We have to move to one of these 21 cities. How would you rank them?

My husband is about to start training to become an air traffic controller. The way this works is during the last week of school, they’ll give him a list of 10-15 places off this list that are in need of controllers, and the class gets to choose in order of class ranking. We would like to have our options ranked sooner than later so that while he’s studying for his final exams we’re not wasting time debating where we should go. If our top choice isn’t on the list or if someone who performed better than him already filled the slot, we’d move down to the next place on the list.

Would appreciate any thoughts on these cities as we haven’t been anywhere near most of them! Particularly with respect to the following criteria:

1. We’d be open to a commute up to 45 minutes so neighboring cities matter.

2. We have a child so school ratings and safety would be important factors.

3. We are currently in Central Texas and are growing tired of the hot summers, but have never lived anywhere with cold winters. The devil you know? Other than the heat we love it here.

4. Not the most important factor at play but we love Halloween lol some place with nice October weather, young families trick or treating, owning a home with a yard big enough for my 12 ft skeleton. Things to think about.

5. It’ll be a couple years before we make it to the higher salary tiers. Some place where our dollar goes further would be great.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
ANCHORAGE, AL
OLATHE, KS
HILLIARD, FL
PALMDALE, CA
RONKONKOMA, NY
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
FREMONT, CA
MIAMI, FL
AURORA, IL
MEMPHIS, TN
NASHUA, NH
FARMINGTON, MN
LEESBURG, VA
OBERLIN, OH
LONGMONT, CO
AUBURN, WA
FORT WORTH, TX
HOUSTON, TX
HAMPTON, GA