JJ5

Budman, I do the math too. And In the 7 or 8 Midwest states I know well, the most populous areas, the salaries are NOT at a pace anywhere near keeping up with the expenses and increased living costs, let alone the property taxes.

That may be true for coastal areas, but it is not here. Most college plus graduates can not afford their parents starter homes circa 1960, let alone the ones that there parents are living in presently. It is not uncommon in WI and IL for a mid-level priced home to be taxed at about $7,000-$12,000 property taxes a year, just for the house.

And that does not even begin to take into consideration the traffic or density/crime issues. Or the slower and more relaxed way of life that Melissa is seeking.

AuntAnnie

I grew up in a metropolitan area. When I married we moved to a "small city" of about 75,000. Twelve years ago we moved to a small town of 20,000. My daughters were in 1st and third grade when we moved here. It has been a wonderful place to make friends and raise children. Our HS has an outstanding music program and both of my girls play an instrument very well; have been involved in all-state groups and professional symphony. There is a lazy charm to our town. I do love it here. Having said all that, I am the only democrat in my book club. I am a catholic but not the kind of 1950's catholicism practiced here. I put on make up before I run any errand because I am guaranteed to run into someone I know. As a previous poster stated, I was in the hospital for kidney stones and had friends and acquaintances as my nurse, doctor and x-ray tech. I would rather not chat while trying to pass a kidney stone!! We drive an hour to the city to go to museums and eat at a non-chain restaurant or see a play. We plan to move back to the city next summer. I will miss many things about small town life, but I will embrace my city!! It is esp. tough to fit in with people who have ALWAYS lived in your small town. They see the place through different eyes and place weird importance on who did what back when...as jorr indicated. If you choose a small town, prepare for some adjustments! I also have had trouble finding red peppers, limes, cilantro, good bread....pretty common groceries! Ok, I have ranted enough. Its complicated.

jorr

Budman, "and whatever other fricken tax & fee the Governor can rob you of, the salaries overcompensate for anything you could possibly get in rural areas. I did the math.

Did you do this math in NJ? Don't get all bent out of shape! I have no doubt that you make twice as much as me, yet I have a life style that you do not have because of the expensive area you live in. You pretend to be rural but you are sucked in by the east coast large cities and its expensive economy.

jorr

Budman, Just in case you can not understand the difference between here and there I have some facts. I live on 140 acres of land which boarders a half mile of beautiful lake frontage with large trees. My house is a large old style shake clad home. The barn is made of double stacked brick. the other buildings are also strong and beautiful.

The taxable value of this 140 acres of land plus the house, the barn, and other buidings is only $215,000. Can you find something like this at this price anywhere on the east coast?

You pay double and I have ten times more!

AustinTraveler

Jorr and Budman, you seriously need to start your own thread and bicker together somewhere else.