In your opinion, is California the best state in the USA? (gated, high income)

[Avondalist]

It's certainly the most beautiful state but is terribly mismanaged and filled with a lot of trashy people.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by California_Aspirer

Taking into consideration the cost of living and general standard of life. If it is not, then which state/s would you consider better?

If making over $200K, Socal is a great spot anywhere from Ventura down to San Diego.

If making over $300K, Santa Barbara

If making over $500K, Bay area is nice.

If between $100K to $200K Phoenix and Tucson

If in the $200K range, Denver is another good spot

If under $100K, Tennessee, Arkansas or Florida

[survivingearth]

lived in LA and did some extensive traveling all ove the state. My answer would be no.
These are the states i would rather live:
NC. Good economy with the research triangle, amazing schools Duke, Wake forrest, Chapel Hill, great cities, Charlotte and Asheville and friendly people.
Illinois: It's got my favorite city Chicago, the lake, some of coolest people i met, great transit, pretty good location
Oregon: Bend, one of my favorite cities and close to some of my favorite spots( mt hood , crater lake), friendly people and laid back

[sub]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

If making over $200K, Socal is a great spot anywhere from Ventura down to San Diego.

If making over $300K, Santa Barbara

If making over $500K, Bay area is nice.

If between $100K to $200K Phoenix and Tucson

If in the $200K range, Denver is another good spot

If under $100K, Tennessee, Arkansas or Florida

Outside of the very generic and poorly executed northwest section of Arkansas, it's still a very close cousin to Mississippi and West Virginia.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by sub

Outside of the very generic and poorly executed northwest section of Arkansas, it's still a very close cousin to Mississippi and West Virginia.

I was referring to NW Arkansas but I get your point.

[WizardOfRadical]

California is the best place on earth.

[WizardOfRadical]

Originally Posted by Avondalist

It's certainly the most beautiful state but is terribly mismanaged and filled with a lot of trashy people.

Says the dude from Chicago, the armpit of the armpit that is the midwest, LOL

[Losfrisco]

If you added the next four best states together to make one state, it still wouldn't surpass California.

[Avondalist]

Originally Posted by WizardOfRadical

Says the dude from Chicago, the armpit of the armpit that is the midwest, LOL

Illinois is also terribly mismanaged but I find the people here to be better than Californians.

[Vanderbiltgrad]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

If making over $200K, Socal is a great spot anywhere from Ventura down to San Diego.

If making over $300K, Santa Barbara

If making over $500K, Bay area is nice.

If between $100K to $200K Phoenix and Tucson

If in the $200K range, Denver is another good spot

If under $100K, Tennessee, Arkansas or Florida

Not with California Taxes my girlfriend's dad is a retired physician and he moved out of California because he was making 400k and after taxes he barely had enough to buy a decent house that was not a starter house. I would only move to California if I made 800k to 1.5 mill a year.