Looking to start over? Find a new job? A new house? Here are 20 U.S. markets where jobs are available and real estate is affordable

Thousands of Americans across the U.S. are wondering if they would be better off somewhere else. The question is where?

As unemployment and foreclosures continue to rise, stocks keep fluctuating, and cash-strapped state and city governments move to increase taxes and trim services, many people are finding that careers and communities they once believed secure are no longer dependable. Either they have lost jobs, are in fear of losing a job, are stuck paying more mortgage than their homes are currently worth, or have seen their family’s quality of life evaporate. For those troubled Americans who are willing to relocate, the U.S. can still be a land of opportunity.

No state is totally buffered from the downturn, but several have gotten a boost from energy, military, and agricultural sectors. The healthiest states include Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. In the Washington area, federal government and defense jobs have given the economy a boost. And Iowa, which has seen its economy somewhat deteriorate, has also benefited from agricultural and alternative-energy jobs. (Read more at: BusinessWeek)

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{Photography by Yamiq}