Explain please ! (New York, Syracuse, Albany: foreclosure, credit rating, unemployment rate)

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

You have to look at it on a city-to-city basis. Upstate NY, as part of New York state is home to some of the highest property, sales, and income taxes in the country. That takes a big bit out of your income at the end of the day.

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Just run the comparison between Tampa and Syracuse. You may make $1 k less a year on average according to that calculator, but you end up with a much lower cost of living surprisingly, despite the fact that Tampa is a much bigger city than Syracuse. If you make $100 K in syracuse, you only need to make $83 K in Tampa to have a similar lifestyle.

While that might be true, think about schools, crime and some other factors as well. Here are some more examples between the two cities/areas: Cost of living: Compare prices in two cities - CNNMoney.com

Cost of Living Wizard | Salary.com
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Cost of Living comparison calculator

Obtain a city profile report, city comparisons and cost of living information

So, even it depends on which cost of living calculator you use to some degree. Where you live in these areas also has to be considered.

[beckyhuggs]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

While that might be true, think about schools, crime and some other factors as well. Here are some more examples between the two cities/areas: Cost of living: Compare prices in two cities - CNNMoney.com

Cost of Living Wizard | Salary.com
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Cost of Living comparison calculator

Obtain a city profile report, city comparisons and cost of living information

So, even it depends on which cost of living calculator you use to some degree. Where you live in these areas also has to be considered.

I agree, also something to consider is police and fire departments. Both of these get paid through tax revenues. Other things are sidewalks, parks and other quality of life benefits. This area of TN that I live in does have lower property taxes (much higher sales tax) than Syracuse but I would say that the overall quality of life is lower when considering the things I mentioned above. When I lived in Syracuse I complained about the taxes but now while living here I complain about the low availabity of Parks and Rec., police/fire departments and services for the poor. It's a hard thing to weigh, taxes versus services. I'm not sure what the right answer would be.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by beckyhuggs

I agree, also something to consider is police and fire departments. Both of these get paid through tax revenues. Other things are sidewalks, parks and other quality of life benefits. This area of TN that I live in does have lower property taxes (much higher sales tax) than Syracuse but I would say that the overall quality of life is lower when considering the things I mentioned above. When I lived in Syracuse I complained about the taxes but now while living here I complain about the low availabity of Parks and Rec., police/fire departments and services for the poor. It's a hard thing to weigh, taxes versus services. I'm not sure what the right answer would be.

I agree, as it really is about one's perspective.

Also, I think another thing that might effect the cost of living in Tampa is that Florida has been hit hard by foreclosures and housing costs have probably lower since then. That in turn could be causing the lower cost of living considering that housing is generally the highest cost for a person or family.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Also, I think another thing that might effect the cost of living in Tampa is that Florida has been hit hard by foreclosures and housing costs have probably lower since then. That in turn could be causing the lower cost of living considering that housing is generally the highest cost for a person or family.

I don't think those calculators are that up to date, so in reality, it may even be cheaper than what they say.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by beckyhuggs

I agree, also something to consider is police and fire departments. Both of these get paid through tax revenues. Other things are sidewalks, parks and other quality of life benefits. This area of TN that I live in does have lower property taxes (much higher sales tax) than Syracuse but I would say that the overall quality of life is lower when considering the things I mentioned above. When I lived in Syracuse I complained about the taxes but now while living here I complain about the low availabity of Parks and Rec., police/fire departments and services for the poor. It's a hard thing to weigh, taxes versus services. I'm not sure what the right answer would be.

I never found any of the above services lacking in the areas of Florida that I lived in. If anything, the roads were a little better because you didn't have to salt/shovel them in the winter.

As for services for the poor, it's nice to be charitable, but NY goes overboard IMO, particularly with things like medicaid.

Medicaid: wreaking havoc in health care
New York's Medicaid spending outpaces other states', new analysis shows - October 12, 2006

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

I don't think those calculators are that up to date, so in reality, it may even be cheaper than what they say.

They can't be that old and if I'm not mistaken, Florida had a net loss recently for the first time in a very long time. So, something is going on there.

Also, while NY can be too generous, I wonder if Florida's ranking in the top 5 for crime rate has something to do with being less generous? From what I here, there are so many gated communities that it's not even funny. Why is that?

[ckhthankgod]

Back to the OP, it would be interesting to see how things stack up between Chaska and say Fayetteville, Cazenovia, Manlius or Skaneateles considering that all are affluent, distant suburbs/communities in their respective metros.

[beckyhuggs]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

I never found any of the above services lacking in the areas of Florida that I lived in. If anything, the roads were a little better because you didn't have to salt/shovel them in the winter.

As for services for the poor, it's nice to be charitable, but NY goes overboard IMO, particularly with things like medicaid.

Medicaid: wreaking havoc in health care
New York's Medicaid spending outpaces other states', new analysis shows - October 12, 2006

So your saying that florida has much lower taxes but the services are better than NY. HMMM, that's interesting. I'm just wondering where all this money you imply that Florida has, is coming from? The only thing I can come up with is government credit cards or illegal activities.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by beckyhuggs

So your saying that florida has much lower taxes but the services are better than NY. HMMM, that's interesting. I'm just wondering where all this money you imply that Florida has, is coming from? The only thing I can come up with is government credit cards or illegal activities.

I think you get more bang for your buck down in FL compared to NY. Sorry, but NY schools don't really prove anything to me, despite what people say. If you go do AP or IB down in FL, you can still leave high school ready for college. Heck, everyone I talk to in syracuse says the city schools suck. They either go private or send them to F-M or J-D.

I never said the services were better, if you read my original post. I just said they weren't "lacking". In FL, there are plenty of parks, and actually the greatest number of natural springs in the country. NY is so dysfunctional now, they were literally on the verge of closing half the parks in upstate NY.

[phaelon56]

Keep in mind that we also have lower population density, demographics that skew towards younger low-income people and retired folks, and (at least in the city) a large amount of land and number of employers that are tax exempt. The largest employers in this county are universities/colleges, hospitals, and the county government. We see no business taxes or property taxes from any of those, yet they require certain services etc., that all cost money.

We're blessed that these employers are here and are stable - I'm not knocking it - but the lack of additional industries/businesses means more burden for the residential taxpayer.