Thanks for the tips. Since we don't know the area yet, I've got no issue signing a lease for a year and then exploring neighborhoods when we're there and upgrading down the road. Affordability will be at the top of the list for now.

Maybe a dumb question, but--is there enough to do at the beach that isn't the beach? I'm into the dining and shopping experiences that some beach communities have to offer, but I'm not much into the beach itself (not the water, at least--reading a book with an umbrella sounds pretty damn nice, though).

I'm glad you brought this up, actually. We're not far from the city of Pittsburgh but we've got QAnon school board members and people trying to defund the library here. I'd like to avoid that crowd if I can.