So I started this thread a few months ago, and most of the reasonable responses were Florida and Texas, because of the zero income taxes.  Anyway, I thought I would do some of my own analysis.  So here is what I am looking for (and some of the reasons I'm moving):

1)  Good public schools.  I went to public school and had a great experience (it was a nerdy high school, so I fit right in!).  I've never really liked the private school kids at my college, and I just like the idea of my kids going to school with a wide variety of other kids.  Also, I'm a cheap ass (as you already know).  Anyway, I can't move to an area where the schools suck.

2)  "Inexpensive" house.  It sucks ass owning a multi-million dollar home and still paying for it.  In most parts of the country, you can get a brand new 4000+ sq foot home for under $500K.  Actually, we found one for $300K.  I don't know... maybe we splurge and get the 6000 sq ft house for $700K, but it's still like a quarter of the cost of a comparable house in my area.  As previously mentioned, I really don't need to be in this part of the country.  My future career choice is going to allow me to take the entire summer off and take the family to an awesome place for 2-3 months...  RVing, Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc.  (later post)  Much easier to do when you have a lower cost base.

3)  Access to better food.  Even tho we live in a suburb of NYC, the food around here is shockingly meh.  I just can't get excited to eat out, except for maybe at the meh sushi place 25 minutes away(!) because Mrs. Fly doesn't make sushi...  hey!  wait a sec...  So we just end up going to the same handful of restaurants.

4)  Low crime.  Pretty much speaks for itself - the fewer people I need to send to "the chair," the better.  It's going to be tough to beat my current area, but there are plenty of safe places to live.

5)  Nice weather.  I used to LOOOVE the cold (mostly because I sweat a lot).  When I was in college, I like to go for runs in subzero weather in shorts and a sweatshirt.  It just made me feel alive!  Now that I'm an old man, the cold sucks.  We got like 3 feet of snow this winter and my skin is feeling absurdly dry all the time.  So *that's* why I keep the bottle of lotion next to my computer.  Eh hem.  Also sucks to have a $1000 heating bill in the winter because Mrs. Fly and D have like zero body fat and they need the house at 74 degrees.

So our top 3 choices were...