question

Im a single mom with a 15 yr old dd and the dad is gone.I live in gorgeous Santa Barbara Ca where Im 2 blocks from the beach, I got movie stars as neighbors(I live 10 min from Oprahs 40 million dolar mansion) I got mountains on one side, palm trees on the other.the best weather, the only way I can afford it is that Im on gov housing and I get cheap rent. The norm is 1,500 a mo for a small 2 bdr place. .So why do I want to move? Im tired of being the only "po folk" in town except the homeless crowd. The people out here are SO materialistic. My dd is being raised with all her friends top priority in life is to have the right kind of Ipod and the shirt of the week at Juicy. That sets her diff from everyone else. and thats tough for a teen. Also, I was glad that this was a college town filled with school minded young people, but its all about the prostitute clothes and how drunk they got and how many sex acts and with who. I know that it is a sign of the times, but its extra bad here.

I dont want to sound like a prude, I just dont want my daughter to make the same mistakes I did, and I want to give her a better enviorment than what I had. I really beleive in your enviorment and your peers really shaping your early years....also, Im worried that if I stay here and she turns 18 and moves out to be on her own...How in the heck is she going to make it financially in this town? move in with some guy just so she can pay bills? YIKES! I did that...wish I could do it over.

Answer 1

I totally feel your pain. We live in Shell Beach just North of you.
The rents are similar here and we struggle just to pay the rent and utilities each month.
It's so hard to always feel like your telling the kids "no we can't afford it."
We do have 2 incomes, but we have 2 kids too.
But we both grew up around here and it is home.
If I had the option of moving away, I would very seriously consider Canada.
They have federalized medicine there, it's the same for everyone. That would mean a lot to me because we don't have ANY health care as it is, we do not qualify for any state programs and cannot afford a private policy.
I have a life-long friend who moved up to Canada several years ago and she loves it.
Good Luck whatever you do.

Answer 2

A few years ago I would have recommended either eastern central Indiana or Asheville, North Carolina (both places where I have lived for long periods of time) as quality places to raise children as well as enjoy low rents and a relatively stable employment situation.
The materialistic approach to life, especially on the part of youth, has crept into even the smallest towns, hamlets and burghs throughout the United States. In some respects, the riotous life is even worse in those small places than in a larger city.
You are really at a loss and my heart goes out to you.

Answer 3

Colorado springs is supposed to be a really nice place, and I'm sure it is much cheaper.

Also, atlanta is very cheap too.

As someone else said you could always try canada, but you would have to deal with immigration and all of that, a big hassle.

Answer 4

Move to some small town...Not a tourist or vacation spot...
I have been to Santa Barbara many times..
It is not a good place to raise kids..

Answer 5

florida is good, just dont move to miami ruff area , another thing you could do is play around on the web ,, go to ask.com and type in the cost of living per state after you get that info go back and check crime statisic per state just get all the info on differnet places you can and then you will be able to figure it out

Answer 6

Anywhere in Canada..Small towns in Novascotia simple life Free health care:)

Answer 7

May be outside the USA .

Answer 8

south