A potential opportunity to move back to Maine...Help! (Auburn: sales, crime rate)

[nene70]

My husband is going to interview for a job in Augusta. We are both from Maine and would love to get back to southern Maine to be close to family and have our children grow up there. Our issue is that we have been away for over 6 years and to move back there (from VA) my husband would have to take a sustantial pay cut and the cost of living is higher there. I am a nurse and certainly will be looking to work more as our littlest one gets older. I remember the chunk of money that came out of our paychecks for income taxes... The area we would love to move to is North Yarmouth/Freeport area. We moved from New Gloucester, but we know that the Gray/New Gloucester school system is not that great. I guess I am just looking for any feedback regarding cost of living and whether we would be making a wise move. We also have the opportunity to move to Natick MA (and pay would be significantly higher), but we realize MA is super expensive too.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

There are about 1,250.000 of us who know our tax burdens would be lower anywhere except California. Why, just across the Maple Curtain there is a state with no income tax and no sales tax. Still, we choose to live in Maine. We certainly don't live here because of any tax breaks. We live here for the life style and recreational opportunities. It isn't easy, but we think it's worth it.

It will be worth even more if we pass Question 4 on the ballot next Tuesday. That would limit future spending increases unless approved by our citizens. What an idea! We do have a little more freedom than MA.

[moughie]

The Gray /New Gloucester schools have gotten much better the last 5
years.
Apparently they now have excellent administrators and a stable superintendent.
It may be worth another look.

Best of luck to you- I hope you can move back!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by nene70

My husband is going to interview for a job in Augusta. We are both from Maine and would love to get back to southern Maine to be close to family and have our children grow up there. Our issue is that we have been away for over 6 years and to move back there (from VA) my husband would have to take a sustantial pay cut and the cost of living is higher there. I am a nurse and certainly will be looking to work more as our littlest one gets older. I remember the chunk of money that came out of our paychecks for income taxes... The area we would love to move to is North Yarmouth/Freeport area. We moved from New Gloucester, but we know that the Gray/New Gloucester school system is not that great. I guess I am just looking for any feedback regarding cost of living and whether we would be making a wise move. We also have the opportunity to move to Natick MA (and pay would be significantly higher), but we realize MA is super expensive too.

It is my understanding that the cost-of-living is higher in Southern Maine, as compared to Northern Maine.

I did not realize that it was higher than Va though.

We lived in Va for a few years, though it was long ago.

I wish you luck.

[nene70]

Hmmm... I will have to look into the Gray/New Gloucester school system. And Forest BeeKeeper...definitely northern Maine is wayyyy cheaper than southern Maine housing-cost wise. I grew up in central Maine but lived in southern ME from college on. I guess when I say VA is cheaper...it's an overall "cheaper". You keep a lot more of your paycheck, the utility costs are more the A/C in the hot months and a few months of cold. Gas, food, etc. seems cheaper here. But, hey, as much as we love the weather, etc., family and New England still trumps all ;-) Besides, the kids will love the snow!

[Lobstahiswickedgood]

Originally Posted by nene70

My husband is going to interview for a job in Augusta. We are both from Maine and would love to get back to southern Maine to be close to family and have our children grow up there. Our issue is that we have been away for over 6 years and to move back there (from VA) my husband would have to take a sustantial pay cut and the cost of living is higher there. I am a nurse and certainly will be looking to work more as our littlest one gets older. I remember the chunk of money that came out of our paychecks for income taxes... The area we would love to move to is North Yarmouth/Freeport area. We moved from New Gloucester, but we know that the Gray/New Gloucester school system is not that great. I guess I am just looking for any feedback regarding cost of living and whether we would be making a wise move. We also have the opportunity to move to Natick MA (and pay would be significantly higher), but we realize MA is super expensive too.

A good website to check out on how much property taxes have risen over the past 9 years in Maine cities is Maineopengov.org. You will find it also has a guide as to how our wonderful state leaders have been spending our tax money over the recent years. Also use a cost of living calculator to compare your current city to one of the ones you are thinking of moving to, though not 100% accurate they give you a base line average to compare to. I am sure you are well aware that utilities are very expensive up here as well as the outrageous vehicle excise taxes. Also be aware that due to a "tax reduction" by the Maine legislature we will now be taxed on labor time (not just parts anymore) when you go to get your vehicle repaired, and will also be taxed a meal tax when you eat out at any chain type resturaunt. There is also a new amusement tax (however golfing is excluded because the Governor enjoys golf). Clearly this was done in the name of lowering taxes and shifting the burden on to the tourists! I guess Maine residents don't have their cars repaired or go to eat out.
All in all Maine is quite expensive, Virginia can be comparable on certain things, however there is a more stable work environment down there. Be aware also that Maine is very business unfriendly and many industries and businesses have up and left the state due to the high taxation and energy costs. Maines' biggest employer after all is the state itself, The less work force in the private sector the higher the taxes go. People including myself are quickly leaving here because, though I thought I would live here for the rest of my life, and it is beautiful, it is just not worth the tax and cost of living burden. As a percentage of population, Maine has the least number of citizens under the age of 18. At the other end of the age spectrum, we have the 6th highest percentage over the age of 65. An increasing number of our retirees are changing their state residencies to escape the stifling Maine taxes. Left is a population which is growing older, poorer, and more dependent on State services. This demographic trend is fiscally unsustainable without our taxes rising higher. I like my money and feel I can spend it better than any elected official can.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by nene70

Hmmm... I will have to look into the Gray/New Gloucester school system. And Forest BeeKeeper ... definitely northern Maine is wayyyy cheaper than southern Maine housing-cost wise. I grew up in central Maine but lived in southern ME from college on. I guess when I say VA is cheaper ... it's an overall "cheaper". You keep a lot more of your paycheck, the utility costs are more the A/C in the hot months and a few months of cold. Gas, food, etc. seems cheaper here. But, hey, as much as we love the weather, etc., family and New England still trumps all ;-) Besides, the kids will love the snow!

I am on pension, and not actively in the 'work-force'. My Dw works part-time and was able to get a transfer to Maine, which was very nice.

For us, we do not usually pay income taxes. We itemize our tax filings and the remainder of our income usually falls below the minimum needed to begin paying income taxes. So for us, very little comes out of our paychecks.

We have found Maine's cost-of-living to be very reasonable, and much lower than most of the other places where we have lived.

We do not have an A/C bill for example.

Food was much cheaper, for us, when we lived in California. Outside of California, in our experiences, it seems that food tends to be expensive everywhere. So we focus more or our effort on growing our own food here in Maine.

Some seem to find that their cost-of-living is 'higher' in Maine; some do not find this to be true.

Your experiences may vary.

[nene70]

Wow, Lobstah...it's hard to hear about Maine getting burdened even more with taxes! I guess this is stuff we are well aware of (Maine being an overtaxed state) and that really is the tough thing for us to consider with moving back there. We realize we love the "Maine life" and miss family and familiarities (and the quieter, laid back living)...however we do not want to feel like we have to struggle to support ourselves up there. All things for us to consider as the pay for most jobs is not comparable to the higher cost of living (especially southern Maine). We sure do miss home though!!!
Forest beekeeper...thank you for your input as well! When we go home to visit family in the summertime, it seems like things really are more expensive up there (food, gas...). Oh well, these are the things my husband and I need to sit and really ponder. We have 3 children, so school systems are importand as well. We love the Freeport, North Yarmouth area. Sooooo, if anyone has any tips about 4BR homes on a decent chunk of land that are not fixeruppers going on the market, please do let us know!! :-)

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by nene70

My husband is going to interview for a job in Augusta. We are both from Maine and would love to get back to southern Maine to be close to family and have our children grow up there. Our issue is that we have been away for over 6 years and to move back there (from VA) my husband would have to take a sustantial pay cut and the cost of living is higher there. I am a nurse and certainly will be looking to work more as our littlest one gets older. I remember the chunk of money that came out of our paychecks for income taxes... The area we would love to move to is North Yarmouth/Freeport area. We moved from New Gloucester, but we know that the Gray/New Gloucester school system is not that great. I guess I am just looking for any feedback regarding cost of living and whether we would be making a wise move. We also have the opportunity to move to Natick MA (and pay would be significantly higher), but we realize MA is super expensive too.

You pose a tough question when it comes to other people making a decision based on something that is totally subjective.

I will share this with you. I grew up in Ma (not far from Natick) and moved to DC?VA out of college. I lived in both DC and northern VA. I have family in Ashland Va and spend a lot of time visiting down there. I now live in Auburn Maine and have been here for the past 15 years, my son goes to Gray and my favorite town is Yarmouth.... geeze strange...huh


Well let me say a few things about Ma. Ma is a beautiful state. Yes there are some rough and tough areas when you get into "some" of the bigger cities ect. but you cannot beat the quality of life offered in some of the smaller wealthier towns outside of the Boston. I am talking about great schools, quiet neighborhood streets tree lined with sidewalks, nice town centers, huge community spirit with excellent sports and extracurricular opportunities.

I grew up in Walpole and loved it. 25 thousand people and it probably has less crime than gray Maine (little exaggerating I know but really.. its like Mayberry there.) natic is a little bigger and more of a city feel but I have friends there who love it.. they have great football there.

There is a lot of bias about Ma from Mainers who have never lived there or from those who lived in crappy areas...sure there are some cities and even towns I wouldn't want to be apart of. But Maine has a LOT of poor run down towns too that I wouldn’t want to be a part of, also crime here is getting worse.

The schools in ma are better funded and the family values a LOT stronger overall. Better sports and extracurricular opportunities.. and once you get past the cost of a home, providing you have a good paying job everything else in life comes easier...more money for vacations, more money for retirement, kids college... your job will be safer, you will continue to climb the ladder at a faster pace then here in Maine. If I was to do it over again or if I ever had the chance to go back I would in a heart beat!!

Maine is a relatively poor state. The schools need a lot of work. The overall caliber of students here is much lower than in those affluent middle class towns like Walpole, Westwood, Sharon, Norfolk, Wrentham, ect. ect. The quality of teachers here overall are lower and the opportunities less. The expectations are just not as high here for them... I still believe that its up to the individual to put something into it to get something out but I this is the way i see.. my opinion

The only thing I would say is that I find people like where they grew up. I am sure I didn’t make many friends with my biasness….its not that I hate Maine… But I think Ma is much better for the right people.

I do realize that at the end of the day life cannot be Just about money and keeping up with the joneses. In the end will you be saying I wish I spent more time at work??? or with family.. I think in Mass you can have both. good luck


PS. I just checked on sperlings crime rate... Natick mass is a TOWN 14 miles west of boston and 33 thousand people.. it has the same crime rate as Gray Maine..compared to south portland with 24 thousand people...southportlands PROPERTY crime rate was 5 times higher than naticks.

[nene70]

Thank you Flycessna for all the positive input on MA (in case that is where we end up!); maybe you could give me some input on Grafton, Acton, Littleton...areas within decent distance to Natick, but west of it (not closer to Boston). As for Maine, we both grew up there and love the actual state for what it is, but realize now that we have 3 children, we really have to look at quality of life from a financial standpoint as well. The taxes there stink...no doubt about that!! I really do appreciate your input!