The tax thread got me to thinking
 

If you could move to any state in the US where would it be. My requirements would be in no particular order.

Low taxes
Moderate year round temperatures
Good, safe schools
Friendly folks
Reasonably priced housing

Lets hear your suggestions please.

Thanks
Grumpy

Oregon.

Odd that you mention there. I looked briefly at some land there and it is a beautiful state ! Sadly its not cheap by a long shot for land there.

Cheaper than some. Also, no sales tax.

You have to strike a balance somehow. There are things that cost money like good schools. That means, if you want good safe schools (or good roads, parks, etc.) taxes can't be all that low.

I mean Mississippi and West Virginia offer low taxes and cheap real estate but the quality of life stinks.

John

Good call from John, it's a lot cheaper than all the places that are listed Best Place To Raise Kids.


Carl

California has high taxes.
But (unless you count carpool lanes) no turnpikes or toll roads.
Plus if you are a veteran with a rated disability level (even 0 percent disabilty rating) tuition at California public universities and commuity colleges is free for your child.
The high gasoline tax and car registration tax is a pain the ass though.

As they say, you can't have it all. Which of these 5 items can you give on? If you're willing to put up with four seasons, there's lots of outer suburbs in low tax states that have good schools, friendly folks, and affordable housing. You just have to stay within about a 1.5 hour's drive of a major city (less for a smaller city). Any further out and the schools get worse. If you start seeing meth trailers, you've gone too far.
Play a game like the old SimCity or the new Cities Skylines, and you'll see in a hurry where the sweet spot is.

The Canadian Maritimes. :)

The Texas Hill Country or East Tennessee. Both are beautiful and have no state income tax.

Shussh! We are trying to keep things quiet here!:)

Ashland, Oregon and Carson City area, NV (actually Minden) would be up there on my list. In Carson you my need to own a gun or two to belong. Ashland just need to be cool.

Yup. Great fishin', tasty buds and cool people (lot's o' expats from the Peoples Republic of California). :cool:

:D Too late! Two of my brothers live in the Great State of Tennessee, one east and the other in Memphis. One of these days I'll be on your doorstep with my Guild D4 in hand, John. ;)

Thinking of getting out of Michigan, Dave?

You can't scare me, Bob.:D Bring it on!

I've heard rumors whispered that Grumpy 'supports the left while leanin' to the right'. ;)

The State of Jefferson might be the place for him and Nancy. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffers..._Pacific_state)

We'll have to get Unca Sandy and Kent over and strike up the jug band, John. :D

I'll bring some nectar of the Agave -Tres Generaciones Anejo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_Generaciones

Sippin' Tequila.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Xz8l8tsIkdt4TA

A great public radio station that I listen to on my way back and forth to OR.

http://ijpr.org/topic/jpr-musicorg

IIRC RexEverything is/was in Ashland.

I've been to Grant's Pass for a visit, great Steelhead fishin'. I caught a 12lb. 20" 'downer' headed back to the ocean after spawning. Tasty eating! :)

If Jefferson ever came into being...;) It'll be time to tell the rest of the U.S. to go hang.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...scadia.svg.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadi...dence_movement)

We'll need to expand the border from Alas-ka to San Diego, tho. :D

The Governor is trying to eliminate the state income tax in Kansas, and in the process is destroying the state budget. I enjoy having four seasons, and my sons attended great public schools in Johnson County. But with the state government now owned by the Koch brothers, the things that made this a good place to raise kids are disintegrating. I'm not sure that I would leave my home and career behind, but I don't recommend moving here.

Regards,

D-Ray

Sad truth is that there are many more states like Kansas that can be had.

California is hard to live in unless you and your spouse can bring in close to 90k a year, and that is just getting by. However I think that we have a great governor and most people here seem to be tolerant and progressive in outlook. I am glad that tea bagger stuff is all back east.

If I were to pick up stakes my first stop would be southern Colorado. Over the years I spent at least a month TDY in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is pretty much smack dab in the middle. Southern Colorado starts sort of south of the Arkansas River and Pueblo. There ain't a hell of a lot down there except for Trinidad on the Eastern Slope and Durango on the Western Slope.

I lived in the Springs in the '70s. It was a hippified cow town then and very cool for a hippie cowboy as I was back then. It's pretty right wing these days. Too much retired Air Force. I don't think I'd fit in any more.

John

If I had a choice of places to live in Colorado, it would be in the southwest part of the state.

The first place I thought of.

I fell into a bottle of Tequila many years ago and found myself dancing on a table.:D It was a great party!

I agree, but beautiful wasn't one of the big 5 qualifiers the OP asked for.
Low taxes was a qualifier, and Texas, according to ITEP (Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy), has regressive tax policy.

For low income earners, Texas ranked 40th of the 50 states (tax burden as % of income). For mid earners, Texas ranked 9th. For high earners 13th.

Tennessee is much better but still regressive at 16th, 6th, and 4th respectively.

Nevada 4th, 3rd, 3rd

Wyoming 6th, 5th, 2nd

Alaska 1st, 1st, 1st..... AND.... nobody can touch us on the beautiful aspect.... AND.... we only have 2 seasons- spring, and winter.

A mild climate was also one of the criteria, That lets Alaska out and it also lets the Hill Country out. Its summers are among the hottest in Texas and its winters among the coldest.

Yup, and Pueblo would be my first stop.

Grumpy is leaving MI. I'm thinking a Texas winter is not an issue.

S.E. Az. is great IMO. Summers are warm, but the Monsoon is awesome down there. Not sure about the schools.

Good luck finding Eldorado!


The mix of choices to choose from, work against each other. Low Taxes and a moderate climate are a magnet for people to relocate. So home prices and cost of living would seem to be higher.

Most public school systems are funded by property taxes, so if values or rate are low will be under funded.


As to friendly folks or safe schools, I've found after my travels across this country very few strangers, yes even in NYC or Bean Town! As to safe schools resent events should show no location is really safe.

Will tell you more about SFO/OAK if a few weeks. O forgot cost of living and Taxes!!! Has the climate and schools, guess there will be trade offs.

But I can say the couple of friends who moved to East Tenn wished they had done it sooner.


Barney

Lake front property may get to be extremely affordable here soon.:(

http://www.tva.com/boonedrawdown/

TVA says they may have it fixed in a year. Other people say it may be as long as four years.

It used to be 50 feet to the water from my house. Now it is more like 150 yards!:mad:

They bought Chalet's in the Pigeon Forge area in the 70's. Rented them for years until deciding to retire there. Moved down to the Sevierville area.

I like the area also.



Barney

Oregon has no sales tax. Washington has no income tax. Property isn't really that expensive unless you need to be in an urban area. The farther you get from a metro area the cheaper the land gets, for obvious reasons. There are four seasons, but the rain can get to you on the west side. Not the best place for those prone to depression. It gets better as you go south. I really like central Oregon and eastern Washington. Will probably head over there within the next 5 years. I still need the income provided from Portland for the time being. One of the great things about living here is that you can be in just about any climate you can imagine in less than a couple hours. Mountains, the coast, plains, Willamette valley, or high desert.
Politically, the metro areas hold the most liberal of the left and the east sides have the most conservative of the right. Oregon and Washington should have been split down the Cascades instead of along the Columbia.

Beautiful country if you can avoid the tourists.

Wondered about that name. Does it mean they are known for wrought iron pigeons or for counterfeit pigeons?

Always been one of my fave areas, where I live now is somewhat similar.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

http://cityofpigeonforge.com/history...eon-forge.aspx

"The town takes the first part of its name from the Little Pigeon River, and the river takes its name from passenger pigeons. These birds, now extinct, were so numerous that they darkened the sky as they flew into the valley, and the beech trees along the river were stripped of limbs by the weight of their great numbers. The second part of the name came from the bloomery ‘forge’ built by Isaac Love in 1817."



Barney