[RunD1987]

Property tax in NC and income tax is higher, but seems to be a lot of the houses I mentioned lower cost job's better school system than Hartford, more job's, pay is between 1% to 2% of a difference not to shabby.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

part I, not true, part II true but incomplete picture....

taxes are a huge component of COL--especially in high COL states--and COL is definitely a factor for millennials who are now spreading their wings to begin independent lives. It therefore logically follows that taxes are an important part of the conversation.

A state with little opportunity AND high COL (+ taxes) is just a recipe for outward migration. Yes boston and especially NY are more expensive than CT, but like you said the available opportunities might outweigh the negatives for many. Boston suburbs however arent THAT much more expensive than CT, in some cases not at all, so don't expect them to "come back" when settling down in the next 5-10years.

Go check out other state forums on here. This is not a weekly conversation for them. I don't exactly see Arizona as "the land of opportunity", yet these threads don't pop up on a regular basis. They don't have the same problem we do because the young there can afford a life they are comfortable with despite not having the security of not being qualified for 10 different job postings at any given time. In this case cost is positive and opportunity is negative. In CT's case, cost is negative and opportunity is negative (barring a few industries).

I do go to other forums and people on them have complaints just like here. They may not complain about cost of living but they complain about things like low wages, traffic and poor services. It is talked about over on the Moderator's forum all the time. The difference though is that we seem to have more than our fair share of naysayers. Jay

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I do go to other forums and people on them have complaints just like here. They may not complain about cost of living but they complain about things like low wages, traffic and poor services. It is talked about over on the Moderator's forum all the time. The difference though is that we seem to have more than our fair share of naysayers. Jay

So is it purely chance and therefore entirely unrelated to CT? is there something in CT water that makes it's naysayers more passionately vocal about their qualms with the state? or is there a disproportionate amount of people who are dissatisfied with the current state of CT thus manifesting itself accordingly on here?

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

We'll have to disagree here. I have never heard a single millennial discuss COL when it comes to where they're going to move. None have ever considered OKC because of the low cost of living. Millennials are driven by opportunity and lifestyle.

NYC, Boston, and San Francisco are dripping with millennials. I'm headed to SFO tonight for meetings. Everyone except me and one other senior manager at the meetings as far as I know is a millennial.

I think COL comes in to the picture once careers are established.

As far as AZ, TX, etc, frankly, these kids grow up for the most part never leaving their state borders. They don't see opportunity outside where they grew up because most of them never considered it. I saw it all the time in Texas:

"Why'd the Valedictorian go to the University of Texas? Why not Harvard, Stamford, CalTech or some other top-tier school?"

"Why would s/he look out of state..."

I agree with your statement, its not until you are older and going broke you really look at the cost of living.

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

I agree with your statement, its not until you are older and going broke you really look at the cost of living.

and then there were those who planned their future...

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

and then there were those who planned their future...

sounds like you really need to go, sell the house, take a hit if you have to, and move

[galejuniper]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

galejuniper I love that your willing to do the sacrifices and think ahead this will pay off in the future. It did for me. Also your very smart, there are some areas that are cute and more progressive than most people really want to believe. You see moving is change and change scares the pants off people. You are making a smart move. And remember vacation back in CT!

Thank you for that! I am very anxious about the move- but I think in the long run it will pay off in the future. And so true- patience and sacrifice are a lost value in our modern society- and I'm equally at blame for many of my choices in the past. Never too late to change though and approach life differently. Just glad we figured this stuff out now so we can better our family now- and hopefully teach our children to not make the same mistakes we made in our 20s. (Although let's face it- they will have to make some of their own mistakes no matter what we teach them! )

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by galejuniper

Thank you for that! I am very anxious about the move- but I think in the long run it will pay off in the future. And so true- patience and sacrifice are a lost value in our modern society- and I'm equally at blame for many of my choices in the past. Never too late to change though and approach life differently. Just glad we figured this stuff out now so we can better our family now- and hopefully teach our children to not make the same mistakes we made in our 20s. (Although let's face it- they will have to make some of their own mistakes no matter what we teach them! )

The main thing is this is a very well thought out move, so I am confident you will thrive in your new location.

[BPt111]

Bridgeport population is up is due to cheaper rents but white population is declining and hispanic popualtion is going up akkt

Even New Haven is growing why not hartford ?

Population up in Bridgeport, Fairfield County - Connecticut Post

[howdydoody342]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Bridgeport population is up is due to cheaper rents but white population is declining and hispanic popualtion is going up akkt

Even New Haven is growing why not hartford ?

Population up in Bridgeport, Fairfield County - Connecticut Post

might also be part of the pushing the poor out of stamford