Sell me on a new state

[lihpster]

Been mulling over the idea of selling the house and moving to some new stomping grounds. it would be nice to both downsize and have a lower cost of living. Also, the gun laws here suck rocks. I won't get into the political landscape, and neither should you, but trust me, I don't see it changing for the better anytime soon. I admit the fact that I hear about these places with comparable housing going for half of what my place is worth. Being able to downsize and pocket some change is appealing to me.
Things that concern me:
1. Mountains, Gotta have some mountains. Don't care if it has coastlines, but mountains are necessary for my soul.
2. Gun laws. "Shall not be infringed."
3. Overall cost of living. Taxes, housing, gas and milk, what have you.
4. Hot or cold is fine, just have utility costs that reflect that.
5. Prefer not to dodge tornadoes and hurricanes too often. Snow can be dealt with.

So, just for grins and giggles, where would you go and why? This is just noodling around in my brain, not something that's gonna happen right now, if it happens at all. But this place has many people here whose opinions I respect, and I'd like to hear what they have to say to guide my research. Thanks in advance for any info or advice you can pass along.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

How old are you? I live in a 55+ retirement community in the west valley outside of Phoenix. The area is surrounded by mountains…Flagstaff and snow is a couple of hours north if you like that. This is a special tax district…no schools so no school taxes. Last I checked there are over 300 homes for sale in the community…a buyers market. Lots of gun stores and places to shoot.

I moved here from Marylandstan a couple of years ago…never been happier.

 

[lihpster]

How old are you? I live in a 55+ retirement community in the west valley outside of Phoenix. The area is surrounded by mountains…Flagstaff and snow is a couple of hours north if you like that. This is a special tax district…no schools so no school taxes. Last I checked there are over 300 homes for sale in the community…a buyers market. Lots of gun stores and places to shoot.

I moved here from Marylandstan a couple of years ago…never been happier.

I'm 57, so I'd say I qualify. If I've done my figgerin" correctly.

 

[JP@AK]

We ditched Oregon for Alaska 41 years ago. There isn't enough money in the world to get us to go back. Especially not now, the way Oregon has changed.

1. We have mountains!!! Big, beautiful mountains - higher than any other place in the country.
2. Super strong on the 2d Amendment (I actually authored Alaska's first concealed carry bill back in 1993. We have improved it twice since then, the second time to a full constitutional carry option).
3. Cost of living here is lower than any of the west coast states. And, as a senior, you get a huge discount on property taxes. Add to that the annual payout from the Alaska Permanent Fund (eligibility starts at the end of your first year of residence).
4. Cold and dark part of the year, but spring and summer are wonderful.
5. No tornadoes or hurricanes.

Added point: Second lowest population of the 50 states. Just don't move to Anchorage. It's just a city, like any other city, except smaller and you have beautiful mountains on the east side.

 

[johngalt]

I've never lived anyplace that had mountains, but some observations about the others:

2 and 3 sometimes don't go together. Ohio was not the lowest taxed state in the world, probably in the middle. gun rights were excellent, and high quality ranges abound. Best place for shooting I have ever lived.

My experience in Indiana was less great. It has low taxes, but in the northern part of the state ranges were very sparse. Cincinnati was much better.

As I get older, I find that access to high quality health care is more important than trying to save a little on taxes.

 

[snubbyfan]

There's a reason they call West Virginia "Almost Heaven."
Mountains, rivers, camping, biking and hiking.
Gun laws? If you can legally buy a gun, you can legally carry a gun, concealed or open.
In the small mountain town I live in, guns aren't just part of the home decor but they're also a fashion statement.
The nearest traffic signal is about 30 miles away.
Either you own a 4wd or you know somebody that does for the winter snows.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Tax wise, western TN isn't bad if you are OK calling the Appalachians mountains. (I am…). I'm in Ga, and generally if you arrive without a gun, someone will loan you one.

Cost of living in both states is quite low.

 

[lihpster]

We ditched Oregon for Alaska 41 years ago. There isn't enough money in the world to get us to go back. Especially not now, the way Oregon has changed.

I understand what you mean about Oregon changing. It's so beautiful here, I always said I'd never leave, but here we are. Also, Alaska has an appeal in that my uncle always wanted to live there. He was a fan of Dick Proenneke. My brother was always going to go for my uncle, but he passed before it could happen.

 

[The Preacher]

Idaho or Montana perhaps....

 

[lihpster]

There's a reason they call West Virginia "Almost Heaven."
Mountains, rivers, camping, biking and hiking.
Gun laws? If you can legally buy a gun, you can legally carry a gun, concealed or open.
In the small mountain town I live in, guns aren't just part of the home decor but they're also a fashion statement.
The nearest traffic signal is about 30 miles away.
Either you own a 4wd or you know somebody that does for the winter snows.

West By God Virginia is in the mix of places to research.

 

[steelslaver]

Montana is full now.

 

[lihpster]

Montana is full now.

Noted.

 

[mojave30cal]

Utah. Avoid salt Lake City.

 

[lihpster]

Utah. Avoid salt Lake City.

Beautiful state, for sure. On the list.

 

[zeke]

am still dreaming of WV, and property prices seem to be dropping for a "zeke" house. Heath Care and decent range are concerns. Anywhere in WV is considerably warmer in winter than here, and already have 2 snowblowers and 4wd. What makes it tough is the excellent range 5 minutes away here.

 

[Yendor357]

Idahoans don't want you there. The second you stop giving those people money, they turn their back on you.

I'd got to Tennessee. No state income taxes. It's beautiful down there.

 

[dmn57]

+1 on TN, especially the eastern side.

 

[dben002]

Try North Carolina....mountains....beaches.....4 distinct seasons....winter not all that cold or bad....middle of summer can be hot and muggy....overall a nice state....or somewhere on one of the Hawaian Islands....

 

[cololab]

Needless to say, Colorado is too much like the place you are looking to leave. New Mexico is not much better. Sad because they were not always so.

 

[chuckie]

Do not, I repeat, do not under any circumstances even think about moving to Massachusetts. That is all.

 

[lihpster]

Needless to say, Colorado is too much like the place you are looking to leave. New Mexico is not much better. Sad because they were not always so.

My assessment as well. Too bad, really.

 

[URIT]

I live in coastal North Carolina and there are a lot of forum members living in Blue Ridge Mountains (highland ranges) in the western part of the state. I like Murphy in western part because it is in the SW corner and close to other states.

If I were from OR and planning to explore this part of the country, I'd fly into Chattanooga TN because I could conveniently explore some of the nice parts of TN, NC, SC, GA, and AL.

My wife and I have explored many states, lived in a few states, and also Costa Rica since we retired. We found the culture of the area is a real important factor if you plan to relocate permanently.

If you research best states to retire, you will find very few sites agree. Here is one with that rank some important considerations: https://moneywise.com/retirement/best-states-to-retire-in

 

[alexb357]

Was gonna recommend my native state of Florida until I saw mountains required and avoiding hurricanes. No state income tax is nice though, Tennessee could be an option.

 

[Frailer]

It would be difficult to find a state with fewer firearms restrictions than the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Housing costs are reasonable, and taxes are low. (Beware of states with *no* state income taxes; their sales and/or property taxes are often onerous.)

One downside is the part of the state with mountains tend to have closely-knit communities that might not be as welcoming to outsiders as you might like. The areas with rolling hills are a bit more welcoming.

 

[Onomea]

...or somewhere on one of the Hawaian Islands....

Lousy gun laws.

 

[Bald1]

West By God Virginia is in the mix of places to research.

My wife and I bought 50ac in Greenbrier County last summer. Heading down there this weekend to meet with a builder. My cousin is already clearing brush with excavator where my shop will be built. As for snow. Lewisburg gets about 12" per yr. Here in the Buffalo NY area I get that on a Tuesday. Cost of living and gun culture are a huge bonus. Part of what brought us there is my parents were born and raised there. The Greenbrier Valley and WV Appalachians might be the prettiest place on earth.

 

[madmikeb]

I moved from Maine to Arizona 1 year ago Saturday. From my front patio I have views of the Whetstone mountains, from the back is the Dragoons, both ranges run about 8000' at the peaks. My utilities, electricity and natural gas run about $130 monthly. In Maine just my light bill was more then that plus in the winter months oil ran about $500 monthly. Property taxes are half what they were in Maine. No black flies, mosquitos or ticks, you can actually enjoy the outdoors. In Maine just walking from my house to my car it was not unusual to find a tick on board. Beautiful weather, rode my motorcycles all winter. Very gun friendly.

Now for the negatives!

Wildfires.

Monsoon season can get kind of hairy, I didn't know what a thunderstorm was until I got out here. One storm last summer was right over head, wind peeled the screens from the front of my house, had a lightning strike in my front yard, and a neighbor lost part of their roof.

Summers are hot! I adjusted pretty quick but it is hot.

Sales taxes run about 9%.

I seems like groceries are higher here then they were in Maine.

Finally, I think they are the worst drivers in the country. The roads are hazardous. I always thought that Massachusetts drivers were bad, they have nothing on Arizona drivers. My car insurance doubled when I moved.

Moving here was one of the best things I ever did for myself, it's not perfect, but way better then Maine. I wouldn't trade my Maine upbringing for anything, but I'm really glad to be here.

Sunset from my front patio.

Cochise Stronghold Dragoon Mountains

Moonrise over the Dragoons (low resolution) from my back patio

 

[Kanewpadle]

We ditched Oregon for Alaska 41 years ago. There isn't enough money in the world to get us to go back. Especially not now, the way Oregon has changed.

1. We have mountains!!! Big, beautiful mountains - higher than any other place in the country.
2. Super strong on the 2d Amendment (I actually authored Alaska's first concealed carry bill back in 1993. We have improved it twice since then, the second time to a full constitutional carry option).
3. Cost of living here is lower than any of the west coast states. And, as a senior, you get a huge discount on property taxes. Add to that the annual payout from the Alaska Permanent Fund (eligibility starts at the end of your first year of residence).
4. Cold and dark part of the year, but spring and summer are wonderful.
5. No tornadoes or hurricanes.

Added point: Second lowest population of the 50 states. Just don't move to Anchorage. It's just a city, like any other city, except smaller and you have beautiful mountains on the east side.

No thanks brother.

High cost of living and eight months of winter.

 

[TX-Dennis]

A few years back I would have recommended a smaller town in the Texas hill country. Not mountains, exactly, but very pretty. In recent years, though, they have become overpopulated and increasingly expensive places to live. Probably still less expensive than most of the northwest, though.

If desert mountains suit you there is Fort Davis / Alpine / Marfa and Terlingua with mountains to around 8000'.Pretty isolated country, though with few health care resources. El Paso is a nice desert city with mountains, too. Gambling's just over the border in NM if that's your thing. Downside is that it's much hotter than you're accustomed to in the spring / summer / fall. No income tax in Texas although property tax can be high depending on where you live. Sales tax varies by locality from 6.25 - 8.25, but it's usually around 8%. No sales tax on food, medication, or OTC drugs, but just about everything else is taxed. Over 65 gets a break on property tax as do disabled veterans

 

[lihpster]

Desert mountains will suit. It's more of an elevation and view thing than a snowy mountain thing. Although trees would be nice. Just someplace to get away from folks and enjoy nature. Never been a gambler, too good at math. Heat can be dealt with and swapping an income tax for a sales tax is kind of a wash, even at 8%. I'd have to get a hat, though. Gotta figure that into the equation.