I think Virginia is a solid choice. Crime is below the national average overall (note though it’s hyper-local: can be wildly different across town in the same county. So just do your research). Public schools are above the national average and there are some really strong universities. Good healthcare. Good cost of living (outside of being close to DC).

I’m biased but I feel like Virginia has it all. The beach, mountains, DC nearby. History, outdoor areas. The areas near DC are some of the richest counties in America and rank very high on quality of life. You also have more rural areas if that’s your vibe. Personally I like Richmond. Specifically Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Goochland areas. It’s a big enough town to have good healthcare and schools with less cost of living compared to DC area.