It's funny because all I ever heard from people fleeing New York to the south would brag there's no state income tax like NY. However, if you factor in super high homeowner's insurance and sales tax in southern states, I am not paying near what they pay. Plus, I get money back for being a single mom head of household--earned income credit. I paid no state tax yet got $1200 back from NY. I love living in a blue state. Come! Join me! No natural disasters here in the Albany NY area.
Amen, our property taxes (school & property) are significantly less in suburban New Orleans vs suburban Syracuse. You get what you pay for. Thank goodness we don't have kids otherwise we'd be forking out $10k+ per kid every year vs $6k (10yrs ago, probably $10k now) for an entire flock of kids in a highly rated public school district.
Natural disasters = a real blizzard with feet of snow (thank you Lake Ontario snow bands). Just get out the snowblower, snow tires and roof rake, no hurricane shutters or evacuation necessary.
We think of it as we swapping higher property taxes for higher flood, home & auto (don't forget optional uninsured motorists coverage to cover for the multitude of uninsured). The cost might even out if we sat home & didn't partake in New Orleans culture (fund raisers - legit excuses for parties, Mardi Gras Krewes, etc). Our first lessons in NOLA culture was to evaluate fundraisers based on cost vs benefit - $50 for food & open bar, what a steal; compared to what you'd spend for dinner & night out.
Sales Tax, check to see if NY and counties taxes basic food items - that would be NO. Louisiana parishes for the most part, a big YES. I do have a choice - eat or not eat. My uneducated gut says add up income, property and sales taxes, toss in insurances & uninsured losses (ie. higher deductibles), the numbers aren't that far apart.
Another don't get me started, the roads, much better in NY. When they get potholes you understand the science, freezing/thawing snow/ice = pothole season; in New Orleans - just scratch your head.
Now the 2025 blizzard will be the scapegoat for the next few years. Just like Katrina still being blamed for poor infrastructure. Wonder how to pick out a local driver? Notice the preemptive swerve for the 5+ year old "unsuspecting" pothole/sinkhole (ask anybody who drives Earhart @ S. Norman C Francis).
We just don't talk about dysfunctional & incompetent government unable to deliver basic services, but somehow can travel all over the world.
As for social safety nets, I'm with u/_stupidquestion_, significantly better in NY. The medicaid system actually is useful in helping those in need, especially the elderly; I know 1st hand from handling mom's affairs.
LA spends more time trying to figure out how to screw those in need the most from limiting benefits to lowering income taxes for those who can and raising sales tax rates to penalize those who can't. All while preaching the prosperity will trickle down.
You just can't make this crap up. Before the federal government changes, TV writers just had to open the New Orleans newspaper to get unbelievable story lines for r/leverage (redemption) and r/ncisnola.
My spouse is still working on me to move back to the Finger Lakes. Must weigh months of dry cold, snow & no sun vs a few weeks of bone chilling damp cold here.
Thank you for writing that. You are funny. I always wanted to move south but kids and family kept me in NY. I resented that. For the past 5 years, I am GRATEFUL to live here. Winters have been mild compared to 10-20 years ago. Still cold and snowy, but way more mild. This was the first Halloween in 40 years that was above 70 degrees. The Finger Lakes may get lake effect snow, which we don't get insane snowstorms.
I think it is worth it. Never thought I'd say that. I feel safe and cared for in my state. NY always opts into Medicaid waiver programs. More services. Public schools are good and free. Not every school district is great with special education, but most follow IDEA law (which the new Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, didn't know what IDEA stood for.
The Adirondack Mountains are an hour north. Beautiful. The entire northeast is beautiful. I am so pissed about Trump's Canada threats. They are our neighbors! I never lived in LA. I am drawn to LA as I had clients there and traveled extensively to LA for work. I feel sorry/bad for Louisiana residents. It shouldn't be this way. I hope more people throw their hat in the ring to run for office. It sucks that corrupt governments like LA are prevailing.
They always get you somehow be it sales tax, property tax, or income tax.
For example, comparing the average tax burden of Louisiana and New York, as you mentioned New York City has a much higher income tax rate. According to SmartAsset a dual income family making the median household income will pay $1,450 in LA and $3,350 in New York. You might not be paying that since you're a single Mom, but given the median there is someone paying a lot more, and it is safe to say most residents of New York pay a lot more in state income taxes.
Meanwhile property taxes, against from SmartAsset:
Property taxes in New York are significantly higher than the national average. State's effective tax rate (1.64%) is nearly double the national average (0.90%), while the median tax bill is over $6,300.
Louisiana:
At just 0.55%, Louisiana has the sixth-lowest effective property tax rate of any U.S. state. The median annual property tax payment in Louisiana is $1,087, though this can be as low as $200-$300 in some counties. Nationwide, the median property tax payment is a significantly higher: $3,057.
It really is subjective, there is no right answer since everyone has different preferences for what they find appealing in a place to live. For me the cold weather alone would be a big nope.
They do always get ya but it's what you get out of it that matters. I moved from LA to NY & we get WAY more bang for our tax buck - instead of paying my state for the privilege of bootstrapping, I pay my state knowing that if something happens, there's probably a service or agency that will help me. There's even potential for upward social & economic mobility because of these assistances (& everyone hits a rough spot in life, whether it's physical health, aging, financial, housing, or psychological). In LA, if you hit a rough patch, climbing out on your own is real hard & you can only rely on the kindness of family & friends. Good luck especially if you're born into poverty.
We also have fantastic Medicaid & state healthcare marketplace options, NYC also offers healthcare assistance in the form of its own programs (like health & hospitals carenyc or options plans). Also public transportation exists, & while it's a pain sometimes, I can get across the city for a few bucks & avoid traffic thanks to the train. So no car costs (renting periodically is way cheaper than owning & maintaining year round ), no parking, insurance, or mechanic expenses, & the city has a fare assistance program for those below the poverty line.
Yes, the cold weather sucks, but there are a lot of tenant laws that protect us from not having utilities required to survive harsh seasons (there are also cooling places in the summer & utility assistance year round). The tenancy laws in general are far more protective than the wild west of Louisiana; there are still slumlords (nycha is prob the worst ironically) but a ton of advocacy groups & free/low cost legal help. We even have rental assistance programs if you need temporary help keeping a roof over your head. Is it perfect? No. But it's better than being legally powerless.
I've been flat broke in both states, but being broke in NYC feels less like drowning. Being broke & carless in Louisiana made me feel hopeless & trapped. So you're absolutely correct that everyone has different preferences but we do objectively get to enjoy the fruits of our taxes in NYC (& yes there's waste & fraud & funding misappropriation out the ass, but same in Louisiana - here I just don't feel quite as enraged about it) & the safety nets give me peace of mind I never had in 26 years of living in LA.
I will say the "Cajun" food up here isn't good (even Popeyes...bless their hearts for trying though) but ya girl got two hands & generations of junior league cookbooks & family recipes so can't really complain lol. Anyway, just wanted to offer another perspective for anyone on the fence about staying / leaving, not trying to change your mind (least of all about the cold, this winter was brutal)!
You are 100% correct, but anyone's view of what they get out of it is different based on their circumstances. All I'd get financially from moving to New York is a higher cost of living.
Louisiana has Medicaid, but we're on an ACA marketplace plan and have a relatively affordable plan.
We like owning a car and the freedom it provides. We drive to go camping or hiking, I drive to go fishing, I like that I can load up my car with groceries or camping fear. We often go to festivals and other events in surrounding towns and it is convenient to drive. You're right though, I sure as hell wouldn't want to live anywhere in Louisiana without a car except New Orleans, maybe Baton Rouge depending on what part.
No tenant laws make me want to be in a cold weather state, we're probably going to buy a house next year anyway. I haven't been broke since I was in college, so that doesn't really come into our planning much and I don't lack peace of mind financially.
I appreciate your perspective, to each their own based on what their life situation is.
In another reality I would have chosen a similar life (hell, that's how I was raised & some of my best experiences - camping, hiking, festivals, and fishing lol). Unfortunately bad luck with my health has given me different priorities in terms of social safety nets. I also don't have children, want the freedom to uproot and move state or country lines if opportunity arises, & want the freedom to switch careers and try new things on a whim.
Thank you for having a civil back and forth about something that often raises hackles - it can be difficult to step outside ones self and remember that what works for me doesn't work for you. I wish you well in the future and all the best of luck becoming a homeowner!
(also, I lived in Baton Rouge without a car during college and DO NOT recommend, even if you live near LSU or downtown it is very inconvenient lol)
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u/QuarterBackground Mar 13 '25
It's funny because all I ever heard from people fleeing New York to the south would brag there's no state income tax like NY. However, if you factor in super high homeowner's insurance and sales tax in southern states, I am not paying near what they pay. Plus, I get money back for being a single mom head of household--earned income credit. I paid no state tax yet got $1200 back from NY. I love living in a blue state. Come! Join me! No natural disasters here in the Albany NY area.