Which state is best? (moneywise, re: taxes, etc.)

[Andy Perreault]

Given a choice, financially speaking, which state would you want to live in? I'm not talking about who has the best football teams, the weather, or hunting and fishing; I'm interested in finding out which state is the best when it comes to taxes, cost-of-living, hanging on to your hard earned money, etc.

Here in Washington, there's no state income tax, but there are many who are pushing it. Property taxes are high here, as is the sales tax. I'm thinking about Nevada, because they also have no state income tax. What about other states? I grew up in California, and it's too full of socialists who think money falls from the trees. I get the feeling Colorado is going the same way. What about Montana? Idaho? I've spent all my life in the west, so I must admit, I know nothing about the situations in the central and eastern states.

Eventually, when I finish school and pay my dues for a few years in my new career, I will be able to move to any city with a major airport. I'm just considering my options. If I play my cards right, I will be able to retire in 16 years.

Thanks, Andy

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Being from CT, I can tell ya you don't want to live here. If I had my choice in the NE would be Maine or New Hampshire.



We have friends that live in Arizona, they moved there from CT about 5 years ago and they LOVE IT!!!

 

[klenger]

We recently moved from Denver CO to Tucson AZ. We are havnig a new but modest house built here that is about 1550 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, etc. , with some nice options and upgrades. The price is about $182,000. In Denver, we were looking at a 1000 sq ft condo style home for about the same or maybe more. The house we are buying here would go for the high 200's in Denver. Don't know about taxes yet as we haven't been here long enough to tell. I sure do miss the mountains of Colorado, but the winter weather here is great.

 

[illflem]

It isn't Montana, taxes are high and wages low. Folks I know recommend Nevada and S. Carolina.

 

[RichB59]

NV is cool.

I moved from NH to Boulder City NV 6 yrs ago. It took some time to get used to the desert and high summer temps. BUT let me tell you I love it now. Boulder City is the place to be. 64 deg today Dec7 and sunny. My total utilty bill for Nov was $54. oo that is water,sewer,trash and electric. Boulder City has a contract with Boulder Dam and get super low power rates. It's like anywhere else you got to shop for the best deals on food ect. but it works out for us. where else can you get a prime rib dinner for $4. 95 or a 1/2 lb cheeseburger with fries for a buck, . 99cent breakfast ect. Winters are great and in the summer you can always head north to Montana ECT. Sking is an hour away and you can boat all winter. I made the move and it wasn't easy I still miss NH but I do live it here. Write to the Boulder City NV chamber of coomerce and get the info you need.



LOL Rich

 

[WDaniels]

Andy,

Alaska isn't bad. No income tax, no sales tax yet, no personal property tax. Food is a little expensive sometimes but most everything else is comparable. A trucker can make a good living up here if he is willing to be a go getter and work hard. Price of homes are not bad either if you don't try to buy one in Los Anchorage, Eagle River or the surrounding area.

WD

 

[Andy Perreault]

Thanks for the replies.

RichB59, Boulder City sounds good, the heat wouldn't bother me, but the company I work for doesn't fly there.

Klenger, I have definitely considered Arizona! My company flies into Phoenix, and I'm pretty sure they fly into Tucson, too.

WDaniels, Anchorage is another definite possibility. My company has quite a big operation there for the trans-pacific flights. I'm getting out of truck driving and into aircraft mechanics (I work for a major cargo airline).

My goal, and it's a tricky one, somewhat contradictory, but I think I can work it-- is to live in a rural or semi-rural area but yet still be within a reasonable commute of a major airport. In the west (not including California), these are the cities my company flies to: ANC, SEA, PDX (Portland), GEG (Spokane), BOI, SLC, RNO, LAS, PHX, ABQ, DEN, GJT (Grand Junction), GTF (Great Falls). They also fly to Fairbanks Alaska, but that's a little too cold for me!

I've been to Colorado many times, and Grand Junction really appeals to me.

My company has a major hub in Indianapolis. When I was there, I looked around and thought, "Hey, this isn't bad!" Memphis is the company headquarters, it would be very easy for me to get a job there, but I didn't like the humidity.

Andy

 

[Hohn]

hmm

I have heard that parts of Missouri have the lowest cost of living, statistically speaking. Gas is cheap, and food is very reasonable since you are into a lot of farming country.



I would buy a place about 50 miles from Branson MO. The growth of that place is going to make it the next Vegas in short order. Real estate is still very reasonable in a lot of the area, and taxes are very low.



If the property values skyrocket as predicted, then maybe the politicians will get too greedy to keep the property taxes low.



I have lived in WI, ND, TX, CO, and GA. My mom lives in northwest Arkansas (on the Missouri state line) and is considering moving across to Missouri (Clinton legacy).



Personally, I favor North Dakota. Liveable weather, great people, excellent public schools, low cost of living (in most areas). It's a lot like WD says Alaska is.



If Money were no object, I would retire in these places, in order of preference:



1) Colorado Springs, CO

2) Rapid City, SD

3) Bismarck, ND



I am sure there are lots of other nice places, but these are places I have actually been and I loved them. Rapid City might be the best overall, since cost of living is about HALF of what Colorado Springs is. Rapid City is quite the well-kept secret!



*not affiliated with any vendor or department of tourism, hehe*

HOHN

 

[BFC]

Ended up in TX for some odd reason. I ended up liking the damn place! Cost of living is low(if youy live in the country like I do), no state income tax. Other taxes are reasonnable but summers are HOT! But that's OK with me, I froze my a$$ for 27 years in Canada, I can take the heat for a while. 5 years so far and I ain't planning on going anywhere! Well maybe AZ.



Glenn

 

[klenger]

I was working on a possible job in Grand Junction CO, but it never worked out. I wish it had, I really got to like the place. Cost of housing was higher than Tucson, but lower than Denver. Great country for RVing and outdoor actives. It's right in the middle of some of the prettiest country in the country. Weather is about 3 degrees higher than Denver most of the time, but cooler than Tucson.

 

[illflem]

Andy, of the places on your list Grand Junction would be my choice. Big advantage is you can live in Utah with lower taxes and have a very short commute. Beautiful country, nice climate.

 

[Champane Flight]

Nope?

The cost of living in Grand Junction has skyrocketed in the past couple of years. I do love it over there though, but population is booming. Job market is down, don't know what they are all doing for a living. Asked a guy I know over there "Where all the people are coming from"? He said" Everybody who has ever lived here are coming back".



I know several people that are in Texas and love it. Two guys I work with moved to Austin and have fallen in love with it. Low property prices, no sales tax, very pretty area, and nice people. I couldn't do without my mountains though and am heading to the hills shortly. Oo.

 

[JR2]

Andy,

I am somewhat biased but if I where you I would pick Anchorage or the outlying areas. If you can stand an hour to 1. 5 hour drive every day to and from work you could live in Wasilla/Palmer where houses are much less expensive than Anchorage. You can get acres + the house for $185K and up (these are new houses).



All other stuff aside, don't move somewhere because its cheap to live. You need to pick a place you can afford, but please go somewhere you will enjoy as well. There is alot more to life than work.



My best advice is to try and get to a few of these places (I would bet you could catch a ride on the cargo planes) and have a look around. I knowquite a few guy who came to AK to look around and never left



Heck we even have a diesel club for you to join.

 

[RonaldLarson]

Motana is a tree.

And the property taxes are astronomical. We pay $1816. 00 per year on a $128,100. 00 one acre parcel with no sewer, water, road maintenance nor street lighting, in an agricultural area! Next year we are due for re-assessment, and they ain't going down, baby! A sales tax in trade for a property tax reduction seems out of the question, since so many locals don't seem to think that THEY are in charge of their government.

I think that so many people expect government to be all things to all people, they are willing to accept being trod upon just to exist from day to day. A sales tax is the fairest form of taxation. Property taxes tax only property owners, who demand the least of public resources!

Ron

 

[lgibson]

I would really look into Anchorage. I have a manufactured home there, I just wish I could live there year round. The weather is a lot like Denver. Not really hot or cold. I lived in South Texas, Yuma, AZ. , Las Vegas, and Brawley, Ca. , all hot places and Anchorage's winters were no problem for me. Great city parks and bike trails. If you are wanting to work on airplanes you will stay busy up there. I know we used to get paid every Oct. just for living in AK. I am not sure they do that anymore, my last check was just under $2,000 back in 1998. I left on a road trip that Oct. and drove around the country for two years. Ended up visiting my best friend in Or. and she convinced me to stay, Durn women.

 

[Jeff H]

I think Dakota's would be fine. Sparcely populated. Housing seams affordible. Not sure about the wages. But have heard they are low. Gotta be able to handle bone chilling winters though.

Hop in this one JJW-ND.

 

[scbrown]

I don't know about cost of living but I live in Michigan and do business here under a Nevada Corp.

 

[krohn]

I second Hohn, Missouri is about half the cost of living in Iowa, but if your going to build a home the wait is about two years because of the rock thats about a foot under the dirt. Nice state to visit too. But I love Iowa too much so I'm probly not much help. I hope you find what your looking for.



Nick

 

[Andy Perreault]

Thanks for all the replies. No telling where I'll end up, but if I don't like it, I'm only committed to 18 or 24 months (the hiring manager's discretion), then I can bid on an opening in some other city in the weekly job postings. I kind of thought it might be cool to live full time in a 5th wheel and just keep moving around until I find something I like.

I've already done a bit of full timing, sort of. I lived in a 25' toybox trailer on a friend's property and in campgrounds for 2 years until I bought this house. It wasn't bad, except the trailer wasn't really made for the cold winters in the foothills of the cascades. I went through a lot of propane in order to keep Charlie the cockatiel warm.

Anyway, I won't be done with school until August, so I have plenty of time to think about it. I just wanted to get an idea of which states tax you to death and all.

Thanks again, Andy

 

[Koa Man]

Which state is best moneywise? NOT Hawaii, that's for sure. Everthing is taxed here, including food and medical care. We have a 4% general excise tax that is compounded, or in other words, you pay tax upon the tax. Being self employed, if I make a $100 sale, I charge the consumer $100 plus $4 tax. When I submit the tax to the state, I need to send them $4. 16 because they view the sale as $104. This can add up quite a bit, example, farmer sells to wholesaler, who sells to retailer, who sells to final consumer. Every transaction is taxed, not just the final sale. Then adding insult to injury, you are taxed when you get sick or injured and need medical care with that same stupid gen. excise tax.