I've heard Boise is a good place to get a lot of the same perks that Denver has without the problems of Denver. Never been though so I cant say for sure.
Thinking about moving out of Iowa
- Thread starter mschmitty17
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Yeah never been either but I did go to Missoula, MT a few years ago and imo that would be more suitable for myself vs. a bigger metro area. Mountains are right there.
Don’t move to the Raleigh area. Too many of us transplants have figured that out. We’re full now.
On the Front Range, it is. Winter is regularly 40s-50s, with the occasional 60s.
It snows, but usually melts within a day or two. The mountains typically get the worst snowstorms.
Not immune to the occasional bitter cold snap, but they are less prolonged than in Iowa, and without the oppressive wind chill.
Just move to Vegas, a lot to do, no state income tax, property taxes low. Visitors pay a large portion of the states bills through resort fee's and sales taxes. Cost of living is very reasonable
Hot in the summer, but like anywhere you move you learn to deal with it. And dry heat is much better. Where I live you get snow maybe once a year. If I really want to visit snow in winter it's a 20 minute drive. LA and beaches 4 hour drive away.
Still have a house in Southern California, and when I do go back I get a reminder of how much the traffic just sucks. Climate is great, but I have morphed into love to visit but wouldn't want to live there after spending 30 years there.
Sacramento also gets very hot. But you are not far from Tahoe and Mammoth nice city and good restaurants. And a lot to do as well. Great farmers markets all year round
If you are a sports fan especially NFL or college football you are usually done with games by 8 o'clock at night. That's a nice perk.
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Maybe an extreme example, and no one is promoting NY, but the tax efficiency of Florida vs NY is bizaare. NY has issues.
If you think Iowas are bad, take a drive in southern MN. I’m basically on the border and I drive as long as I can in Iowa before crossing over. Today I was on a road that was like reverse rumble strips for the few miles I was on. Was happy to get on gravel to get a tolerable road.
Thanks for this info! I’ve got 20 years before retirement so we’ll see where life takes us. I’ve looked at places like Boise, as well. I don’t need crazy expensive like Estes (though I love that area). I just want somewhere I can hike the mountains and enjoy the area without being too touristy.
Within an hour of a major city would be nice. I suspect we’ll end up staying in the Midwest but make frequent sojourns to the Rockies.
In the last 10 years I've moved out of Iowa twice. Once to Phoenix which I absolutely loved but being a union tradesman I had to take a pay cut to live in a place 30% more expensive to live. I stayed for a year but at the end of the day I liked my middle class life in Iowa vs renting an apartment in PHX forever. I moved to KC a few years ago and loved it. Its truly the place I want to be but I didn't have union protection down there because of their city local and got layed off when all those tariffs went into place. I would still be down there amd be a member of their city local had those tariffs not hallened. I was single both times so it makes it tougher financially. I get bored with Iowa too but Des Moines is a great place, and if youre a union worker like me you are taking a hell of a pay cut if you leave what I call the industrial Midwest. Especially when you are comparing wages vs cost of living. There might not be 2 better places to live than Iowa or Missouri if youre a union tradesman. If you can continue or improve your way of life make the jump dude. You can always come back home.
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Im actually closing on a house in Beaverdale tomorrow after being in CR(Hiawatha) for a year. Not a bad place at all I was just sick of having to drive to Davenport and all over Eastern Iowa to stay busy. The Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty is stellar. There are parts of living over here ill miss. CR reminds me of a suburb that lacks the big city.
Not sure how old you are, but that is not an uncommon approach in many states. Heck I know Iowans who have 2nd homes and set up residency in states like Florida, South Carolina, etc. Just a reality of being retired and taxes can have a big impact on cash flow.
In recent years there seems to be a growing number of states like Iowa that don't tax Social Security, 401k, pension, etc. If you like to pay higher state taxes, great. But why get all huffy about someone who doesn't? Most likely they paid the higher taxes when they had a growing family.
The reality is states with higher tax rates are going to have to find the sweet spot or they risk people moving. Nothing new, I've lived in Colorado 2 times in my life. Back in the early 2000's and now. Californians have been moving in for 20+ years in droves. Their CA home equity buys them a much nicer house and state taxes are lower.
Been all over and it’s hard to beat Des Moines all things considered (affordability, good jobs, family life, low crime, even weather with the variety of the 4 seasons).
Tags are free and you can have as many as you want. I got 2 this summer for our trip down. Was $12/car from the start thru the end.
My inlaws live in wisconsin and I was in MN for 10 years. I've made the DSM to MSP drive more than I ever care to.
My only gripe with Des Moines is the weather in January and February and no pro sports. Im just glad KC is close. I could absolutely handle never seeing snow or sub zero weather again. You cant beat Midwestern people. Especially people from Iowa. I missed that every time I moved out of the Midwest. Thats why I loved KC so much. Its the only major city I've ever been to with that vibe. Stl sure as hell isn't like that. Back it the 2000's i lived in OKC for about a year and it was kind of like that.
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Ya, I will pass, don't want to look at that on the top of the windshield considering we only make the drive once a year or so. Must be cheaper if you have a tag.
KC is kind of a hidden gem, lots to do, professional sports, close to and easy trip to central Iowa and the housing market is not bad at all. Better weather than what we get up here, less snow but more ice.
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Moved away after college. Lived in Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, DC, and Columbus Ohio.
Favorite town was Chicago. I liked Miami too. Least favorite, by a lot, is Atlanta.
Towns I would move to are Nashville, Charleston, Savannah, Chattanooga (if working remote. Not a lot of jobs), manhattan beach (pipe dream) or Asheville. I can’t do Midwest winters anymore.
Favorite town was Chicago. I liked Miami too. Least favorite, by a lot, is Atlanta.
Towns I would move to are Nashville, Charleston, Savannah, Chattanooga (if working remote. Not a lot of jobs), manhattan beach (pipe dream) or Asheville. I can’t do Midwest winters anymore.
I am and have been well aware of it, I just think it's an entitled, selfish perspective and our society needs to figure out collectivism a bit better. Dodging taxes while still enjoying the benefits of those taxes is a ****** thing to do.
