Missouri, Arkansas, or Oklahoma....taxes/cost of living? (Fayetteville, Mountain Home: property taxes, luxury)

[vrussell]

Just wondering which of these states has the lower tax base/lower cost of living? Does the tax rate vary from county to county much? We're looking in the NW Arkansas, SW Missouri or NE Oklahoma area (hope I got that right). I am seeing more jobs available in the NW AR area, but along with that is higher priced land, which is fine, just wondering about the taxes as we are hoping to retire wherever we end up moving to. Thanks!

[Sam I Am]

vrussell, there was quite a bit of info in this thread just a little while back...maybe this will help you. You have to kind of wade through whatever isn't pertinent, though!

Arkansas taxes

[vrussell]

Thanks Sam I Am. I guess I missed that one. Appreciate your information...

[Cali BassMan]

Found this..



The Tax Foundation, a policy research group, estimated the average taxpayer's total state and local tax burden for 2005 in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. That burden reflects what residents pay in state and local income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, luxury taxes and fuel taxes, among others. States below are ranked from least to most tax friendly. (Read more about this table below.)

Click on column headings to re-sort »

State-Local Tax Burdens, Calendar Year 2005
Rank State State/Local taxes as
% of per capita income
U.S. average 10.10%
1 Maine 13.00%
2 New York 12.00%
3 Hawaii 11.50%
4 Rhode Island 11.40%
5 Wisconsin 11.40%
6 Vermont 11.10%
7 Ohio 11.00%
8 Nebraska 10.90%
9 Utah 10.90%
10 Minnesota 10.70%
11 Arkansas 10.50%
12 Connecticut 10.50%
13 West Virginia 10.50%
14 New Jersey 10.40%
15 Kansas 10.40%
16 Louisiana 10.40%
17 Maryland 10.30%
18 Indiana 10.30%
19 Kentucky 10.30%
20 California 10.30%
21 Arizona 10.20%
22 Michigan 10.10%
23 Wyoming 10.10%
24 Washington 10.00%
25 Iowa 10.00%
26 Mississippi 10.00%
27 Idaho 10.00%
28 North Carolina 10.00%
29 New Mexico 9.90%
30 Illinois 9.80%
31 Georgia 9.80%
32 Massachusetts 9.80%
33 South Carolina 9.70%
34 Virginia 9.70%
35 Pennsylvania 9.70%
36 Oregon 9.60%
37 Colorado 9.50%
38 Nevada 9.50%
39 Montana 9.50%
40 Oklahoma 9.40%
41 Missouri 9.40%
42 North Dakota 9.40%
43 Texas 9.30%
44 Florida 9.20%
45 South Dakota 8.80%
46 Alabama 8.70%
47 Tennessee 8.30%
48 Delaware 8.00%
49 New Hampshire 7.40%
50 Alaska 6.40%
District of Columbia 12.20%
Source: Tax Foundation, 2005



More tax info: Big city tax burdens »
Tax rankings: Income, sales, property »
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The state/local tax burden reflects what a state and its local governments collect as a percentage of per capita income. So, for example, with a state/local tax burden of 10.4 percent, the state of New Jersey and its local governments get about a tenth of what its residents make per capita.

Of course, if you live in the Garden State your personal tax burden may be higher or lower. Much will depend, as it would in any state, on whether you own your home, where in the state you live, how much you make and the source of your income.

[Greenmon]

We paid about 2.60 a gal gas with discount at walmart in Flippin AR this week, from what i have seen MO. raised some gas tax recently, so look out for that. Housing is very reasonable, if you want to work in a more expensive area like Fayetteville then look to small towns nearby for Housing , ofcourse you have to offset the cost of travel, but hey buy an old Geo Metro or Honda, they get high mileage . Depending on your profession, it might pay to look at the smaller towns and areas like Mountain Home area , they have regional Hospital, College, and its safe there, also look around the town of Branson MO, but in AR, like BLue eye, and many others, Branson has a lot of entertainment and Kids stuff , shopping. Have FUn.

[Greenmon]

Originally Posted by vrussell

Just wondering which of these states has the lower tax base/lower cost of living? Does the tax rate vary from county to county much? We're looking in the NW Arkansas, SW Missouri or NE Oklahoma area (hope I got that right). I am seeing more jobs available in the NW AR area, but along with that is higher priced land, which is fine, just wondering about the taxes as we are hoping to retire wherever we end up moving to. Thanks!

Watch out for Toll Road states -OK,TX CA plus many others. it all adds up! Heard this week even New Mexico's Govenor wants to cover his Rail Debacle,( its 500 Mil. short ), with Toll roads! Boy the Locals are teed off.

[nmnita]

I don't think there is much difference regardless. We have been checking the same 3 states, seems one has lower car registrations, one lowe property tax, one no tax on food, etc. BEcause we are retired or about we look at what taxes will affect us the most. Income taxes aren't as big an issue for us as property taxes. Some feel the other way.

Nita

[wallstreet1986]

Originally Posted by Greenmon

Watch out for Toll Road states -OK,TX CA plus many others. it all adds up! Heard this week even New Mexico's Govenor wants to cover his Rail Debacle,( its 500 Mil. short ), with Toll roads! Boy the Locals are teed off.

Here in Alabama, we have nice country, low tax burden (8.70 percent as shown on the list) and the governor would never even think of making a tollroad in this state without a total outrage and a totally unSouthern thing to do. I wonder how Texas and Oklahoma being Southern states justify their tollroads. I wouldn't consent to it if I was a local.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Greenmon

Watch out for Toll Road states -OK,TX CA plus many others. it all adds up! Heard this week even New Mexico's Govenor wants to cover his Rail Debacle,( its 500 Mil. short ), with Toll roads! Boy the Locals are teed off.

Actually we are not as tied off as you may think, with him maybe, but when we see how the Rail Runner will affect the future transportation in NM it may not be all that bad. I can say this, we are getting out and moving to AR.

Nita