[dave the brave]

I am thinking of relocating from So.Cal to Conn. (Bloomfield)My employer has made me an offer at 30k year. Yes, I know its not alot. Minimum relocation help. The taxes are a little worriesome. Although an apt. will be first I'm hoping to be able to afford a small starter home soon. Is this realistic. Home taxes look extremly high and auto taxes don't look much better. Both Toyotas are over 10 years old. Any advice. I've heard Enfield and manchester are nice and west of the river although rural is less expensive. I have wife and one child. Thanks for any help or advice.

[Rich Lee]

If you're coming from Southern California, Manchester and Bloomfield will be significantly cheaper. With all due respect, I do wonder about your "quality of life" at that salary.

[sun]

I think that you'd be better off here than in California though, especially with a young family. Utility and gasoline costs on the west coast are somewhat outrageous, aren't they? You can probably find housing including most everything for about $1000 a month if you look hard enough, and in the right places. Maybe even less if you wanted to really start roughing it. Be brave Dave!

[skytrekker]

I would have to agree with the opine made above about your quality of life on $30K a year- not only in CT-but anywhere.

Although your car taxes here would be very little (for both cars under $180 a year), and your income tax (4.5%), and sales tax(6%) lower then California- and real estate rents less then Ca. As well as housing prices to purchase significantly lower then Ca.- its still going to be difficult on 30K-not impossible. Is the 30K after taxes? If so- then it might be easier.

In Hartford's eastern suburbs you could buy a 2 bedroom townhouse for about $125K. Taxes would be around $1700 a year.
Relocation however would upgrade your families quality of life. Less traffic, congestion, smog, crime and better schools.

Manchester and Enfield are small cities with over 50,000 population.

[JayCT]

I have to agree with the others. If you are making 30k in southern California, then making the same here would not be a problem. Sure MAYBE taxes will be a bit higher, but housing costs in general will be less. That should more than make up the difference. I would do a quick check on a Cost-of-Living calculator to compare the costs to live in your current area to the costs to live in the Hartford area. That should give you an idea of what to expect. I use the one on CNN-Money.com. Good luck, Jay