Have you checked Billings? I have an in-law who did the CA to MT via UT move years ago and she really enjoys it. Housing is more costly than you think, but certainly much cheaper than CA. That said, prepare for real winters.
I would strongly suggest looking into unincorporated Forsyth County, GA. Your money can still go a long way there. The public schools are excellent as are nearby medical facilities and healthcare. Lake Lanier is right there if you like boating and fishing. No city property tax and taxes overall are reasonable. Gas is cheap as is electricity and natural gas. Food is generally much less expensive than it is in CA. Winters are comparatively mild. Perhaps you’ll get a dusting of snow every year and a periodic dump of up to 6” every handful of years which melts within hours to a few days. Year-round rain keeps things pretty green and clean most of the year. You can drive a few hours in any direction and be in another state. You’re close enough but not too close to a major airport and city with all the attractions you would expect. Traffic is pretty light in most of Forsyth except on SR400 near Fulton County. You can pickup the metro in the northern burbs which will take you anywhere you want to go downtown or even to the airport on the south side of the city. Shopping, dining, and entertainment are nearby and plentiful. There were plenty of good jobs and industry when I left. You would definitely enjoy the gun laws; they issue concealed carry in most Crackerjack boxes.
Haha. I knew others who had no issue obtaining their CC. You can weekend-it it to Nashville, Savannah, Destin, and Disney World, and on and on.Oh yeah, construction and household services are generally cheaper except for house cleaners for some reason.
A few challenges from moving from CA to GA include the heavy pollen for a few weeks in the spring and fall; humidity in summer which you don’t see much in CA but do in much of the country; professional sports teams that are prone to choke; poor transportation management as you near Atlanta; thunderstorms in summer; higher house maintenance needs; occasional tornado warnings; and crazy weather swings, though generally accurately forecast.
If you consider moving to the South, I would very highly recommend buying a home with a daylight basement. The extra square footage is great for storage, hobbies, kid play, or building a killer media room and/or bar!
Not sure what your budget is or how much land you need, but here is an example of nearly 4,000 SF plus a basement on 0.6 acre for $400,000. There are plenty of other examples with more or less land for more or less money. It is definitely worth consideration for the affordable living, quality education, supportive community, and amenities while still maintaining a slower-paced vibe.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6385-Oak-Valley-Dr-Cumming-GA-30040/14621618_zpid/
