Why do people hate on Missouri? (St. Louis, Springfield: sales, car insurance, house)

[mattawest]

I moved to Columbia, Missouri from NC a little over a month ago. So far, I really like Columbia and the parts of Missouri I've seen. Columbia is much better than where I came from in NC. Frankly, I don't understand why so many people flock to NC (although having the beach and mountains is nice).

On my first day here, the cable guy came to install and we got to talking. He had a pretty negative attitude about Columbia and MO in general. He just couldn't understand why I'd move here from NC. The same day, a cashier picked up on my out-of-state DL and wondered why I'd move to Missouri of all places. Just like the cable guy, she had a strong dislike for Missouri.

Maybe the rest of the state is different, but Columbia, St. Louis, and KC all have tons of fun things to do, great restaurants, and lots of culture. Best of all, things are much cheaper here than in NC.

My only guess is that since these folks were born and raised in MO, they just hate it because they can never seem to get away. I guess I had the same feelings about NC...

Can any Missouri natives give some explanation?

[7gkids]

Some people just have negative attitudes no matter where they are. i have lived in MO all my life and have traveled to visit states from coast to coast. Each state has sites that I thought were awesome and unbelievable landscapes. NC has some beautiful countryside and some of the nicest people! BUT I love MO!! Bloom where you are planted!!

[Curmudgeon]

Unfortunately, the types of people you described are not likely to be happy anywhere they settle. While their venue may change, their stinkin' thinkin' goes with them.

We moved to MO from the left coast three years ago and love it here in the Ozarks. It's home!

[Bluff_Dweller]

Welcome to Missouri Mattawest.

Guess I am a native having been born in Springfield and raised within 50 miles of there. We have been to other parts of the world but my wife and I decided to retire here. We have never worked outside of Missouri so we weren't part of the 6 figure group but have enjoyed living with some of them when they retired here. We usually don't have many unhappy people in the Ozarks, those that are move on fairly quickly.

Hope you enjoy yourself and stay as long as you like.

[Curmudgeon]

Come to think of it, the more people frrom other states who hate Missouri the better. Keeps the population, sprawl, traffic, noise, pollution, crime, etc. down and leaves more room and fresh air for the rest of us. Sounds like a win to me; especially if they visit as tourists then leave.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Come to think of it, the more people frrom other states who hate Missouri the better. Keeps the population, sprawl, traffic, noise, pollution, crime, etc. down and leaves more room and fresh air for the rest of us. Sounds like a win to me; especially if they visit as tourists then leave.

This is correct.

I feel the same way about Texas, but unfortunately we are still being overrun with Californians & yankees.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by mattawest

Maybe the rest of the state is different, but Columbia, St. Louis, and KC all have tons of fun things to do, great restaurants, and lots of culture. Best of all, things are much cheaper here than in NC.

How is MO any cheaper than NC? NC cost of living is very cheap outside of a few select areas like Asheville or Boone...

[mattawest]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

How is MO any cheaper than NC? NC cost of living is very cheap outside of a few select areas like Asheville or Boone...

I can name a few I've noticed so far:

1) Gas is about 20-25 cents per gallon more in NC because they have one of the highest gas taxes in the nation.
2) A drivers license in NC cost $35; I only paid $20 here. Transferring a vehicle title and renewing plates is about three times as much in NC because you are required to pay tax when coming in from out of state.
3) Property tax on vehicles is expensive in NC. I paid almost $200 on a six year old Toyota Corolla (worth about $10K) in January.
4) Groceries, in general, are cheaper in MO, especially dairy products.
5) I've never owned a house in NC, but property tax is much more than in other southeast states. Most people that work in the Charlotte area prefer to live in SC because taxes are cheaper.
6) As a student in NC making only about $8,000 a year, I was taxed at 6% because NC only has one tax bracket for those with incomes between $1 and $12500. In Missouri, I would have only paid 5.5%, I believe.
7) Summer electric rate in Columbia is only about 10 cents per KWh. I was paying 12 cents in NC.
8) My car insurance went from $85 to $65 per month. This surprised me because I saw a list with average insurance rates, and MO ranked higher than NC.

I know, I know, most of these things are pretty minor, but as a independent student, I learned to count my pennies and appreciate even a dollar in savings.

The only thing that costs slightly more in MO is housing, or at least in Columbia compared to where I came from in NC. Oh, and sales tax in Columbia is about a cent higher than in NC.

Yes, North Carolina is much cheaper than NJ, or other NE states (which is why people from those areas primarily move to NC), but from my experience, Missouri is definitely cheaper in many aspects.

[Ark90]

I love Missouri, especially southern Missouri. That's where we'd go to buy our beer on Sundays when I lived in Fayettville. Booze and tobacco are way cheaper there, too.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ark90

I love Missouri, especially southern Missouri. That's where we'd go to buy our beer on Sundays when I lived in Fayettville. Booze and tobacco are way cheaper there, too.

We live nine miles from the border here in SW MO. Y'all Arkies are all over the place escaping your higher sales taxes. But we appreciate your support of our communities and state.