Being a New Yorker often isn’t for life. New York is a strange, high-energy place that often sends people fleeing all over the country. Similarly, that same nature attracts people from all over the world. Some of these people settle for life, but many others will stay for a few years before moving on to a possibly less hectic environment. So if you are a New Yorker, where are some of the best places you should think about relocating to when the city wears you out?

If you need to stay close… Paterson, New Jersey

Few things are as New York as moving to New Jersey. The houses are cheaper, the bagels are almost as good, and you can still commute to midtown faster than you can from Staten Island. Newark is the classic answer to this situation, but Paterson has two big advantages: One, it’s cheaper, with rent prices benign about 23% lower than in Newark (and 61% lower than NYC). Two, it’s slightly safer, with violent crime in particular being noticeably lower in Paterson. It doesn’t even take much longer to get into the city from Paterson; only about 50 minutes by train, with a transfer at Secaucus. Paterson has a population of about 146,000, and is almost sleepy compared to New York. But its still quite dense, giving it a walkability that most other cities, even in New Jersey, won’t be able to give you. Paterson is one of the best places to move to near NYC where you won’t need to buy a car.  

Runner Up: Jersey City, New Jersey. While more expensive than Paterson, Jersey City is still much cheaper than Manhattan, and its a very short commute. It also has a more diverse population, with almost equal representation of white, black, Asian, and Hispanic ethnic groups. As a bonus, Jersey City has some great views of Manhattan from across the Hudson River.

If you need a big city on a budget… Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

New York is expensive. Almost absurdly so. The high cost of rent can making living here a real grind for a lot of folks. Forget the American dream of owning your own house with a yard; in New York, the dream is you have a one bedroom apartment you don’t have to share with roommates. Philadelphia gives its citizens a lot of the walkability, cool food and arts scene, sense of history, and busy downtown that New York does, but it does it at about half the price. Right now there are hundreds of apartments available in Philly listed online for under $1200 a month, some of the really close in to the city center. Here you can afford enough space to raise a kid, or keep a small apartment for yourself while socking away money like you never could in New York. 

Runner Up: Chicago, Illinois is almost as cheap as Philly and isn’t actually any more dangerous according to crime data. The winters are rough, but the Windy City has almost as many cultural and employment opportunities as New York.

If you need food options and culture in a smaller package…  New Orleans, Louisiana

Upon first blush, it might seem like New York and New Orleans couldn’t be less alike. New York City is about twenty times as large, by population. New Orleans’ location on the gulf coast gives it a completely different natural environment and climate. The cities have completely different economies and cultural histories. But they share at least two important things: a love of music and a love of good food. New Orleans has always had a cultural reputation far larger than its modest population would suggest, and its parades and food festivals are nationally famous. It maintains many local culinary traditions while also boasting world class Italian, Mexican, and Chinese restaurants every bit as good as what you can find in bigger American cities like New York and Los Angeles. Of course, the threat of flooding during hurricane season and the relatively high crime rate should give any thoughtful New Yorker pause. But New Orleans has a lot to offer in a small package, and with rents about half what you would pay in New York, its temptingly affordable.  

Runner Up: Portland, Oregon. As a Portlander myself, it pains me to have to stick Portland in the runner-up seat here. With a population of about 600,000, Portland has the fine dining, cafe, beer, and wine scene of a much bigger city, and it has a great indie arts and music scene to boot. Unfortunately, Portland has been dealing with riots, wildfires, and a deepening homelessness crisis that makes it hard to recommend at the moment.

If you need to get away from all the noise… Santa Fe, New Mexico

The noise of New York can drive people a little batty after awhile, and its perfectly normal to want to get away from it all. For some, a simple vacation to the Catskills will do the trick. But for others, something more dramatic and permanent may be necessary. I give you Santa Fe. A beautiful town of about 84,000 located in the high desert of northern New Mexico. It’s the state capital, and famous for its many art galleries and pleasantly touristy city center filled with little shops and restaurants. If even this modest noise level is too much for you, there are many outdoor recreation options very close by, including hiking Atalaya Mountain or visiting Diablo Canyon and the Rio Grande.

Runner Up: Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a bit bigger than Santa Fe, and may not be in as dramatically beautiful an environment, but its still a lovely place where it’s easy to find peace and quiet. The city’s namesake falls are a lovely place to visit in the summer months, and being the only city for 80 miles in any direction, you will feel far away from everything. 

If you want to own a car… Denver, Colorado

Its no secret that New York City is a stressful and expensive place to own a car. Where should a car-loving New Yorker look for an easier life? The mile-high city has a lot to recommend it. Beautiful views, a growing economy, a great restaurant scene, and a variety of nearby outdoor activities. It also happens to be one of the best cities in the country to be a car owner. Insurance premiums are about 8% lower than the national average, vehicle taxes and registration are cheaper than what you’ll see in New York, and an overall high quality of life (one of the best in the country, actually). Parking here is cheap and easy, with garages charging around $20 a day in the downtown area. As a bonus, they don’t salt the roads here, avoiding the undercarriage rust that slowly kills most cars and trucks in the northeast. The mountain roads do get snowy in the winter, though, so consider owning something with a bit of clearance.

Runner Up: Milwaukee, Wisconsin is another affordable and relatively low-stress place for car owners, with some of the lowest car insurance and car repair rates in the country. It loses to Denver for its less majestic surroundings and the fact that they salt their roads in the winter.