West virginia vs chicago (Charleston, Beckley: best neighborhoods, sales, real estate)

[citygrl707]

Anyone can tell me the pros and cons of west virginia i would really love to hear them. I have heard alot of negitive . I work in chicago and live just out side it. So here goes for illinois.

1 Lots of gangs
2 Lots of drugs
3 I speak english most people around me do not
4 I am qualified for alot of jobs unfortually a minority will get it cause i don't speak the language.
5 crime lots and lots of crime


The pros for illinois

1 lots of jobs
2 a very diverse area ( i am not sure thats a pro)
3 great food
4 beautiful skyline
5 ok weather


I work full time and so does my huband i rent a 2 br apt for 850.00 a month
My dream is to own my own home, to let my kids play in there own back yard, in the city the only thing i can own is in the ghetto. I live in one of the best neighborhoods in illinos and the gangs and drugs have moved in, the cops look the other way.

I am glad i heard about the negitive stuff now i want to hear the positve,

thank you,
oh and i love the country

[chinacatsnflwr]

I think it would be difficult to do a pro-con list for ALL of WV because there are many different areas involved. It really depends on what area(s) of WV you are considering. I grew up in the Eastern Panhandle of WV (Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties). A pro-con list of that area would be:

Pro
1. considered a bedroom community of DC (so it is close to urban areas with museums, entertainment, shopping etc.)
2. Beautiful rolling farm land surrounded by mountains with two rivers to choose from for sporting
3. Lots of historical areas and sporting areas (hiking, biking, etc)
4. Growing area with more diversity than it had 20 years ago
5. Not a lot of serious crime
6. Fairly friendly communities

Con
1. considered a bedroom community of DC so the housing market is a little ridiculous in the cost department.
2. Beautiful rolling farm land is disappearing under the housing developments in many areas
3. Traffic to/from the metropolitan areas in MD/VA/DC can be tedious.
4. The growth is seriously the biggest problem if you see it that way, more people, more traffic, more expensive...but more shopping and services


Maybe someone else will jump in with pro/cons for other areas of WV.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by chinacatsnflwr

I think it would be difficult to do a pro-con list for ALL of WV because there are many different areas involved. It really depends on what area(s) of WV you are considering. I grew up in the Eastern Panhandle of WV (Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties). A pro-con list of that area would be:

Pro
1. considered a bedroom community of DC (so it is close to urban areas with museums, entertainment, shopping etc.)
2. Beautiful rolling farm land surrounded by mountains with two rivers to choose from for sporting
3. Lots of historical areas and sporting areas (hiking, biking, etc)
4. Growing area with more diversity than it had 20 years ago
5. Not a lot of serious crime
6. Fairly friendly communities

Con
1. considered a bedroom community of DC so the housing market is a little ridiculous in the cost department.
2. Beautiful rolling farm land is disappearing under the housing developments in many areas
3. Traffic to/from the metropolitan areas in MD/VA/DC can be tedious.
4. The growth is seriously the biggest problem if you see it that way, more people, more traffic, more expensive...but more shopping and services


Maybe someone else will jump in with pro/cons for other areas of WV.

I can add to the list as being a native of the Panhandle also.

Pro's:
Berkeley Springs, WV.
About the only place left with identity

Cons:
Above
Centralized Charleston Government
No Zoning
No Planning
Hospitals are lowest in national rankings
6.5% income tax, car tax, property tax, dog tax. more nickle and dime taxes than you could ever dream.
No jobs that pay in accordance to cost of Real Estate unless you want to hop a train to DC everyday at 4am.

I could go on and on.
If you want to go to West "By God" Virginia I would stay out of the Eastern Panhandle since it is no longer West "By God" Virginia but more of Little DC.

If you want a comparison I would drive to downtown Elgin to get a Martinsburg or Charlestown feel for WV. I lived in Chi'town for 3 years working and Crystal Lake as residence.

In my honest opinion, If you have a good job and family in Chicago, then I would look at Crystal Lake, IL. Loved it there and the express train can have you at the station in 45 minutes.

Good Luck in your search.

[citygrl707]

so does that mean you get back less income tax checks in west virgina then in illinois?. I thought income tax was a fedural thing and it didnt matter what state you were in.

[chinacatsnflwr]

There is a federal income tax and a state income tax. I don't know off hand what the state income tax % is in WV, but I do know that I paid out less in WV income tax than I do now in MD income tax.

On the otherhand, WV charges 6% sales tax on everything and MD only charges 5% sales tax, but does not tax food. The tax thing is a give and take in most places, more tax on one thing and less on another.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by citygrl707

so does that mean you get back less income tax checks in west virgina then in illinois?. I thought income tax was a fedural thing and it didnt matter what state you were in.

State payroll taxes vary by state.
Illinois has a flat 3% income tax, WV is tiered to 6.5%.
Sales tax is 6% across the board, Illinois in Cook Cty is 9.5%, and 6-8% in McHenry, Will, Lake, etc.
Home property tax in Illinois is very high considered to WV.
There is a car tax in WV, not in Illinois.

Taxes are everywhere and hidden on many aspects. If you research www.money.com you can find the national rankings on total taxation.
For example, on total overall taxation Illlinois was #30 and West Virginia was up there at #13.

The biggest question is when one pays high taxes, where are the benefits of such. Growing up and living in WV for 26 years I always asked: Where are the benefits???

Regards

[citygrl707]

I know illinois tax in 9 percent on food and such. Cigrette are up to almost seven dollars a pack lucky i don't smoke. As for property tax i do not own a home but i know that friends have paid 6 thousand a year in taxes. So even if i did own a home in illinois i cound not afford the property tax.


I am just looking for a safer place to raise my kids, even living outside of the city of chicago is getting very dangerous. I have heard good and bad things about wv. I cant rent a house for under 1500.00 a month and with two kids in a two bdrm apt. things are kind of tight. Anyone you has been there a while can you please tell me good and bad neiborhoods. I am looking at charleston because its seems to have a variety of jobs. Thank you

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by citygrl707

I know illinois tax in 9 percent on food and such. Cigrette are up to almost seven dollars a pack lucky i don't smoke. As for property tax i do not own a home but i know that friends have paid 6 thousand a year in taxes. So even if i did own a home in illinois i cound not afford the property tax.


I am just looking for a safer place to raise my kids, even living outside of the city of chicago is getting very dangerous. I have heard good and bad things about wv. I cant rent a house for under 1500.00 a month and with two kids in a two bdrm apt. things are kind of tight. Anyone you has been there a while can you please tell me good and bad neiborhoods. I am looking at charleston because its seems to have a variety of jobs. Thank you

Charleston to Beckley is a very nice area.
Stay away from the West Side of C'town since Union Carbide can put a stinky stink in the air.
Your in coal country, but the New River area of the state is much different than the E. Panhandle.
The state capitol of C'Town is one of the prettiest in the nation.

Regards

[chelmeg27]

Cons
Not a lot of work,
Not as many activities as you would have in Chicago for the kids

Pros
Smaller and quieter towns for raising kids
Very beautiful state
Great if you like the outdoors and hunting
People are friendly and you can usually count on your neighbors when you need help
WV gets a bad rep because of the depression of the economy but for raising a family I would choose no other place

Richard

[centralilli2005]

citygrl707...I too am looking to move to WV. I live in central illinois for the past year but originally from the addision Il. Area. My husband and I have children out east (waynesboro PA & Leesburg VA). We want to live closer to them plus my husband is now a truck driver and would be transfering to Williamsport MD. This information is helpful for me too. Good Luck to you and your family.