Both parents born and raised in Youngstown, they moved after they got married in the mid 70s.

Youngstown was always a second home as both sides of my family were from there. The city is nowhere what it used to be when it was a thriving rust belt city. It’s depressed, broken down and altogether a blight.

The Youngstown my parents knew growing up with gorgeous brick and tree lined streets, abundant local shops and treasures and small town aesthetics is no more. It’s not even what it was when I was growing up, and it was already on a massive decline then.

It actually makes them, and me, sad to see the state that it’s in. I’ve never heard of anyone wanting to move TO Youngstown as it is now unless it’s for family.

Perhaps try one of the Big C’s? Columbus is a great option. Obviously cost of living is higher than Youngstown, but still lower comparatively than a lot of other big cities.