From ME to Southern CA??????

[Maine2009]

Originally Posted by Beth G.

I've heard that New Englanders tend to miss the seasons.

Why do you think San Fran is a better transition than to SoCal? I've never been to San Fran before. I've been as far north as Monterey and wasn't impressed with the fogginess. I loved Big Sur but wouldn't want to live around there. San Luis Obisbo would be nice. I'm more familiar with SoCal and think I'd enjoy the vibe and energy there. Too bad it has to be so overcrowded out there though. I guess everyone feels like I do!!!!!

My husband and I are actually doing a spreadsheet on comparing ME to CA, $$ wise. Taxes: property, income, state, housing prices, etc. He is checking out jobs out there but hasn't sent any resumes yet. Its a start anyways. I wonder if/how much more they pay for salaries there? Does anybody have any info on this?

I've heard that the salaries out here in Southern California are probably around 15-20% higher or so than the same job in Maine. However, I have read that the living costs in Southern Maine are approximately 30-40% lower than Southern California. That % however is also based on buying an average priced home in LA which is about $600k... But....To buy a house in a safe Los Angeles neighborhood, a typical 2500sqft home can be well over $1 million and that might need some work done to it...Thus making Maine even more than 40% more affordable than Southern California. San Diego is just slightly cheaper, and San Francisco is even more expensive I have heard. (Housing).

Google the following--"cost of living comparisons" and there are many sites that show the differences in the cost of living between different cities.

Make sure to keep all of this in mind when you see that the jobs pay better in Southern California

[countrygirl45]

I grew up in Redlands and lived there until I was about 35. Redlands is a nice town about 20 minutes from Riverside. If you're going to live anywhere inland, I would suggest there. Check it out on the internet, maybe on flickr.com too. I've been through Riverside and all through the Inland Empire area numerous times, and Riverside is not a place I'd really want to live. It's got some crime, and it's not real pretty. San Bernardino is worse. Research it a little before you move. Out of the whole Inland Empire area, I really believe Redlands takes the cake.
Just my 2 cents. =)

[Submariner]

I grew up in Southern California. Born in Modesto, went to Merced Highschool, Fresno college. We also lived in Northern California, up in Lake county along the coast.

As a teen I spent a lot of time hiking in Yosemite.

Most of my relatives live in the San Joaquin valley of California.

It does tend to be fairly expensive, and the dense population centers like San Fransisco and Los Angelos pretty much control the state's laws. So even if you do live out in the boonies very rural, the laws mirror the inner city ghettos.

I have owned rentals there, I have worked a dairy there, as well as a vineyard; I really do prefer Maine. Maine has much cheaper land. Maine has a much lower tax base. If you live rurally in Maine, you are still treated like you are rural. And you do not require $100k/year to survive in Maine.