Best rural places to live

[Steve_Miller]

I always find these posts interesting for the reason some people mention property tax, others mention income tax, some sales tax. Each state probably has its own way of doleing out the tax money. I'm guessing that New Hampshire has a high property tax partially because they have no sales tax. I could be wrong but things usually even out in the end. Here in Nova Scotia we pay 14% sales tax on just about everything. Gas is 89 cents per litre and approximately a 1/3 of that are taxes, my property taxes are about $1.20 per $1000 of assessment. As most of you know, our sales tax is higher because it pays for our health care. We go to the doctor or have surgery or to the emergency room and there is no cost to us unless you go by ambulance. (You pay for that) Ther are some things that are not covered, but for the most part they are. Drugs have to be paid for unless you have a drug plan. Keep the facts coming, I along with others enjoy seeing how other parts of the continent or world work.

Steve

 

[K7147]

Hi Kids!

Well, I suppose there are as many “perfect” rural places to live as there are people who want to live in a rural area. I could probably give you a hundred reasons why we think “our” place is perfect for us, however, there is one overriding reason why we chose this location. It has little to do with living in the picturesque state of Vermont or the many water features that encompass our land. It’s more about the rabbit hole that Alice dropped into when she found “Wonderland”. The rabbit hole was her entrance to a whole new world created by her own imagination. That rabbit hole was sort of a symbolic dividing line between the stark reality of an intolerant world gone mad and a world of fantasy created by her own imagination. Our “rabbit hole” is a thousand foot tree lined drive that provides the sole entrance to our sanctuary. It’s gated and posted. It has a long gradual curve that prohibits seeing into the property. Should the need come for occasional and infrequent doses of the exterior world we just have to open the gate. In the meantime imagination and tranquility rule within. Here’s a photo of our “rabbit hole:

Ken

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Kids!

Well, I suppose there are as many “perfect” rural places to live as there are people who want to live in a rural area. I could probably give you a hundred reasons why we think “our” place is perfect for us, however, there is one overriding reason why we chose this location. It has little to do with living in the picturesque state of Vermont or the many water features that encompass our land. It’s more about the rabbit hole that Alice dropped into when she found “Wonderland”. The rabbit hole was her entrance to a whole new world created by her own imagination. That rabbit hole was sort of a symbolic dividing line between the stark reality of an intolerant world gone mad and a world of fantasy created by her own imagination. Our “rabbit hole” is a thousand foot tree lined drive that provides the sole entrance to our sanctuary. It’s gated and posted. It has a long gradual curve that prohibits seeing into the property. Should the need come for occasional and infrequent doses of the exterior world we just have to open the gate. In the meantime imagination and tranquility rule within. Here’s a photo of our “rabbit hole:

Ken

Mornin Ken,
I can only imagine what the rabbits living quarters must look like Thanks for that great shot !

 

[gclark94560]

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.

Sorry to hear about the COL issue in VT. Having just come from SF, CA I understand. My taxes there on a 2400 sq ft house on a postage stamp lot was $9000 a year.

I now live on 14 acres with a 1500 sq ft all brick house and my taxes are $900. I am only 1/2 mile outside town and on a good asphalt county highway.

 

[stumpfield]

[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.

You can still do it now. If you are willing to have your land classified as a "Land Conservation Area", you will get a very low property tax rate. It's called the Williamson Act. You basically give up the development right of your land. Well, if you just want to enjoy the best of rural living and don't view your land as a piece of investment, why not? That way, you stop thinking how much your land is worth or some property down the street just sold for millions. Who cares what it's worth...

You can get all the facts here if you are interestd. Land Resource Protection - Williamson Act Program

 

[stumpfield]

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.

For most people, that's a problem they love to have. However, if you are 75 years old living on SS. You have been living there most of your life. All in a sudden, your tax bill starts to double every year. You still trying to figure out how to pay last year's tax bill and the penalties.... Finally, the knock out punch came.... They tell you that your land is worth a million dollar with a tax bill that's greater than your annual income. Real estate agents knocking on your door on a daily basis. You got bombarded by people trying to sell you reverse mortgage and all kinds of finanial gimmicks. You went from 3 adjoining neighbors to 25. They all knock on your door asking you to pay half the cost to build a better fence....Now you realize that something just took away your way of life.

 

[riptides]

You can still do it now. Land Resource Protection - Williamson Act Program

Interesting that it is for ten years. Here in my part of the country we have similar programs with one caveat, they run with the land. Forever.

Hmmm........
-Mike Z.

 

[Iowachild]

We may be second place, but there's a little area of Warren County known as Heart's Content that number one to me!

 

[plumboy]

Nice to see ky make a list for something good. I have never lived anywhere else but I am pretty sure this is good enough for me. My prop taxes are $800 on what they have listed as 120 acres.

 

[bobkrack]

California - 157 years ago!
Do you know what happened back in 1850 in California ?
California became a State.
The State had no electricity.
The State had no money.
There were gun fights in the streets.
Almost everyone spoke Spanish.
So basically, it was just like California today, except the women
had real boobs and men didn't hold hands.

Bob