Taxes? and a whole lot more?????? (Raleigh, Asheville: homes, schools, universities)

[Funnefam5]

Everyone tells me that NC will tax you to death..... they say that you get taxed on everything, can someone explain this to me? and can anyone suggest a rural area somewhere east of Raleigh and maybe 30 minutes to commute for work? where can you live and find work of any sort? sorry for such dumb questions but i just can't get a feel for the life down there and i was hoping someone could help me comperhend what it is like in NC. is it just like anywhere else just a different state?...... i always thought of the south as wide open space with miles between homes and work... maybe i should take a trip to NC to see for myself what do you think? but anything anyone can tell me sure would help....thanks

[mm34b]

On taxes, it depends on which state you're coming from. The total tax burden in North Carolina is around the middle of the 50 states. So, half the country would say taxes are higher than their home state and half would say they're lower.

Some NC counties have very low population density. Mostly in the Mountain and Coastal Plain regions. The Piedmont region is where most of the population lives and works.

[Bull City Rising]

Originally Posted by Funnefam5

Everyone tells me that NC will tax you to death..... they say that you get taxed on everything, can someone explain this to me?

I find myself bemused by the discussion of taxes on this board. I don't think the board is well-served at all by political discussions, but apolitically I would like to point out the following:

NC has "average" taxes, as mm34b pointed out below. Alabama, on the other hand (to pick one example), has significantly lower taxes and is near the "bottom" of the list where this is concerned.

At the same time, if you're thinking about moving to N.C. ... are you thinking about the schools, which are very good for southern schools, especially in the large metros? Or is it the fact that N.C. has a quite good road system? (Some locals gripe about this and the accompanying gas tax. I've lived in Fla., Va., Md., Ky., and Mass., and I've never been in a place that designs or maintains roads as well.) What about the fact that there's a good 'quality of life' -- great public universities (tax-funded), major companies relocating here (tax-subsidized with econ. development grants), terrific teaching hospitals (which receive significant in-kind and grant funding at all levels of government), outstanding state parks.... I could go on and on.

So, yeah, the taxes are higher here than some places. This is not a "low" tax state, but it is not a "high" tax state, either. I've found that you get what you pay for. Certainly compared to central Fla., where I grew up, the taxes are somewhat higher. And, the schools, roads, parks... the public infrastructure... are much better here.

BTW -- Alabama grew at 2.5% over the last few years, half the national average. N.C. has grown at 7.9%.

Originally Posted by Funnefam5

and can anyone suggest a rural area somewhere east of Raleigh and maybe 30 minutes to commute for work? where can you live and find work of any sort?

This is a tougher one. Given Raleigh's growth, there are lots of formerly-rural towns (I'm thinking Johnston Co. here) that are rapidly becoming suburban. If you want a really RURAL area, go further east on I-40, or on U.S. 64, or north of the metro towards Hendersonville. However, to get in a really country area, you will have more than a 30 minute commute, unless you work on the very edge of the metro.

Originally Posted by Funnefam5

sorry for such dumb questions but i just can't get a feel for the life down there and i was hoping someone could help me comperhend what it is like in NC. is it just like anywhere else just a different state?...... i always thought of the south as wide open space with miles between homes and work... maybe i should take a trip to NC to see for myself what do you think? but anything anyone can tell me sure would help....thanks

NC is a beautiful state unlike anywhere else in the U.S. I've lived. It's not for everyone... but neither is NYC, or Tulsa, or Gary Ind., or Waco. Only you can tell if it's for you. Come visit!

[gypsychic]

I'm from Florida, and taxes in NC are MUCH cheaper for me - I think they are quite a bargain, actually for what I get. I get nothing here in Florida, where I live I don't even have sewer or city water, but my taxes on my little shack are far higher than my nice home in the city of Asheville. Other taxes are about the same.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Bull City Rising

I find myself bemused by the discussion of taxes on this board. I don't think the board is well-served at all by political discussions, but apolitically I would like to point out the following:

NC has "average" taxes, as mm34b pointed out below. Alabama, on the other hand (to pick one example), has significantly lower taxes and is near the "bottom" of the list where this is concerned.

At the same time, if you're thinking about moving to N.C. ... are you thinking about the schools, which are very good for southern schools, especially in the large metros? Or is it the fact that N.C. has a quite good road system? (Some locals gripe about this and the accompanying gas tax. I've lived in Fla., Va., Md., Ky., and Mass., and I've never been in a place that designs or maintains roads as well.) What about the fact that there's a good 'quality of life' -- great public universities (tax-funded), major companies relocating here (tax-subsidized with econ. development grants), terrific teaching hospitals (which receive significant in-kind and grant funding at all levels of government), outstanding state parks.... I could go on and on.

So, yeah, the taxes are higher here than some places. This is not a "low" tax state, but it is not a "high" tax state, either. I've found that you get what you pay for. Certainly compared to central Fla., where I grew up, the taxes are somewhat higher. And, the schools, roads, parks... the public infrastructure... are much better here.

BTW -- Alabama grew at 2.5% over the last few years, half the national average. N.C. has grown at 7.9%.



This is a tougher one. Given Raleigh's growth, there are lots of formerly-rural towns (I'm thinking Johnston Co. here) that are rapidly becoming suburban. If you want a really RURAL area, go further east on I-40, or on U.S. 64, or north of the metro towards Hendersonville. However, to get in a really country area, you will have more than a 30 minute commute, unless you work on the very edge of the metro.



NC is a beautiful state unlike anywhere else in the U.S. I've lived. It's not for everyone... but neither is NYC, or Tulsa, or Gary Ind., or Waco. Only you can tell if it's for you. Come visit!

Cut, print, that's a wrap - nothing else to say on the matter!

(good job!)

[Sonrisas]

hello, We are thinking to move to Raleigh from PA.
What are the best neighbors and also what should I expect paying in taxes for state and school.
House price range 250 to 300.

[Sarge55]

I too will be relocating from Pennsylvania to the Raleigh area within the next couple of years. Our taxes here are borderline insane, especially our school tax. Can anyone give me a rough idea what my combined annual taxes would be in the Raleigh area for a $250,000 home? A close estimate would be great. Many thanks!

[wheelsup]

250k home would be around $2200 in taxes or so.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

250k home would be around $2200 in taxes or so.

In Asheville it would be $2,725.00

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

In Asheville it would be $2,725.00

That's great, the poster asked about the Raleigh area however, not Asheville.