Retiring in Wisconsin

[ipkl07]

I'd reconsider full time retirement in Wisconsin and do partial if you can and be a resident of a lower taxed state and a state that has a lower cost of living if you're on a fixed income now. November, December, January, February, March and sometimes April is cold typically snowy icy and they don't do a good job of the snow plowing on roads at all here when it gets cold as the salt doesn't melt and I don't know of many retired, or any retired people personally who like it up here. Our entire family is and has been leaving the midwest as the decent jobs move out and the quality of life here continues to go down hill. I am even reassessing my situation here myself. I see why, so many people are leaving when you get out and see what else is out there. I even see and hear a number of retirees leaving the United States of America all together now to be perfectly honest with you. That's mainly because their money goes, so much further; other, places and the quality of life is decent with a low cost of living. If you're happy with Wisconsin then that's what you should do. Everybody has to do what's best for them. I'd do somewhere between Madison and Beloit with your current criteria.

Example: Where we use to live in Wisconsin our property taxes now would be around $14,000 per year. Even more land with a bigger house where we lived up to a few years ago in another state was about $1000. That would now be around $2400. That's why not many retire in Wisconsin, or most of the midwest and northeast.

[damba]

Originally Posted by ipkl07

Example: Where we use to live in Wisconsin our property taxes now would be around $14,000 per year. Even more land with a bigger house where we lived up to a few years ago in another state was about $1000. That would now be around $2400. That's why not many retire in Wisconsin, or most of the midwest and northeast.

$14K/yr in WI(?)

You must have lived in a very expensive home along the near north side of Milwaukee/suburbs, or possibly nicer parts of Madison. That’s not a typical RE tax bill in WI anyway.

[mjstef]

Originally Posted by ipkl07

I'd reconsider full time retirement in Wisconsin and do partial if you can and be a resident of a lower taxed state and a state that has a lower cost of living if you're on a fixed income now. November, December, January, February, March and sometimes April is cold typically snowy icy and they don't do a good job of the snow plowing on roads at all here when it gets cold as the salt doesn't melt and I don't know of many retired, or any retired people personally who like it up here. Our entire family is and has been leaving the midwest as the decent jobs move out and the quality of life here continues to go down hill. I am even reassessing my situation here myself. I see why, so many people are leaving when you get out and see what else is out there. I even see and hear a number of retirees leaving the United States of America all together now to be perfectly honest with you. That's mainly because their money goes, so much further; other, places and the quality of life is decent with a low cost of living. If you're happy with Wisconsin then that's what you should do. Everybody has to do what's best for them. I'd do somewhere between Madison and Beloit with your current criteria.

Example: Where we use to live in Wisconsin our property taxes now would be around $14,000 per year. Even more land with a bigger house where we lived up to a few years ago in another state was about $1000. That would now be around $2400. That's why not many retire in Wisconsin, or most of the midwest and northeast.

One off my ONLY complaints about Wisconsin is their damn salt addiction!! THEIR IS NO REASON FOR IT! The county roads here in Norther Wisconsin are typically awesome with just a little sand and snowpack but where the state salts their is just ice and slop!! I spent 12 years in Montana where not salt is used and it was rare to see pavement all winter. I didn't see the wrecks and slideoffs i see here where they insist on dumping tons of salt and other chemicals on the highways polluting our wells, rivers and lakes.

As far as taxes go i'm on 5 acres with a 12 yr old 2,700 Sq Ft 6 bed 3 bath house with a 30x40 pole barn and a 3 car detached garage and pay $2,200. My 2,800 Sq Ft 3 bed 2.5 bath 30 yr old house on 5 acres in Montana with only a 3 car garage was $4,600.

Oh, My 72 yr old father just moved back to the Northwoods from Florida 2 years ago after 17 years there as he could no longer take the heat and humidity. He also says 4 foot of frozen water outside is easier to deal with than 4' of liquid water inside when a hurricane comes for a visit.........

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ipkl07

I'd reconsider full time retirement in Wisconsin and do partial if you can and be a resident of a lower taxed state and a state that has a lower cost of living if you're on a fixed income now. November, December, January, February, March and sometimes April is cold typically snowy icy and they don't do a good job of the snow plowing on roads at all here when it gets cold as the salt doesn't melt and I don't know of many retired, or any retired people personally who like it up here. Our entire family is and has been leaving the midwest as the decent jobs move out and the quality of life here continues to go down hill. I am even reassessing my situation here myself. I see why, so many people are leaving when you get out and see what else is out there. I even see and hear a number of retirees leaving the United States of America all together now to be perfectly honest with you. That's mainly because their money goes, so much further; other, places and the quality of life is decent with a low cost of living. If you're happy with Wisconsin then that's what you should do. Everybody has to do what's best for them. I'd do somewhere between Madison and Beloit with your current criteria.

Example: Where we use to live in Wisconsin our property taxes now would be around $14,000 per year. Even more land with a bigger house where we lived up to a few years ago in another state was about $1000. That would now be around $2400. That's why not many retire in Wisconsin, or most of the midwest and northeast.

I track demographics very extensively, and I would say most of Wisconsin rural counties have a high percentage of retirees. Many of these retirees age in place, but others also come from other areas to retire in the Northwoods. The bigger issue is proximity to healthcare and a good health system, not property taxes. It doesn't take much research to find towns that are property rich with a high town valuation and lower property taxes. I know the mill rate in Winchester in northwest Vilas County is around $7.00 per $1,000 assessed value. Moultonboro in Carroll County, NH on Lake Winnipesaukee as a $7.70 per $1,000 assessed value and also offers a high quality of life with lakes and mountains.

[guidoLaMoto]

I recently escaped the failing People's Demokrat Republik of Illinois where my 70 y/o 1600 sf house on a 100'x300' suburban lot (sold it for $300K) was taxed at $5800/yr....I retired to WI where my 40 ac of pasture & woods with the new 1800 sf house with 975 sf attached garage/utility area, valued by insurance guys @ $225,000 (land value another $150K) is now taxed at $1800/yr. Auto licenses are half the rate here as in IL.


Warm weather is easier on the old & sickly, so retiring in WI is not so much a matter of economics as it is of other concerns like the weather & recreational opportunities for those with certain physical limitations.