There's a lot of things on the Interwebs about "Best states to retire in" or "Best places to retire" and there's lots of things that kind of delve into things that aren't truly important to me.
I know we have lots of retirement discussions around here but I'd like to steer this one in the direction of most interest to myself, of course, things can and do go off the rails around here, but let's try not get this locked with irrelevant content or petty bickering. Pretty please?
What I would like:
Low property taxes, or much lower property taxes than I have now. I am paying $12K a year property taxes in Texas on a roughly $500K property.
Low or no income taxes.
Little less intense summers than Texas, but not somewhere where it snows a lot or they put salt on the roads. Average temp above freezing Nov-Feb.
Somewhere with some geographical relief, i.e., not flat.
Not too expensive property, would like an acre or acres and a small house is fine in retirement, looking to buy in the $500-$750K range depending on current property value in 12-15 years.
Not too far from city conveniences - I'm ok being out of town but I don't want to drive two hours to the doctor or the grocery store.
Here is a list of states with no or low income taxes from 1/4/23
https://www.homecity.com/blog/states-with-no-income-tax/
This site has both property and income taxes.
https://donotpay.com/learn/states-with-low-income-and-property-tax/
Most tax friendly as listed on the 2nd site:
Wyoming - Hard no. Too cold in wintertime. Unless there's some secret temperate spot in WY that I don't know about.
Nevada - Maybe northern, southern is a hard no due to intense summertime weather. Reno weather is maybe pushing cold limit. Low humidity which is a plus in the summer makes 90s temps not so hot. Good mountain views, which I love. I ski now but not sure I would in 20 years. Plus for being close to, but not in, California. Have lots of relatives in CA bay area but don't want to live there due to taxes and general frutiness. But I like to visit and reachable by car is a plus.
Florida - Hard no due to heat and humidity, uninteresting topography.
Tennessee - Very favorable in the eastern portion, probably my #1 choice so far. Mountains and lakes to enjoy. Johnson City TN highs not above 90 in any month, perfect. High temps only below 50 in December and January, average lows below freezing in Dec, Jan, Feb, pretty decent not great, park the cars in the garage so we never scrape ice. Chattanooga little warmer in both summertime and wintertime, 90.5 July with mean max of 97, but no average month below freezing lows.
Other considerations:
Alabama - Far north/northeastern, maybe. Alabama doesn't put income tax on pensions, which I will have. Tax rates vary by county but they seem to average around .33 per thousand. Property values relatively lower than other states. Huntsville AL weather average high July 91.5, Aug 91.3 which is ok not great, better than Texas at least. Mean maximum 97 July and Aug, ok if it's only 1-2 days a month. No month with average high below 50 or low below freezing, which is perfect. Hills and lakes to see.
Of the states with no/low income taxes not already mentioned
Texas-looking to leave. Too hot and crushingly high property taxes.
Washington - possible on wet side, and far away from Seattle. But I think properties are too expensive to consider. Dry side too cold in winter. I grew up in Oregon so that would be a pretty natural fit, but, the prices of real estate are high.
South Dakota - too cold
Alaska - no on many factors
New Hampshire - too cold, salt on the roads
North Dakota - 2.9% income tax - too cold
Pennsylvania - 3.07% income taxes - seen some really cheap nice properties there, but it would have to be in the farthest south possible and nearest to moderating temperatures, ie SE. Probably too cold even at that. And salt on the roads.
Indiana - 3.23 Income tax - too cold, has salt on the roads. I need my car to last in retirement.
Meat Chicken - 4.25% income tax - is this a joke? way too cold.
Arizona - 4.5% income tax - it'd have to be something high elevation in the north of the state. Maybe. Phoenix/Tuscon - hard no.
Colorado - 4.63% too expensive, too cold, too crowded, like visiting but I don't want to live there.
States with low property taxes not previously mentioned, less than $1000 per $100K of value
Hawaii - I'd rather go expat if I wanted to live somewhere tropical.
Louisiana - too humid, too 3rd world.
DC - too expensive, too cold
South Carolina - not sure, I'd have to do my research. Don't know much about it.
Delaware - see DC
Utah - too many Mormons
WV - too cold
Arkansas - maybe would consider NW or other hilly region, need to look at climate charts.
Idaho- too cold
Mississippi - see Louisiana
New Mexico - seems like most of the areas I like are expensive, but would consider if it fit the budget and had views.
Expat - Common issue is being far from family in USA
Sao Paulo, Brazil or locations further south in Brazil. Wife is native, has dual citizenship, I could probably obtain it if I wanted. Wife's family is large. Cheap, low taxes, cheap property prices. Higher altitude locations preferred, more moderate weather. Crime is an issue in many Brazilian locations. In Sao Paulo and other medium to large cities - air pollution is prevalent at higher levels than most of the USA.
South of Spain - bargains to be found, exchange rate currently favorable but unknown in future, expat friendly
Balkan states - nice, cheap property prices, long term political stability unknown.
Other suggestions? Be honest about the costs and the climate.
