[thegreenflute334]

Originally Posted by Midwest Gent

No clue what was just said, but it made me laugh.

I am glad I could make you laugh. I've engaged in these discussions previously, on the mid-west and southern question for NWA. NWA is not southern.. but there are only 4-8 people that even post here on CD that live in NWA. There are southern qualities that still exist.. but my last roommate was from Chicago. Chicago's property taxes are huge and people are moving in droves. Illinois is not that far from Arkansas. My roommate before that was from Maine and could only work 3 months out of the year.

Although, I can say we are mimicking Chicago's weather with 30" of snow. That kind of weather doesn't sound to damn southern to me. Not when I have to buy a $700 snow plow and live in the South?

[thegreenflute334]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Not that long ago in the grand scheme of things. Let's just call it the modern era.
I still go to at least some part of the state once every week or so. Usually the northwest corridor. Occasionally Little Rock or the east.

Cool.. I am going to Big D in 3. ( weeks) Five and half hours.. not too bad.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

Hi nmnita,

Well maybe I don't know the whole story about the sign. I am just going by what I saw and this article.


http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog...nti-white-sign


Again, I'm not disputing that NWA is a great area, but the vast majority of the other state is well below average. Here's a quote from one article:



Read more: 10 Worst States For Retirement | Bankrate.com
Follow us: @Bankrate on Twitter | Bankrate on Facebook



As for taxes, places like Bentonville can have sales tax as high as 12%. I know a lot of people especially in Bella Vista will make the drive into Missouri to shop as a result. Maybe a retiree doesn't feel that pinch, but a working class guy like me does. High sales tax on the back of a higher than average income tax rate. Nearly 25% of my income goes to taxes.

are you indicating retired people have more disposable income than those people working? Where are you from; Mars? Of course we do not. As for people in BV shopping in MO, we used to buy booze there because as you certainly know, Benton County was dry until early last year. Some still go there, if it is convenient. Gas prices are about the same: used to be lower in Mo and yes, if we want to run to WalMart we go to MO, because we don't have a close one in BV, but I don't think the few cents difference in Taxes has much to do with where people shop.

You say, places can have sales taxes as high as 12%? I think you are thinking of the extra restaurant or entertainment tax. And I might add, Bentonville isn't the only city in NWA. Yes, the income tax rates here are higher than some states, but property taxes are dirt cheap, and insurance rates are lower than average: it balances out. Maybe as you get older you will understand. You pay 25% of your income for taxes, I think you are combining, fed, state, sales, etc. Try checking out a few other states. This is like saying, gee, I can live in Texas and not pay any state income tax: you are right, but you will pay literally 4 or 5 times more in property tax and home insurance. For every study that lists a place at the top there will be those who list it at the bottom and visa versa. These articles, studies, charts, whatever are only as good as the day they were posted. If I had time, but being a busy retired gal, I never have enough of it, I could find 10 lists that put AR, especially NWA in the top 10 or 20 places for retirement. Most people put very little into these studies. The only purpose they serve is to prove the point the author wanted to prove: correct or not.

[starfighter]

Agreed! I've met someone from Arkansas who showed me picture of her family and friends from the state.Wow...so many people yet I didn't see one ugly face in any of the photos.XD I understand there's beauty and ugliness everywhere you go, but come around my [urban] area in the Mid-Atlantic and you'll need a barf bag everywhere you walk. It's simply because most people around here can't take care of themselves or the place itself. Also, too much traffic!

[jeffbase40]

Originally Posted by nmnita

are you indicating retired people have more disposable income than those people working? Where are you from; Mars? Of course we do not. As for people in BV shopping in MO, we used to buy booze there because as you certainly know, Benton County was dry until early last year. Some still go there, if it is convenient. Gas prices are about the same: used to be lower in Mo and yes, if we want to run to WalMart we go to MO, because we don't have a close one in BV, but I don't think the few cents difference in Taxes has much to do with where people shop.

You say, places can have sales taxes as high as 12%? I think you are thinking of the extra restaurant or entertainment tax. And I might add, Bentonville isn't the only city in NWA. Yes, the income tax rates here are higher than some states, but property taxes are dirt cheap, and insurance rates are lower than average: it balances out. Maybe as you get older you will understand. You pay 25% of your income for taxes, I think you are combining, fed, state, sales, etc. Try checking out a few other states. This is like saying, gee, I can live in Texas and not pay any state income tax: you are right, but you will pay literally 4 or 5 times more in property tax and home insurance. For every study that lists a place at the top there will be those who list it at the bottom and visa versa. These articles, studies, charts, whatever are only as good as the day they were posted. If I had time, but being a busy retired gal, I never have enough of it, I could find 10 lists that put AR, especially NWA in the top 10 or 20 places for retirement. Most people put very little into these studies. The only purpose they serve is to prove the point the author wanted to prove: correct or not.

Then feel free to dispute this. It claims the Tax Foundation as a source:

But Arkansas struggled in every other category. It had the third-highest crime rate, the sixth-lowest rating for wellness and the eighth-lowest health quality scores. It also had above-average state and local taxes, with a combined rate of 10.3 percent, according to the Tax Foundation.

The 10 worst states for retirement- MSN Money

A lot of people like myself can't afford houses so we are renters, (hence property taxes mean nothing to us) and one thing you can't dispute is Arkansas has the worse renters laws in the entire nation. It is scary how much power is given to landlords. They are not even required to make your apartment habitable.


As for my friend in White Hall, she told me last night that she was in the ER with a friend, and a guy with a gun was there trying to murder someone in ICU. You couldn't pay me to live there.

[Sam I Am]

Okay folks - this was originally a complimentary thread about not swallowing Arkansas stereotypes. Now we're off into other topics and a few insults or veiled humor. Let's return from whence we came.

[ArkansasTgirl]

I took the compass instead of the ACT. I'd probably do better now than I would have right out of high school in Arkansas just because I have more math now. I used to score really high on those kinds of tests except for math. I kind of want to take it know just to see how I do, I'm also reading a book about Jeff Bezos and asking about ACT scores was part of the way they picked talent early on so thats probably part of why I'm interested.

I was looking at the UA Fayettville transfer scholarships earlier today, I think I could probably get one but they don't have the major I want. The masters in nursing is about the only one I saw that really interests me.

[Midwest Gent]

One more thing I'd like to chime in on here.

Obesity rates. If you look at a map of obesity in Arkansas, the majority is in the eastern part of the state. The Northwest corner actually has some of the lowest obesity rates in the United States. If you are planning on moving here and are bothered by such statistics, just know that the NW corner is very outdoorsy and fitness-oriented.

I am not trying to say the rest of the state is bad. I have not been to other parts of Arkansas. I am simply stating a fact that the obesity rates are very, very low here. Washington County is very fit as are the surrounding ones.

[Robert_J]

Originally Posted by FriendlyFeller

I think ATU has grown even faster, pretty much doubled in size and now has the first female president of a university in Arkansas. Technically I'll be alumni of both atu and ua after this semester (technical certificate in fall and degree next spring). Tech has some ugly license plates though I think UA Pine Bluff has the best looking ones.

UAM does.

[ArkansasTgirl]

Originally Posted by Robert_J

UAM does.

I like Pine Bluff and then theres one that has a skyline on it that I like second best, Its was some school in Little Rock.

I sat on Montecillos side at a UAFS vollyball game once because it was less crowded and some woman from there thanked me because I was the only one.