What do you like about where you live? And what don’t you like? Says CoJ reader Emma: “I live in Davis, California, the bike capital of the U.S. There are more bikes than cars on the road. Here’s my youngest sitting in our ‘minivan’!” Below, 13 more readers tell us the pros and cons of their hometowns…
“We moved from Texas to Connecticut in 2023. We love everything about it (except February. Never February). In the five years we lived in Texas, my soul was always angsty; something just wasn’t clicking for me. The moment I arrived in Connecticut, everything clicked!” — Micah, West Hartford, Connecticut
“This is my third year living in Lisbon, Portugal, and I don’t know how I’ll ever live anywhere else! Some things drive me mad, like how much dog poop you see on the sidewalk and how everything takes a couple of tries (like tracking down a missed delivery, a near impossible task). But the people are so nice, the weather is amazing, and we’re close to the most beautiful coastline. We can also explore the rest of Europe by car.” — Naseem, Libson, Portugal
“My work brought me from Southern California to Michigan. I’m warming up to the slower pace and deeply rooted family connectedness in the Midwest. The cold winters have been rough, but this winter I visited Lake Michigan, and the waves looked like endless white mountains, like one of the great wonders of the world. I am humbled by how much beauty I find.” — Marissa, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Our small fishing village has an eclectic bunch of retirees with amazing life stories. It does take an age getting to the shop because of the chit chat; if I’m in a hurry, I have to give off a frantic wizzing vibe. I like seeing little children running around with their buckets and spades. You also have to steer clear of local gossip and not to engage, but I love the sense of belonging.” — Lulu, Cornwall, England
“I moved to Orcas Island, Washington, to work as the high school counselor. I love that there are no stoplights on the island. I love that I can walk everywhere with my dog, Gus. I love that the community supports their youth in lots of ways. I love that there are no fast-food places. I love picking wild blackberries and storing them in the freezer and then slowly doling them out after the summer ends. I love not having to make as many decisions every day because there are fewer decisions that need to be made. I love that I’m reading more than I used to. I love that soon I will be one of those people who jumps into the freezing cold sea every day — I just haven’t started yet.” — Rachel, Orcas Island, Washington
“Our town turns into a family-oriented haven in the summers. Think: farmers markets, arts and music festivals, and a summer block party. Last year, they put 100 Herkys (the Iowa mascot, pictured above) around town for a scavenger hunt, and built free outdoor pickleball courts. The downside? We don’t have any good Jewish delis. I would kill for a good bowl of matzo ball soup.” — Mara, Iowa City, Iowa
“Maine’s rocky coast is beautiful, as well as the ability of the forest to grow right to the edge of the sea. We’re in the time of year, however, when spring NEVER seems to arrive — the changing seasons in Maine will always test me and offer endless opportunities for renewal.” — Chloe, Portland, Maine
“I live in Avilés, Spain. Friendships forged in the mountains have a special connection, because you suffer together to reach awesome places. What I don’t like about living here is how empty little villages are. People are drawn to live in the cities and the villages are abandoned. We call it ‘La España vaciada’, or ’emptied Spain.’” — Pilar, Avilés, Spain
“After nearly 10 years in Brooklyn, my husband, two boys and I moved to Columbus, Ohio. My friend said, ‘Welcome back to the heart of the heart of it all.’ I love that we have a garden. I love that our mortgage is a third of what we were paying in rent for our two-bedroom railroad apartment. I love the library system, one of the best in the nation. I love organizing with TEMPO After Dark and the Ohio Clean Air Coalition. What I do not like are the skyrocketing housing prices — we are facing an affordable housing crisis — and that you need a car to be able to get around.” — Sharon, Columbus, Ohio
“I’m conflicted because the things I hate about living here are also the things I love. I hate the sun beating down on my face in an open field stretching for miles, but I love how warm and open it makes me feel. I hate the sound of the tornado sirens in spring, but I love the smell of the humid rain and adrenaline of the storm I know is to come.” — Sharon, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
“I grew up in Los Angeles. Everyone thinks they know it. But, like a person, L.A. is complicated and reveals itself in layers over time. It feels like a gift to experience the things that are hidden beneath the surface. And there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that will make you feel more alive than driving down a long boulevard late at night or along the ocean at sunset. Don’t forget to put the windows down!” — Kelly, L.A.
“Right now, my family lives in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for my spouse’s job with the U.S. State Department. It’s been fun to explore — there are yurt camps, horses everywhere, and a bazaar made entirely of shipping containers. The only thing that’s hard about living here, right now, is the uncertainty of being a federal employee. My family and friends do important and meaningful work here, and we all really want to stay.” — Dot, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
“I live in a francophone town in rural Manitoba, Canada. While the winters can be cold and dark (-40 C!), the people are warm and cozy. Our kids skate on our backyard rink for six months of the year. You have to be hearty to live here, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.” — Stephanie, Lorette, Canada
What do you love — and not love — about where you live? We want to know!
P.S. 12 more readers share where they live, and people talk about moving to different countries and moving from a big city to a small town.
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