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6. NH is currently experiencing its lowest population growth in 50 years..
This potentially has a serious effect in New Hampshire if above is true.
I know in my little town the age of residents is increasing. Yes, everyone alive is aging. Not that. The average age of residents in this town is going towards older retired folks. Number of students in local schools is declining or trending downward. The number of teachers, administrators, staff remains the same. Both the town budget - public works, town hall staff, etc. and the school budget have increased each year.
Thanks above for clarifying the SAT scores in New Hampshire. Much appreciated.
If anything I would think that SAT scores in NH would be pulled down by the fact that so many students take the test. It used to be that only college-track kids took it, and now almost 80% of high school seniors in the state take it. NH stands at #9 for participation.
I too saw that they ranked 25 for average scores, which is not great. That link showing them at #10 must be showing some sort of weighted score which takes into account the high participation rate.
Ever bought a car? Let's say you find a nice used car for the family at $20,000. In NH, that car costs you $20,000. In MA, it would cost you $21,250. That $1000 big screen TV' $1062.50 in MA. I've live in MA and in NH and one pays significantly more in taxes in MA...
So what everyone pays taxes and fees somewhere along the line.
By the same example in Montana where we lived previously - zero sales tax. Cost to register that vehicle is 1.5% of MSRP each year, decreasing by 10% each year for 7 years + the excise fees. Cost of insurance $900/yr. 9% income tax. 47.5 cents/gal gas tax + fed tax. You know they still have 7 cents/gal tax to pay for the Korean War vets!
So what everyone pays taxes and fees somewhere along the line.
By the same example in Montana where we lived previously - zero sales tax. Cost to register that vehicle is 1.5% of MSRP each year, decreasing by 10% each year for 7 years + the excise fees. Cost of insurance $900/yr. 9% income tax. 47.5 cents/gal gas tax + fed tax. You know they still have 7 cents/gal tax to pay for the Korean War vets!
According to this, NH is the 18th most highly taxed in the nation.
Different stat. Tax freedom day is driven mostly by federal income tax. As NH is a relatively high income state, it has a higher federal tax burden. That is the same no matter where one lives. At the state and local level, NH is lower.
I have found that the best way of avoiding taxes is to live frugally. None of my cars has ever cost me over $5,000 to buy and never had very high property taxes and registration taxes. The insurance costs are also quite low. The cost for the occasional repairs is way less then the tax on a $20,000 used SUV and, as there is no sales tax, does not increase my tax burden. I also live in a small condo worth much less than $200,000. Yes, I have to pay around $3,000 per year in fees but that is what maintaining a small separate house would cost.
If you live extravagantly with a $400,000 McMansion and a couple of $50,000 cars and a $100,000 boat you will pay a lot of property tax but if you can afford those luxuries you can afford the taxes.
Well said Greg. Too many people are status obsessed and believe that the road to happiness is paved with material possessions. I'd rather live in a smaller home and be able to sleep better at night in the knowledge that my mortgage payment is going to get paid every month. The notion that a person's worth as a human being is directly correlated to the worth of their bank account is awfully ugly but unfortunately deeply ingrained in the American psyche.
As for taxes in NH. The OP must not have much experience paying taxes in other states if he thinks NH is just as bad as everyone else when it comes ot taxes.
Not really - but go ahead and keep thinking that.
Montana has no sales tax
Alaska has no property tax
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