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> where the pensioners have almost entirely moved out of New Jersey to avoid the same taxes.

(Income) Tax free Texas sounds good right about now!




Texas is a no income tax, but moderately high property tax state. That's good when you are making money, but can be hard when you retire: low income, high tax on your house.


It also disproportionately impacts mid-tier earners. Ie, those who earn enough to own their home, but still have it make up a significant portion of their net worth.

Someone making 100k/year, and making 1M/year, both living in 400k houses (not uncommon in the Austin area), will be paying the dollar-amount in tax.

Ie, a high property tax and low income tax is very regressive.


Wait a minute, where are all these $400k homes you're finding in Austin? I thought those disappeared about 5 years ago...

Joking aside, it wouldn't surprise me if $400k was close to the median price for homes within the city limits.


Within the city currently I believe 400k is actually on the low end.

Originally I wrote 500k, but changed it to avoid "no one should be complaining if they life in a half a million dollar home, that can buy so much in Ohio!!" type comments.


Funny enough $400k is pretty spot on: https://www.zillow.com/austin-tx/home-values/


I bought a house this year for $250k in 78744. Plenty others near that price range are available, but it is in a Mexican neighborhood with bad schools.


Late to respond but NJ, where I used to live, has property tax of 10%+. Texas, where I live, is 2%

But I don’t mind if people don’t know this, this state is great as is :)


Yes, it's mostly Florida where New Jersey's pensioners have gone to.




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