Posted: 7/24/2026 11:53:59 AM EDT
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(I posted this in teams and someone recommended here as well) Any insight will be appreciated. I've got a very good job offer that's based in New Albany. Its a little over 50% pay raise. I'm an hourly guy so roughly $25/hr more. My base hourly will be more than my OT pay here in Utah. It's pretty substantial, a long with advancement within the company. I almost moved to Kentucky 3 years ago for similar reasons, cost of living is insane here in Utah, it's crowded, and pay is lower for my line of work. It's me, my wife and our 7 and 13 year old. I drove the area a little bit when they flew me out for the plant tour. I'm wanting a few acres and something in a decent school district. I'll looking at places within an hour radius of New Albany. But it's all completely new for me. I will say day to day it's prettier country then the high desert SLC area. I drove around Chillicothe and Lancaster south of New Albany and was impressed by how pretty it was and kept up. Leaving the west will be hard for me, we camp in the mountains etc... But our $600k house in the burbs in Utah will go a lot further there. In an ideal world I find a similar paying job and live in the mountains out west on a few acres. But that's not a reality these days with housing costs. Sorry for the long post. I think I'm ready to send it though. Substantial pay upgrade, cheaper housing, and though the mountains would be gone, it'll be nice to be somewhere green. And I want a few acres with a shop. Thanks in advance. Job location is in between New Albany and Alexandria on 161. |
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You could probably buy decent small farm in Mt. Vernon or out past Newark towards Zanesville with 600k. Im between chillicothe and Lancaster. Chillicothe would probably be too far with traffic. But east of columbus would be good for you. Buckeye lake area too. Ive been looking at relocating out there as well. Lots of nicer towns on the east side with more neighborhood feels too in case thats what the wife and kids want. Its a growing area around new Albany. Just make sure you are far enough out that your view doesnt turn into a data center or warehouse |
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Originally Posted By SGT-Fish: You could probably buy decent small farm in Mt. Vernon or out past Newark towards Zanesville with 600k. Im between chillicothe and Lancaster. Chillicothe would probably be too far with traffic. But east of columbus would be good for you. Buckeye lake area too. Ive been looking at relocating out there as well. Lots of nicer towns on the east side with more neighborhood feels too in case thats what the wife and kids want. Its a growing area around new Albany. Just make sure you are far enough out that your view doesnt turn into a data center or warehouse Thanks man. I drove Chillicothe to Lancaster when I there. Very pretty country. If we do it I'm ok with the drive. I've got my old beater Prius that's been making my hour commute in Utah. The hours are somewhat flexible, which could help with traffic. The job happens to be a power plant that is feeding a new data center. But I don't want to be near Columbus is my main thing. Hoping to find a few acres in a good school district. |
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I saw in your other thread a lot of suggestions to go east or north of NA, and I would echo those suggestions. I've seen a few for Johnstown, but NA sprawl has almost already reached Jtown, so I would personally go further since you've stated you are good up to an hour drive. I'm in the area between Utica and Mt Vernon and we love it out here. Very quiet, but only 30-35 minutes to our jobs. If home schooling and SD wasn't a high priority, with your budget you'd be able to go further out into Licking or Knox and get a nice house on a good chunk of land, but the SDs might not be as good. We are homeschooling so SD wasn't a high priority. Big Walnut LSD might be a good mix of what you are looking for in a house and SD. I know multiple teachers and admins and a person on the school board, and generally it's about as good as you will get in a public school imo. Centerburg is another good option, and you money might go a bit further there. Feel free to IM if you have any specific questions! |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: I saw in your other thread a lot of suggestions to go east or north of NA, and I would echo those suggestions. I've seen a few for Johnstown, but NA sprawl has almost already reached Jtown, so I would personally go further since you've stated you are good up to an hour drive. I'm in the area between Utica and Mt Vernon and we love it out here. Very quiet, but only 30-35 minutes to our jobs. If home schooling and SD wasn't a high priority, with your budget you'd be able to go further out into Licking or Knox and get a nice house on a good chunk of land, but the SDs might not be as good. We are homeschooling so SD wasn't a high priority. Big Walnut LSD might be a good mix of what you are looking for in a house and SD. I know multiple teachers and admins and a person on the school board, and generally it's about as good as you will get in a public school imo. Centerburg is another good option, and you money might go a bit further there. Feel free to IM if you have any specific questions! Thanks for that man. Definitely focusing on North and East areas now. The ops manager bought his house in Sunbury. He's from out west like me. Really seems to like it. I think I'll have to go further out though in my budget if I want a few acres. I'll for sure hit you up though. I appreciate all the suggestions/feedback. |
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There isn't much to go wrong in your AO. It'll come down to 'right place at the right time'. As was mentioned earlier, there is no reason for a 1 hr commute. Look harder, neighbor.  |
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in time when everyone stands around, and wise men are reloading."
-Somebody that's been there.
-Somebody that's been there.
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Originally Posted By Dirtydog: There isn't much to go wrong in your AO. It'll come down to 'right place at the right time'. As was mentioned earlier, there is no reason for a 1 hr commute. Look harder, neighbor. Sounds good man. Definitely looking. Mostly at things that have sold to get an idea on what's possible. |
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Originally Posted By Dirtydog: There isn't much to go wrong in your AO. It'll come down to 'right place at the right time'. As was mentioned earlier, there is no reason for a 1 hr commute. Look harder, neighbor. I disagree a little. I have a 45min commute to from circleville area to Whitehall. Its easily doable but I would go another 15mins out to even more country and have more land. Being out in unincorporated areas with less rules and less neighbors is worth it to me. Maybe thats all less than an hour drive from NA and im just not familiar |
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Originally Posted By SGT-Fish: I disagree a little. I have a 45min commute to from circleville area to Whitehall. Its easily doable but I would go another 15mins out to even more country and have more land. Being out in unincorporated areas with less rules and less neighbors is worth it to me. Maybe thats all less than an hour drive from NA and im just not familiar Thanks for the input man. Yeah, that's kinda my thinking. I like being further out of possible. Im around an hour now in Utah and I'm ok with it. I get 45 mpg in my throw away Prius. I'll keep looking and see what I can find, I'll post up any options when I get to that point. |
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Originally Posted By SGT-Fish: I disagree a little. I have a 45min commute to from circleville area to Whitehall. Its easily doable but I would go another 15mins out to even more country and have more land. Being out in unincorporated areas with less rules and less neighbors is worth it to me. Maybe thats all less than an hour drive from NA and im just not familiar Originally Posted By SGT-Fish: Originally Posted By Dirtydog: There isn't much to go wrong in your AO. It'll come down to 'right place at the right time'. As was mentioned earlier, there is no reason for a 1 hr commute. Look harder, neighbor. I disagree a little. I have a 45min commute to from circleville area to Whitehall. Its easily doable but I would go another 15mins out to even more country and have more land. Being out in unincorporated areas with less rules and less neighbors is worth it to me. Maybe thats all less than an hour drive from NA and im just not familiar If OP is looking for true unincorporated farmland with a long gravel drive, I misunderstood. Sorry |
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in time when everyone stands around, and wise men are reloading."
-Somebody that's been there.
-Somebody that's been there.
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Originally Posted By Dirtydog: No, that's about right. And getting worse around NA, fast. If OP is looking for true unincorporated farmland with a long gravel drive, I misunderstood. Sorry We're just looking for a couple of acres minimum, a decent house, and an out building in our budget. Going further out looks to be the move. It's actually more expensive out there than I thought initially. But still should be doable. |
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Home values have doubled in central Ohio over the past five years. Tag for later comment. I’m driving to New Albany for work now. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Granville area is a good suggestion for more of a small town feel, I always like it out there. New Albany is definitely growing and has good schools as well. You could also look on the NW side on the outskirts of the Dublin school district. This includes parts of Powell, Plain City, and Jerome Village depending on the specific lot. Jerome Village is growing rapidly and Dublin Jerome high school is frequently listed as the top public high school in the state. Depending on where you are going you can make the drive to New Albany in about 45-60 minutes from that area. It's a great community but there are definitely many high net worth individuals in the Dublin area (similar to parts of New Albany). So it's worth checking Dublin/Jerome Village out to see if you like it, or if it feels a bit too much like "keeping up with the Joneses". It's a wonderful place to raise a family but the sports and academics are all very competitive, which can be a good or bad thing depending on what you are looking for. If you want any more specifics feel free to shoot me a message, I've been in the area for a long time and would be happy to answer any questions. |
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Originally Posted By Blackhalo: I don't doubt that. Definitely a lot of money coming into the area. For the past 10 years, a tremendous amount of money has flowed into and through Central Ohio. The economy is very healthy, and significant growth and expansion have come with it. If you plan to work in New Albany, that gives you some good options. You can live farther east, avoid much of the city traffic, and still have a reasonable commute. Another great thing about Ohio is the EdChoice Scholarship Program, which allows state funding to help pay tuition at participating private schools. We send our kids to a private Catholic school and pay very little out of pocket because the school receives scholarship funding from the state. This allows us to live in the sticks and not have our kids in an oherwise shitty school. A few questions will help me give you a more realistic opinion on where I would look if I were in your shoes: - How long are you willing to commute? - What kind of setting are you looking for: rural farmland, a small village, a college town, city amenities, or a newer subdivision? - How much acreage would you like? - What is your approximate budget for land and housing? Once I know those details, I can narrow it down to a few areas that would make the most sense. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By Bravo_220: Granville area is a good suggestion for more of a small town feel Granville has become a hot spot, and the prices sure reflect it. It's not cheap to live there anymore. You can live right outside of the school district line for a fraction of the cost, but you'll have to look at private school for the kids. Newark Catholic, and feeder schools, are a great alternative. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By Bravo_220: Granville area is a good suggestion for more of a small town feel, I always like it out there. New Albany is definitely growing and has good schools as well. You could also look on the NW side on the outskirts of the Dublin school district. This includes parts of Powell, Plain City, and Jerome Village depending on the specific lot. Jerome Village is growing rapidly and Dublin Jerome high school is frequently listed as the top public high school in the state. Depending on where you are going you can make the drive to New Albany in about 45-60 minutes from that area. It's a great community but there are definitely many high net worth individuals in the Dublin area (similar to parts of New Albany). So it's worth checking Dublin/Jerome Village out to see if you like it, or if it feels a bit too much like "keeping up with the Joneses". It's a wonderful place to raise a family but the sports and academics are all very competitive, which can be a good or bad thing depending on what you are looking for. If you want any more specifics feel free to shoot me a message, I've been in the area for a long time and would be happy to answer any questions. Thanks man. Those areas all look nice but out of my price if we stick with wanting a few acres. Though I think I came across one around Plain City. I'll definitely reach out and post up possible houses when I get to that point. |
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Originally Posted By ZW17: For the past 10 years, a tremendous amount of money has flowed into and through Central Ohio. The economy is very healthy, and significant growth and expansion have come with it. If you plan to work in New Albany, that gives you some good options. You can live farther east, avoid much of the city traffic, and still have a reasonable commute. Another great thing about Ohio is the EdChoice Scholarship Program, which allows state funding to help pay tuition at participating private schools. We send our kids to a private Catholic school and pay very little out of pocket because the school receives scholarship funding from the state. This allows us to live in the sticks and not have our kids in an oherwise shitty school. A few questions will help me give you a more realistic opinion on where I would look if I were in your shoes: - How long are you willing to commute? - What kind of setting are you looking for: rural farmland, a small village, a college town, city amenities, or a newer subdivision? - How much acreage would you like? - What is your approximate budget for land and housing? Once I know those details, I can narrow it down to a few areas that would make the most sense. I really appreciate the info on the private schools. Thats something I probably would have missed. I'd commute up to a solid hour if needed. Not to picky on the setting, but based on my budget and what I'm after it's going to have to be more rural area. I've gone down to at least 2 acres. But I would prefer 5+ Probably 650k tops. Though we would love to spend less if we could find something. I've seen a couple around 400k that look like they could be possibilities. Thanks again for the help. |
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I think it’s doable, but anything with 5 acres or more is becoming rare in Licking County. This looks like a pretty nice place. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/11557-Palmer-Rd-Heath-OH-43056/107255151_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare Try and stay near Newark, that way your kids can go to the Catholic schools. Newark Catholic, which is the high school, is one of the best in central Ohio. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By ZW17: I think it’s doable, but anything with 5 acres or more is becoming rare in Licking County. This looks like a pretty nice place. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/11557-Palmer-Rd-Heath-OH-43056/107255151_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare Try and stay near Newark, that way your kids can go to the Catholic schools. Newark Catholic, which is the high school, is one of the best in central Ohio. Will do on the schools. Man, I saw that one early on a couple of weeks ago. Looks tied up but I'll keep watching it. You're definitely nailing what were after. |
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Originally Posted By Blackhalo: Will do on the schools. Man, I saw that one early on a couple of weeks ago. Looks tied up but I'll keep watching it. You're definitely nailing what were after. Oh, I didn’t notice is was already off the market. It was showing on the market yesterday. That was a pretty nice house at that price point. Land is what everyone seems to be after. Covid and the data center boom sent everyone and their mother looking for 5+ acres in the surrounding five counties. Now everyone is locked down and not moving due to 6% mortgages. Stay sharp and look for property that pops up from time to time. Be ready to drop an offer within 24hrs and most likely over asking price. The Appalachian foothills are a very cool place to live. Friendly people, currently lots of work, beautiful scenery, and strong values. Let me know if you need help with anything. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By ZW17: Oh, I didn’t notice is was already off the market. It was showing on the market yesterday. That was a pretty nice house at that price point. Land is what everyone seems to be after. Covid and the data center boom sent everyone and their mother looking for 5+ acres in the surrounding five counties. Now everyone is locked down and not moving due to 6% mortgages. Stay sharp and look for property that pops up from time to time. Be ready to drop an offer within 24hrs and most likely over asking price. The Appalachian foothills are a very cool place to live. Friendly people, currently lots of work, beautiful scenery, and strong values. Let me know if you need help with anything. I think we could find something eventually. But yeah, land with a nice house/school district looks like they go quick. We are definitely after some land, not something I'll really settle on. Working on getting a realtor and things in order to were we can at least make offers. I really do appreciate all the help. |
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Originally Posted By Blackhalo: I think we could find something eventually. But yeah, land with a nice house/school district looks like they go quick. We are definitely after some land, not something I'll really settle on. Working on getting a realtor and things in order to were we can at least make offers. I really do appreciate all the help. Are you part of the data center boom? Is that the job you're chasing? |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By Blackhalo: Same line of work I do at a mine. But yeah it's a natural gas power plant feeding one. Haha, the Edge project. I just may see you on site. I’m working on getting my company in there for some HVAC work. It’s a small world. 
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What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By ZW17: Haha, the Edge project. I just may see you on site. I’m working on getting my company in there for some HVAC work. It’s a small world. Hah. Yeah. I think they have somewhere around 1,100 contractors on site. It was busy when I walked the plant, they are throwing it up quick. I'll stay in touch for sure. Still a long ways to go to make it happen. |
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@Blackhalo I live in that area, and this is quite relevant because my wife and I are planning on doing the exact opposite. In about 9 years when I’m eligible to retire, we’re pulling the ejection handle from this place and heading west. Likely WY or MT. In the process, I’m going to leave a significant amount of money on the table, but I think it will be worth it. You mentioned enjoying the outdoors/camping/etc. If you have never lived east of the Mississippi, take a long hard look at what that means in practicality for those things. Unlike UT, Ohio is one of the lowest % public land states in the nation. The dispersed camping you enjoy, where you can just pull up to some BLM or FS land and shoot/camp/etc? That doesn’t exist here. I travel west just about every year to hunt, camp or fish the public land out west, so I’m familiar with what you are giving up. “Camping” in Ohio generally involves a pay to play trailer park where you “camp” 20 ft from your neighbor. Not to mention, the summers here are oppressively humid here and outdoor activities from June until Sept can be downright miserable as a result. Don’t get me wrong, we have some good outdoor activities here. The deer hunting is world class, but due to that low % public land thing access is hard to come by. What is good about it is it’s relatively manageable to have a few acres for a homestead, be able to walk out your back door for a treestand, shooting range, etc. but with the property value explosion doing so means living further out from Columbus, and traffic isn’t getting any better. I was lucky to lock in on 20 acres in Johnstown before things went nuts… There is no way I could afford it now. Also, if you are used to the wide open west, your 5-10 acres is going to feel pretty confining pretty quick. Bottom line the whole New Albany/Alexandria/Johnstown area is quickly turning into data center hell. Is it a bad place to live? Absolutely not. It’s still a good place to raise a family. The parts of Johnstown/Alexandria away from Columbus are still pretty rural and are good places to live, but the massive influx of economic development from the intel project are changing it rapidly. If you weren’t into the outdoors, liked golf, sports, and wanted city amenities and world class healthcare close by, with the option of a 5-10 acre hobby farm within committing distance, I’d say you are making the right move. But what I’m reading is you are liking the idea of a 50% pay increase and are probably hesitant about what the move really means for your lifestyle, given your interests. Being a guy that is probably into a bunch of the same sort of stuff living here, I’d find a different job somewhere out west. That’s just me. Unfortunately I’m stuck here for the next few years, because leaving now would be financial insanity. PM me with any specific questions, happy to help! |
The posts made on this forum are purely my private opinion and don’t represent any employer or entity I am professionally associated with.
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Originally Posted By BuckeyeRifleman: @Blackhalo I live in that area, and this is quite relevant because my wife and I are planning on doing the exact opposite. In about 9 years when I’m eligible to retire, we’re pulling the ejection handle from this place and heading west. Likely WY or MT. In the process, I’m going to leave a significant amount of money on the table, but I think it will be worth it. You mentioned enjoying the outdoors/camping/etc. If you have never lived east of the Mississippi, take a long hard look at what that means in practicality for those things. Unlike UT, Ohio is one of the lowest % public land states in the nation. The dispersed camping you enjoy, where you can just pull up to some BLM or FS land and shoot/camp/etc? That doesn’t exist here. I travel west just about every year to hunt, camp or fish the public land out west, so I’m familiar with what you are giving up. “Camping” in Ohio generally involves a pay to play trailer park where you “camp” 20 ft from your neighbor. Not to mention, the summers here are oppressively humid here and outdoor activities from June until Sept can be downright miserable as a result. Don’t get me wrong, we have some good outdoor activities here. The deer hunting is world class, but due to that low % public land thing access is hard to come by. What is good about it is it’s relatively manageable to have a few acres for a homestead, be able to walk out your back door for a treestand, shooting range, etc. but with the property value explosion doing so means living further out from Columbus, and traffic isn’t getting any better. I was lucky to lock in on 20 acres in Johnstown before things went nuts… There is no way I could afford it now. Also, if you are used to the wide open west, your 5-10 acres is going to feel pretty confining pretty quick. Bottom line the whole New Albany/Alexandria/Johnstown area is quickly turning into data center hell. Is it a bad place to live? Absolutely not. It’s still a good place to raise a family. The parts of Johnstown/Alexandria away from Columbus are still pretty rural and are good places to live, but the massive influx of economic development from the intel project are changing it rapidly. If you weren’t into the outdoors, liked golf, sports, and wanted city amenities and world class healthcare close by, with the option of a 5-10 acre hobby farm within committing distance, I’d say you are making the right move. But what I’m reading is you are liking the idea of a 50% pay increase and are probably hesitant about what the move really means for your lifestyle, given your interests. Being a guy that is probably into a bunch of the same sort of stuff living here, I’d find a different job somewhere out west. That’s just me. Unfortunately I’m stuck here for the next few years, because leaving now would be financial insanity. PM me with any specific questions, happy to help! @BuckeyeRifleman Thanks man. I was raised outside of Houston for the first 28 years of my life. I've been in Utah for 10. My parents were born and raised in Utah, but moved for work when I was 2 to Texas. I knew at a young age from summer trips to see my grandparents I wanted to go west when I was older. I mentioned it in my Teams thread that in and ideal world I have a few acres at the benches of the mountains with a similar paying job, while still close to sporting activities etc. for my kids. But it's not realistic anymore, pay is lower here and that type land is beyond expensive. And it's crowded. I missed the boat, and those days are gone. Rual parts of UT, WY, MT, ID can still be cheap. But it'll be either ugly, no infrastructure for my line of work, or far enough out where my kids won't be able to do the things they are in to. We live on the 35 minutes west of SLC, and I can get out in the desert in 10-15 minutes and shoot as far as I want. But I also paid 600k for a 1/2 acre home in a subdivision. Definitely trade offs, I'd never go back to southern Texas for any money. But it'll be somewhat nice to be somewhere green again with a few acres of my own, while making $50k+ more per year. I'll definitely shoot you a pm. I can tell the area has blown up, things are definitely not super cheap by any stretch. I have an acre lot we bought in 2018 in a little mountain community about an 1.5 hours(longer with traffic) from SLC. We had been looking for a job to build on it, but in all these years there has been nothing in a commutable range that comes near the pay we'd need. Whatever happens the plan is to retire out west, or when the kids move out. |
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Originally Posted By Blackhalo: @BuckeyeRifleman Thanks man. I was raised outside of Houston for the first 28 years of my life. I've been in Utah for 10. My parents were born and raised in Utah, but moved for work when I was 2 to Texas. I knew at a young age from summer trips to see my grandparents I wanted to go west when I was older. I mentioned it in my Teams thread that in and ideal world I have a few acres at the benches of the mountains with a similar paying job, while still close to sporting activities etc. for my kids. But it's not realistic anymore, pay is lower here and that type land is beyond expensive. And it's crowded. I missed the boat, and those days are gone. Rual parts of UT, WY, MT, ID can still be cheap. But it'll be either ugly, no infrastructure for my line of work, or far enough out where my kids won't be able to do the things they are in to. We live on the 35 minutes west of SLC, and I can get out in the desert in 10-15 minutes and shoot as far as I want. But I also paid 600k for a 1/2 acre home in a subdivision. Definitely trade offs, I'd never go back to southern Texas for any money. But it'll be somewhat nice to be somewhere green again with a few acres of my own, while making $50k+ more per year. I'll definitely shoot you a pm. I can tell the area has blown up, things are definitely not super cheap by any stretch. I have an acre lot we bought in 2018 in a little mountain community about an 1.5 hours(longer with traffic) from SLC. We had been looking for a job to build on it, but in all these years there has been nothing in a commutable range that comes near the pay we'd need. Whatever happens the plan is to retire out west, or when the kids move out. Originally Posted By Blackhalo: Originally Posted By BuckeyeRifleman: @Blackhalo I live in that area, and this is quite relevant because my wife and I are planning on doing the exact opposite. In about 9 years when I’m eligible to retire, we’re pulling the ejection handle from this place and heading west. Likely WY or MT. In the process, I’m going to leave a significant amount of money on the table, but I think it will be worth it. You mentioned enjoying the outdoors/camping/etc. If you have never lived east of the Mississippi, take a long hard look at what that means in practicality for those things. Unlike UT, Ohio is one of the lowest % public land states in the nation. The dispersed camping you enjoy, where you can just pull up to some BLM or FS land and shoot/camp/etc? That doesn’t exist here. I travel west just about every year to hunt, camp or fish the public land out west, so I’m familiar with what you are giving up. “Camping” in Ohio generally involves a pay to play trailer park where you “camp” 20 ft from your neighbor. Not to mention, the summers here are oppressively humid here and outdoor activities from June until Sept can be downright miserable as a result. Don’t get me wrong, we have some good outdoor activities here. The deer hunting is world class, but due to that low % public land thing access is hard to come by. What is good about it is it’s relatively manageable to have a few acres for a homestead, be able to walk out your back door for a treestand, shooting range, etc. but with the property value explosion doing so means living further out from Columbus, and traffic isn’t getting any better. I was lucky to lock in on 20 acres in Johnstown before things went nuts… There is no way I could afford it now. Also, if you are used to the wide open west, your 5-10 acres is going to feel pretty confining pretty quick. Bottom line the whole New Albany/Alexandria/Johnstown area is quickly turning into data center hell. Is it a bad place to live? Absolutely not. It’s still a good place to raise a family. The parts of Johnstown/Alexandria away from Columbus are still pretty rural and are good places to live, but the massive influx of economic development from the intel project are changing it rapidly. If you weren’t into the outdoors, liked golf, sports, and wanted city amenities and world class healthcare close by, with the option of a 5-10 acre hobby farm within committing distance, I’d say you are making the right move. But what I’m reading is you are liking the idea of a 50% pay increase and are probably hesitant about what the move really means for your lifestyle, given your interests. Being a guy that is probably into a bunch of the same sort of stuff living here, I’d find a different job somewhere out west. That’s just me. Unfortunately I’m stuck here for the next few years, because leaving now would be financial insanity. PM me with any specific questions, happy to help! @BuckeyeRifleman Thanks man. I was raised outside of Houston for the first 28 years of my life. I've been in Utah for 10. My parents were born and raised in Utah, but moved for work when I was 2 to Texas. I knew at a young age from summer trips to see my grandparents I wanted to go west when I was older. I mentioned it in my Teams thread that in and ideal world I have a few acres at the benches of the mountains with a similar paying job, while still close to sporting activities etc. for my kids. But it's not realistic anymore, pay is lower here and that type land is beyond expensive. And it's crowded. I missed the boat, and those days are gone. Rual parts of UT, WY, MT, ID can still be cheap. But it'll be either ugly, no infrastructure for my line of work, or far enough out where my kids won't be able to do the things they are in to. We live on the 35 minutes west of SLC, and I can get out in the desert in 10-15 minutes and shoot as far as I want. But I also paid 600k for a 1/2 acre home in a subdivision. Definitely trade offs, I'd never go back to southern Texas for any money. But it'll be somewhat nice to be somewhere green again with a few acres of my own, while making $50k+ more per year. I'll definitely shoot you a pm. I can tell the area has blown up, things are definitely not super cheap by any stretch. I have an acre lot we bought in 2018 in a little mountain community about an 1.5 hours(longer with traffic) from SLC. We had been looking for a job to build on it, but in all these years there has been nothing in a commutable range that comes near the pay we'd need. Whatever happens the plan is to retire out west, or when the kids move out. If you grew up in Houston, it sounds like you know what you are getting into then. I have never lived there, but the Columbus area is exploding much the same way Houston did in the 80s-90s. When we first bought our property in 2018 we were worried we were a bit too far out. Now we are worried we aren’t far enough. Trust me, I know the conundrum you are in… Unfortunately the good paying jobs are tied to the major metro areas. I’m lucky to be in a position in the not to distant future where I won’t have to work, so that opens up a lot more places that are more rural and affordable. I’ve been to SLC, I didn’t particularly care for it either so I’ll give you that. The upside is you aren’t far from some great public land, and within a days drive of some truly spectacular remote spots. Let’s put it this way… I enjoy long range shooting. There are only two ranges I know of in Ohio where you can shoot 1000+. Both are nearly 2 hrs from Columbus, and they are both private (although they don’t require a membership, and it’s just a $20-$30 daily fee depending.) However if they ever they get shut down, good luck finding a place to stretch the legs of your rifles. Shooting long range is an all day event due to the drive, and as a result I only get to do it a handful of times a year at best. When we retire out west, we may very well end up back in a subdivision again. When we sell our property here, we want to buy something in cash, and while we will make a tidy profit on our place, we might not be able to afford acreage where we want. (We’re looking at Afton or Pinedale WY.) Is it gonna suck to not be able to walk out on my back porch in boxers and shoot? Sure. But having public land to shoot ~1000+ that’s only 15 minutes away, plus tons more places to hike, camp, and explore is a worthwhile trade off. Acreage is cool, but it can be a lot to manage at times, both between time and expense. Life’s full of trade offs. You just have to know what you are getting into. When I started my career here 15 years ago I was just happy to have a job. I didn’t consider the fact I didn’t really love it here compared to some of the other places I’ve been. I didn’t fully appreciate A) how difficult it would be to move once I started a family and B) that the retirement system I was in didn’t transfer out of state, making moving out of state before retirement eligibility financial suicide. The good news is my wife is on board with moving… In fact she’s frustrated that we can’t move now. That’s the other big consideration, what does your wife think? How is her support network there vs here? |
The posts made on this forum are purely my private opinion and don’t represent any employer or entity I am professionally associated with.
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Originally Posted By BuckeyeRifleman: If you grew up in Houston, it sounds like you know what you are getting into then. I have never lived there, but the Columbus area is exploding much the same way Houston did in the 80s-90s. When we first bought our property in 2018 we were worried we were a bit too far out. Now we are worried we aren’t far enough. Trust me, I know the conundrum you are in… Unfortunately the good paying jobs are tied to the major metro areas. I’m lucky to be in a position in the not to distant future where I won’t have to work, so that opens up a lot more places that are more rural and affordable. I’ve been to SLC, I didn’t particularly care for it either so I’ll give you that. The upside is you aren’t far from some great public land, and within a days drive of some truly spectacular remote spots. Let’s put it this way… I enjoy long range shooting. There are only two ranges I know of in Ohio where you can shoot 1000+. Both are nearly 2 hrs from Columbus, and they are both private (although they don’t require a membership, and it’s just a $20-$30 daily fee depending.) However if they ever they get shut down, good luck finding a place to stretch the legs of your rifles. Shooting long range is an all day event due to the drive, and as a result I only get to do it a handful of times a year at best. When we retire out west, we may very well end up back in a subdivision again. When we sell our property here, we want to buy something in cash, and while we will make a tidy profit on our place, we might not be able to afford acreage where we want. (We’re looking at Afton or Pinedale WY.) Is it gonna suck to not be able to walk out on my back porch in boxers and shoot? Sure. But having public land to shoot ~1000+ that’s only 15 minutes away, plus tons more places to hike, camp, and explore is a worthwhile trade off. Acreage is cool, but it can be a lot to manage at times, both between time and expense. Life’s full of trade offs. You just have to know what you are getting into. When I started my career here 15 years ago I was just happy to have a job. I didn’t consider the fact I didn’t really love it here compared to some of the other places I’ve been. I didn’t fully appreciate A) how difficult it would be to move once I started a family and B) that the retirement system I was in didn’t transfer out of state, making moving out of state before retirement eligibility financial suicide. The good news is my wife is on board with moving… In fact she’s frustrated that we can’t move now. That’s the other big consideration, what does your wife think? How is her support network there vs here? Thanks man. Trade offs for sure. I'm close to SLC and the pay is nowhere near what I'd make there. Or any major city out west. Afton etc.. Is very nice. We camp all the time, but we're OK giving it up for now. I doubt we would bother camping out that way. All the close canyons and hiking/camping are busy within an hour. It's pretty bad out here with how densely populated it's becoming. But with enough driving it's possible to still get away, that wouldn't be the same in Ohio. The main thing convincing me is the pay. It would take over 10 years with my current raises to barely get where I'd be starting. We're definitely in different spots in life as I plan to retire out west as well. I'll probably keep my acre lot up in the mountains when I won't need a job to commute to. My wife has no ties to either states, but loved Utah... I told her from day 1 I was going to move west when I got the chance. She is now ready for a change and misses the greenery and trees. It's dry, dusty and high desert where we live. Although the mountains are 15 minutes away, it's not where are house is, which is where we spend most of our time outside of work. |