Life changing decision, Need input

[Superduper]

Might be wrong forum or category. I apologize to any moderator if so, please move if I'm in violation.
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I have lived here in California for 45 years. The poor economy, high cost of living here and declining health has done me in. I know I can not retire here. Luckily, we are not underwater but we are struggling to keep afloat. We know we need to make a life changing decision soon before we dip too far into our retirement accounts (yes, we already are dipping to make ends meet) before we deplete it entirely with nothing to show for it. With my health declining, that is a big worry.

So we are considering moving someplace where the cost of living is lower, the cost of real estate is reasonable, and where we can retire in relative peace. Where my wife agrees to go is a big factor. There are so many places that I am more than willing to go, but not my wife. So recently, we spent some time in Lawrence Kansas for some business. To my suprise, she liked the area. Our political inclination is quite conservative. I have heard that Lawrence is the most liberal city in Kansas. Compared to where I live, it's probably still farther to the right. Nevertheless, I am thinking of the outlying areas, home 2-15 acres (not smack in the middle of the city). My children are both going to be college age next year. So University of Kansas might be the place.

Since this is such a big decision, I was wondering if anyone close to the area can tell me their impressions of living there, the pluses and minuses. Health care services. Red tape... how hard and tough is it to get building permits and how picky are the inspectors? How is commute? Crime? Taxes? How about weather.... will I hate it? How about work -- hard to find? Low, med or good wages? I don't know, basically any information or impressions would be deeply appeciated. In fact, if you live in the area, I would love to chat and pick your brain. We've grown so much roots here that we want to make sure we are making the right choice.

Thanks for your time.
Norm.

 

[mjncad]

This web site will give you information on cities and towns across the country. Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, crime, house prices, cost of living, races, home value estimator, recent sales, income, photos, schools, maps, weather, neighborhoods, and more

 

[Superduper]

Thank you for the link. I will check it out. It would still be nice to hear from someone who lives near that and can offer a personal viewpoint. Stats are nice but they don't always tell the whole story.

 

[KTurner]

With two kids going to college, look at in-state versus out-of-state tuition costs and residency requirements. A quick search shows that out of state price for tuition is still about three times the cost of in state, the same that it was when I was paying for mine about ten years ago in Virginia. That's just the cost of going to class, it does not include room/board/books/etc which is generally the same for an in state or out of state student. Over a four year degree, this difference in tuition cost adds up to about $60k-70k, per kid.

Keith

 

[indianaEPH]

Norm: Good luck with finding the right place to live and enjoy. This is a big decision. I moved to the midwest from the other coast about 25 years ago. It was a hard move for me but I soon felt at home with the abundant land, reasonable cost of living(including taxes), good schools (this is still higly variable) responsible governments (for the most part). I now feel very lucky to have made the move (it was job related at the time).

It is a shame what has happened to California. It use to be the promise land. I think decades of liberal politics have done it in.

 

[Stick895]

With two kids going to college, look at in-state versus out-of-state tuition costs and residency requirements. A quick search shows that out of state price for tuition is still about three times the cost of in state, the same that it was when I was paying for mine about ten years ago in Virginia. That's just the cost of going to class, it does not include room/board/books/etc which is generally the same for an in state or out of state student. Over a four year degree, this difference in tuition cost adds up to about $60k-70k, per kid. Keith

Get the kids into college in CA while they can qualify for in-state tuition, then have them establish their own residency there while you go to Kansas. Manhattan Kansas, since it's hoe to a state university might could be more conservative area, but I'm supposing on that.

 

[Todd727]

Move to WA along the WA-OR border. No income tax and you cross the border into Oregon for no sales tax.

You can do the same thing along the WY-MT border, but you've got to enjoy the desolation.

 

[bucktaker]

Left the Bay area in 1992 never looked back.... anywhere is better, Do I miss some of the amienites..yes but I think its a better place to visit. You need to check with the family are they ready to give up everything they know to live somewhere else? thats the real question

 

[TCJatko]

A bold move, but a prudent one. Be sure to look at state income taxes, and the overall state fiscal position (Illinois is probably in as bad fiscal shape as California, but with much worse weather). Despite what some believe, pension funding shortfalls are eventually going to come from taxpayers, not "Obama's stash". Good luck.

 

[LazySusanFarms]

I live in Overland Park, Kansas and have a farm in Lawrence, Kansas. One of my best friends is in Douglas County government. Douglas County and the city of Lawrence are well run but are left leaning. I do not notice it too much since I do not live there full time. What I can say is that the conservative right in the state is SO far right that the Democrats have taken the middle ground and appear to be very moderate which overall has been good for the area. Lawrence has a lot going for it - top rated government, the University and cultural activities. The biggest attraction to us is that the county is dedicated to sustainable farming practices so ag issues are always treated with seriousness.

Any questions, just ask.