Best rural places to live

[jinman]

Mornin Tom,
I think that anyone of us that love our rural enviroment, feels that we have our little piece of heaven ! Whether you were born and raised there or just stumbled upon it one day, you were lucky enough to find it in your lifetime !

I found mine

Scotty, that's a wonderful lookin' place. The only improvement you could make would be to have a red tractor sitting out in the middle of all that green grass.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Bones Tom and Jim,
Thanks, its a nice way of life back up in the mountains ! One thats sure to relax even the city slicker type Tom, as you aptly state, "lookin for that laid back life style", then come on up and will sit and talk on the porch over a beer

OK, maybe not this month

 

[JDCOMPACTMAN]

Hi All!

I recently moved to UCLA. That's the Upper Corner of Lower Alabama in case y'all are from California!

I did 30 years in CA, both south (San Diego & LA) and north (SF). Retired a few years ago and moved to Alabama. Taxes rate 50th out of the 50 states, land is $1000 to $3000 per acre here in Chambers County. Houses start at $15K and go up to a reasonable max of $250K.

The people are warm, friendly and laid back. Life is slower and a lot more comfortable.

Here (I hope) is a shot of my back yard!
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69518&stc=1&d=1170338974
trees1.JPG

As they say here - "Y'all come, y'hear?"

Greg

I Have To Say That I'm A Little Blown Away When I Read The Cost Of Living You Described! Having Been Born And Raised In Vermont I Love Many Things About The State,But Cost Of Living Is Not One Of Them.
A Modest Trailor On 2-5 Acres Will Easily Cost You $100,000.-130,000.00!
And The Taxes Run You $2000.00 $3000.00(Depending On What Town).I Have 10 Acres Of Land(Nothing Fancy),And Small House And I Pay $3900.00
In Taxes A Year!Also,They Have Gone Up Every Year For The Last 13 Years.
But I'm Still Here And Don't Plan To Move Away So I Guess That's The Way It Goes.

 

[stumpfield]

I Have To Say That I'm A Little Blown Away When I Read The Cost Of Living You Described! Having Been Born And Raised In Vermont I Love Many Things About The State,But Cost Of Living Is Not One Of Them.
A Modest Trailor On 2-5 Acres Will Easily Cost You $100,000.-130,000.00!
And The Taxes Run You $2000.00 $3000.00(Depending On What Town).I Have 10 Acres Of Land(Nothing Fancy),And Small House And I Pay $3900.00
In Taxes A Year!Also,They Have Gone Up Every Year For The Last 13 Years.
But I'm Still Here And Don't Plan To Move Away So I Guess That's The Way It Goes.

Wow! that's pretty expensive to live in VT.
I guess it's not too bad to be in California with moderate property tax rate and protection from increases regardless of the current value of the property. My property tax is less than $100 per year for 120 acres. I have friends lost their land in Nevada because they couldn't afford to pay the property tax. Once a rural area got publicity, people start moving in and drive up the property value and property taxes. One of those land rich but cash poor situation... Folks with low/fixed income have no choice but to give up their land.

 

[Highbeam]

I tend to think "give up" their land is a little misleading. If the value and therefor the tax bill has risen to the point that the owners can't afford it then rest assured that they were compensated for giving up their land. True, they had no choice and will need to leave the area and that is a shame.

It's like crying about income tax. Dang it's expensive but an indicator of high income. The kind of problem you'd like to have.

 

[escavader]

hi
I think it would be difficult to pick a place not knowing all the facts about the people picking a place.Is this person retired or in the working field.If so is their career choice in the area,or even their wage needs.Not alot of rural living up here that pays well,so you need to commute.Therefor my family has positioned itself within a 40 mile radius of 4 or 5 large towns to allow us to pick and choose our jobs.
That said if i were retired i would be further into western MAINE where life is really laid back and the scenery is better,and wildlife,fishing etc is better.How ever iam a diehard snowmobiler and atver so alot depends on your interest to.Most retired people dont want to deal with MAINE winters.I got a feeling i wont be one ,for i like country living.
Another scenerio is your health.Do you need a dry warm climate like ARIZONA? Do you need to be near health care? Are you a veteran and need be near a veterans hospital?
So basically im trying to say is no matter what one might answer,there is no perfect place,its all in the needs of the individual family and their wants and needs
My choice is good ole MAINE where we usually get plenty of snow and minus 20 during a 6 month winter,then black fly season then mosquito season then moose fly season. Its been said I aint wrapped to tight too!!
ALAN

 

[RedRocker]

I hate it when they throw those lists out there. every time they do it seems like eveyone starts moveing to that place. for you guys in Tx that know what Frisco used to be like and what it is now? we moved from the city to what we thought was country but now that they found gas under us the place looks like downtown Fortworth in the cow days. jb

My nephew was a cop in Frisco back when there were only about 8 of them. That place has gone nuts, I feel your pain.

 

[johnk]

So in summary, The best place to live is anywhere in the USA where you can enjoy the freedoms you have.........Cost of housing may be high but taxes low, cost of living high but higher wages in the area also. No matter where you live you have to work and pay for what you have and it probably all averages out when everything is taken into account... We have the luxury of seasons if we choose, warm weather year around and vice versa as an other option. Sometimes it is greener on the other side and sometimes not. Life is good!!!! Especially if you own a tractor...

 

[MtnViewRanch]

[My property tax is less than $100 per year for 120 acres.]

Wow, you must have had that property for a long time to only be paying that little amount of property tax. I didn't know that there was anything in Calif that reasonable in the last 35 years.

 

[avorancher]

[My property tax is less than $100 per year for 120 acres.

Sounds about right for this area of CA if you added 3 more zeros.