Best Places to Live in the US

Lists of "best places" always feel a little off, don't they? Like someone's trying to sell you a vibe instead of the daily grind. But Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico these aren't mainland cookie-cutters. They're edge cases, places where nature bullies your schedule, locals shape the soul, and taxes can make or break the math. Let's unpack what living there actually feels like, no fluff.

Hawaii

Honolulu doesn't just have beaches it lives them. Waves pound Diamond Head like clockwork, air hangs heavy with hibiscus and sea spray. Mornings? Paddle out at Ala Moana, snag poke fresh from the truck, weave through palm-lined streets where every corner hides a shave ice stand. Nature's in your veins here North Shore barrels for surfers, Hanauma Bay snorkel spots teeming neon fish. Humidity sticks, sure, but sunsets paint the sky ridiculous colors daily.

People? Aloha's real, not bumper-sticker cute. Mixed bag locals guard traditions fierce, transplants chase paradise (half bail when groceries hit). Community pulses warm, forgiving neighbors wave, food shares easy. Work scene skews tourism, tech remote, military steady. Median household pulls $95k-ish, but cost of living? Brutal. Rent for one-bed Waikiki condo? $2,200/month. Family of four? $7,200/month total, groceries alone $1,000. State tax bites 1.4-11%, sales 4.5%. Still $95k feels luxurious when commute's a beach walk.

Question is, can you hack the isolation? Everything ships in. Fresh produce wilts pricey. But man, that tradeoff for turquoise water every damn day.

Moving to Hawaii: What You Need to Know

Relocating to the islands involves complex logistics that catch newcomers off guard. If you're planning a move to Oahu, finding reliable Honolulu movers becomes priority number one most experienced Hawaii movers recommend booking 8-12 weeks ahead because container shipping schedules fill fast and delivery windows on the island don't bend around your lease start date.

Pro tip from locals: pack a "two-week survival kit" separately. Laptop setup, chargers, a few outfits you actually like, basic kitchen essentials. Because your main shipment? It arrives when it arrives. That's island math.

Alaska

Anchorage wakes you rude. Moose ambles your block at dawn. Chugach Mountains glare across Cook Inlet, begging hikes or heli-ski drops. Summers explode wild salmon runs turn rivers silver, midnight sun stretches days endless for trail runs, berry picks, dipnet madness on Ship Creek. Winters? Dark hunkers 20 hours, snow buries cars, northern lights dance if aurora gods smile. Nature here bosses you around, rewards the bold.

Folks up north bond quick, salt-of-earth practical. "Hey neighbor" fixes flat tires, shares moose stew. No state income tax, no sales tax median household $88k stretches further (single? $3,800-4,200/month living; family $7,500-8,500). Jobs? Oil/gas/energy pay fat ($100k+ easy), healthcare, aviation, government solid. Cost of living 23-24% above national housing $1,800 rent average, heating bills winter-spike ugly.

Grit defines it. You thrive chasing adventure, or fade fast. That raw edge? Addictive, once hooked.

The Alaska Move: Logistics That Matter

Living up North sounds epic until you're coordinating the actual move. You'll need a specialized Alaska Moving Company that understands what long-haul routes, sub-zero transit, and weather delays actually mean for your belongings. For those settling in the state's largest city, experienced movers Anchorage residents trust can be the difference between a smooth landing and three weeks of "where's my stuff?" chaos.

Real talk: build buffer time into everything. Winter moves especially weather and transport capacity don't negotiate. Seasonality isn't optional up here; it's the rulebook.

Puerto Rico

San Juan simmers alive. Old City's pastel facades hide piña colada birthplaces, bioluminescent bays glow mosquito-net nights. El Yunque rainforest drips misty, coqui frogs chorus eternal. Condado beaches thrum jet-set, Isla Verde strips pulse reggaeton till dawn. Nature's lush tangle cascades, cenotes, surf breaks world-class. Hurricanes lurk reminder, power outages test patience.

People? Boricua heart huge strangers turn family over café con leche, street parties erupt spontaneous. Resilient, proud, multilingual vibe pulls nomads. Act 60 shines: 4% corp tax, 0% cap gains/dividends/interest on post-residency Puerto Rican income (2026 tweaks loom, IRS sniffing closer). Median household ~$35k lower than mainland, but costs gentler San Juan one-bed $1,200-1,800 rent, family monthly $4,500-6,000. Remote gigs thrive, tourism/service local backbone.

Feels like mainland escape with U.S. passport perks. Warm chaos, endless summer hooks deep if you vibe tropical soul.

Puerto Rico Relocation Reality Check

Puerto Rico's become a magnet for digital nomads and remote workers, but here's what the lifestyle blogs skip: it's an offshore move with real complications. Hiring expert movers to Puerto Rico isn't optional if you want predictable outcomes ocean shipping paperwork, customs documentation, and maritime insurance all work differently than mainland moves.

And here's the unglamorous but important bit: if a company is arranging ocean shipment of household goods, confirm they're licensed and bonded with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The FMC explicitly advises consumers to verify this for non-contiguous moves. Don't accept vague answers about "who handles the ocean leg" get specifics.

Hawaii vs Alaska vs Puerto Rico: Head-to-Head

Category	Hawaii (Honolulu)	Alaska (Anchorage)	Puerto Rico (San Juan)
Nature	Endless ocean, volcanoes, reefs	Mountains, wildlife, auroras	Rainforests, beaches, biolum bays
People	Aloha-warm, diverse, chill-protective	Rugged practical, neighborly tight	Passionate boricua, fiesta-ready
Taxes	State income 1.4-11%, sales 4.5%	None state income/sales huge win	Act 60 magic (0-4%, residency rules)
Work	Tourism/remote/tech, $95k median	Energy/healthcare, $88k median	Remote/tourism/service, lower baseline
Monthly Cost (family 4)	$7,200+ (groceries killer)	$7,500-8,500 (heating spikes)	$4,500-6,000 (nomad friendly)
Daily Magic	Sunrise surf, shave ice ritual	Moose sightings, midnight hikes	Street mofongo, coqui symphony

"Hawaii's sun reprograms you soft. Alaska forges unbreakable. Puerto Rico reignites forgotten fire. Pick your forge."
- Elena Vasquez, island relocation guide, 14 years steering dreamers

How to Choose

Gut first. Sun heal you? Mountains challenge? Tropical pulse energize?

Numbers next. Factor "island premium" Honolulu groceries 50% markup, Anchorage winter fuel 2x. Taxes flip scripts: Alaska's no-state-tax freedom vs Puerto Rico's Act 60 wizardry (lawyer essential).

People test-drive. Reddit threads raw, locals over beers honest. Families? School ratings, playground chats. Singles? Nightlife pulse, dating apps local.

Remote? Anywhere golden. Tied to office? Location scouts mandatory.

Relocation Checklist

No rush. Savor the hunt.

• Two trips minimum. Peak chaos, quiet shoulder feel seasons.
• Budget autopsy. Track one month current life, inflate 20-50%.
• Local whispers. Facebook groups, bar stools truth lives there.
• Lifestyle audition. Surf lesson. Moose watch. Mofongo crawl.
• Numbers nerd-out. Taxes custom-crunched, COL indexes sanity-checked.
• Vet movers seriously. For non-contiguous moves (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico), verify FMC licensing/bonding, get written inventory, clarify insurance coverage, and confirm exact delivery terms door-to-door vs port-to-door makes a huge difference.

Perfect? Nah. Right fit? That's the win. Your coffee mornings brighter, that's the metric.