In an effort to save you guys (and gals) from a long, drawn out story of how this is coming about, I'll try to keep it fairly simple..

My wife (and I, a little bit) wants to move to the WA/ID area, from Virginia.

My concerns are as follows:

[*]Cost of Living

[*]Employment

[*]Schools/education quality for my kids

[*]Median income

If I do decide to make this move, It'll be quite a culture shock for her, and a little bit (climate-wise) for me.

I'd much prefer to have a job lined up PRIOR to making the decision to move, as that would be the smartest thing to do.

Keep us posted. If there is anything I can do to aid you let me know.

Try searching cost of living calculators. Much of the info you're looking for will be linked to most of the sites you find.

Keep us posted. If there is anything I can do to aid you let me know.

will do, Mike.

Try searching cost of living calculators. Much of the info you're looking for will be linked to most of the sites you find.

I have done this a little bit, but not much. I'm more-so interested in real-life examples from those of you that are in that area..

Hope it all works out! I'm not sure if it's much help but my son is stationed in the Seattle/Tacoma WA area,and I was shocked at the cost of living there. Everything here in the peoples republic of Ohio seems about half what it is out there,the flip side is their median income (where he lives) is double what ours is too, so it's kind of a wash..I think it's in the high 60's low 70's range? Beautiful country with LOTS of rain...

For Spokane, WA area:

You need to earn $68,293 to maintain the same standard of living in Spokane, Washington.

That's less than what I make now.

For Viola, ID area:

You need to earn $63,088 to maintain the same standard of living in Spokane, Washington.

- - - Updated - - -

wow, I'm quite surprised here, with this info:

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA: The tax rate for 2012 is $0.95 per $100 of assessed value. For example, a property valued at $100,000 would pay $950.00 in yearly taxes. This amount would be divided into two semiannual payments of $475.00 each, due June 5th and December 5th.

VIOLA, ID:

For Latah County with an estimated levy of 0.018730574 and a market value of $100,000.00 the estimated property tax is $1,873.06

That's almost TWO TIMES the amount of Real Estate property tax of Virginia...

My 2013 RE property tax is $2200

I miss living in northern ID. We lived in Coeur d'alene, it was awesome. the only other place besides Flagstaff AZ that i'd ever live. the Postfalls ID is nice town also. Rathdrum, Silver Lake all very nice places with the income needed to have a comforable life style for us was only in the 40,000's yes more is better, but we had a 3 bedroom 2 car, 1/2 acer lot for 112,000.

- - - Updated - - -

another thing to take note of the Washington tax rate is TOTALLY different as they don;t have a state income tax. i lived in ID, and worked in Spokane.

Nice, thank you.

Right now, I have a 3BR, 2.5BA, 2-car Garage on 1/4 ac. It's assessed at 268K but actual market value is closer to 300. I live in a nice neighborhood, but we barely make it each month (single income, paid once per month.) I've got decent equity (+50% ) in it, which also helps.

- - - Updated - - -

another thing to take note of the Washington tax rate is TOTALLY different as they don;t have a state income tax. i lived in ID, and worked in Spokane.

My brother lives in Viola and works in WA at the university.

I can't say I understand or know the difference between tax rate and tax levy but I am surprised to see the tax comparison you are quoting. I haven't lived in Virginia but I have lived in Illinois. When I moved to Idaho my cost of living went down. Property taxes, energy costs, food, housing etc. I live in Canyon County (Nampa which is the 2nd largest city in Idaho) and people have been moving out of Ada County (Boise area) to Canyon County because property taxes are lower. I think I have read somewhere that Boise and Spokane have similar cost of living. Now since the economy has tanked we have seen property values decrease but I just read in the paper last week that the real estate values are coming back pretty quickly in the Boise area and it is in the top 10 areas across the US. There is also a fair amount of hiring going on but I can't say anything about wages (just don't know). Idaho is a conservative state while Washington and Oregon are liberal states. Eastern side of Washington and Oregon are conservative compared to the western sides. If there is anything about the NW that would be useful to you then let me know and I'll see if I can help out.

Seeing what you do for a living have you considered ND or MT? Tons of work and great places for family and education, cost of living in the western half of ND and eastern MT has gone up due to the recent few years of oil boom but is settling in and leveling off.

ND is ranked #1 in the nation in many things and the list has grown substantially in the last couple years.

http://freedominthe50states.org/

http://freedominthe50states.org/download/print-edition.pdf

- - - Updated - - -

Idaho is a conservative state while Washington and Oregon are liberal states. Eastern side of Washington and Oregon are conservative compared to the western sides. If there is anything about the NW that would be useful to you then let me know and I'll see if I can help out.

Boy are they ever Liberal in the strongest sense of the word so much so they believe everything they hear and see and have absolutely zero common sense and no drive to research the facts they think they know.

Wife and I were there between Portland and Seattle for a week last summer for vacation and I couldn't believe my eyes and ears.

= Boy are they ever Liberal in the strongest sense of the word so much so they believe everything they hear and see and have absolutely zero common sense and no drive to research the facts they think they know. Wife and I were there between Portland and Seattle for a week last summer for vacation and I couldn't believe my eyes and ears.

Yep.... around here on the west side of northern Oregon the drivers seem like they are more concerned with annoying other drivers than getting to where they are going safely. It's gettin real weird over here... crime is on a major rise too

I'm a odd duck when it comes to living in Idaho. Being that MoparMom and I downsized all the way around. Ditched the TV and satellite provider, solar and hydro power during the summer time for power, firewood heat in the winter time. So that only leaves power bill, phone bill and Internet bill basically. MoparMom would know more about the property taxes. But where we are at it's fairly cheap living really as long as you stock up and stay home. Now if you one that has to jump and run to the store daily then its not going to work for you.I got to admit it will be a culture shock but a good one if you move to Idaho away from the city.

What about moving to Colorado????????

What about moving to Colorado????????

The next up and comer left wing Liberal state in the union unfortunately. A nice place going wrong!!:banghead:

IMHO I would live 1-5 miles outside of a big city (>100,000 people).. If the houses are spaced far enough apart like some subdivisions are then I would consider living in a big city. Living right out of city limits means you can get at least 5 acres to stretch your legs on without any of the city limitations (like fireworks). I have lived in the country for 20 years and now that I am in a big city I can say I like it here better. I hated working on my truck and break or forget a part only to have to drive 25 miles round trip to get it. I also love that walmart is now 2 miles away on a secluded 4 lane avenue. You also get the job market of a big city which also means more money as I doubt podunk towns are going to pay crap. Being in the country has its benefits but the same benefits can be realized 1-5 miles outside of town. Plus you can get 25mbps+ internet. My parents spend like $80 month on some state of the art wireless ad hoc something or other and still only get 4mbps. Now there is one exception..... I would love to live at the grand canyon, somewhere I could see it, possibly even lake mead. It looks so incredible there and vegas isn't too far away so it would be awesome. Forest and trees don't really do it for me unless it is like arkansas in the fall. http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/photo/o/oz/OzarkMountainsFoliage-Pano.jpg But I better damn well have a house atop a cliff. I probably would never live in the northwest/West coast. Vegas is more my style haha. Though I would never want to live in vegas unless there was a condo 40 stories up in some building on the strip. People in vegas are actually the nicest people I have ever met. They say it's because they want to sell you stuff but be that as it may they are still really nice. There are guys on the streets with coolers selling drinks with the best attitude and everything. Basically it's the only place that hasn't gone through the effects of societies trend to be antisocial, or so thats how I see it. Sorry Rogan, probably off topic.

Me being one of those fellows that do live in the PNW, I can safely say it would be a great idea to move here. No area is obviously going to be perfect. BUT, I would not have it any other way. It really depends on what you are trying to achieve by moving here.

If I was a wealthy person and had one choice of an area to live, it would be North ID.

If you are not so much that person, have a family and still need to make a living, your work experience, skills, education are going to make a huge impact on whats possible for you.

WA: West coast sucks, IMO. I know too much to even set foot there. You will make more there, have a good job, more than likely, will have an expensive house, etc. But you will also have to deal with the big city lifestyle and people.

East WA, conservative minded people, jobs are decent, housing is decent, and people are not terrible. I grew up in Spokane and its got its problems like any other. In the past years though, economy has affected people and crime has gone up. Area is more congested since I moved from there.

Living outside the Spokane area, like 10 miles or more will improve things drastically. You can still commute to work if you want and can get out of the Spokane city life. Traffic is not terrible and rush hours are not stop and go. As long as you avoid certain roads.

Idaho:

I can't say anything about Southern ID, but I can say some about N ID. CDA area is good and Post falls as well. Enjoy lake CDA and a mid-sized area. Crime is not terrible, nor is people. Enjoy the liberties provided by ID. Jobs are not as great nor is employment.

Where I live now, Sandpoint, area is next largest in N ID. Geography is great. Lakes, rivers, streams and a country lifestyle. Employment is not great. Pay is terrible. ID minimum wage is $7/hr IIRC. Cost of living is not terrible.

Really it boils down to what kind of lifestyle you want to live, what sacrifices you want to make, etc.

Personally, I love the small town area, I love the geography, etc. Crime is not bad, people are not bad. Only thing I can complain about here is Jobs and pay. Hence why I have a 5th wheel and travel for work.

WA does NOT have income tax, nor grocery taxes. ID DOES have income tax AND grocery tax. WA had cigarette and liquor tax. ID DOES NOT.

If you don't want a country life but a smaller city life but still get the chance at decent pay and jobs, I would live in Post Falls. Next to the WA state line. Enjoy ID life but also enjoy the jobs and pay E WA can offer that ID does not.

The sky is the limit I guess...