Opinion | 'Look past the hate': Five underrated places to live
- Maine locals beg tourists to enjoy the lobster and leave before the sun sets at 3:30 p.m.
- New Jersey pitched as a patience-building exercise in traffic and mandatory full-service gas stations.
- North Carolina offered as a hippie-redneck utopia for those who enjoy bison burgers and mountain air.
- New Mexico touted as a secret haven for ski-boot-wearing locals and green chile enthusiasts.
Brief Summary
In a desperate bid to fill column inches, staff writers from various outlets have curated a list of 'underrated' states to call home. From the soul-crushing darkness of a Maine winter to the gridlocked traffic of the Garden State, the advice ranges from begrudging local pride to open hostility toward newcomers.
Why This Matters
Deciding where to plant your roots is the most expensive decision you will ever make, and these anecdotal travelogues offer little more than romanticized postcards. While these writers are busy singing the praises of their favorite zip codes, remember that the cost of living, local tax burdens, and actual job market viability—not the quality of a breakfast burrito—are what will dictate your financial survival. Do not base your migration strategy on a writer's nostalgia for mountain biking or the vibe of a local IPA.