The great migration from CA to TX (Houston: employment, taxes)

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by jek74

Huh? This makes no sense. First of all, I WANT TX to be a middle class state. All I hear about is this great divide between the rich and the poor and now you are complaining about the middle?????? LOL.

This is an interesting point. California is the epitome of the huge and growing gulf between the rich and the poor in the country. There is extreme wealth concentrated along the coast and a lot of poverty in the predominantly agricultural and petroleum based interior. To make things even more interesting, this happened in possibly the bluest state in the union. It will be fascinating to see what happens now that California Republicans are an obsolete party in the state with virtually no influence in the state legislature.

[jek74]

Originally Posted by War Beagle

This is an interesting point. California is the epitome of the huge and growing gulf between the rich and the poor in the country. There is extreme wealth concentrated along the coast and a lot of poverty in the predominantly agricultural and petroleum based interior. To make things even more interesting, this happened in possibly the bluest state in the union. It will be fascinating to see what happens now that California Republicans are an obsolete party in the state with virtually no influence in the state legislature.

What's worse is that the huge tax base that was the defense industry has all but left CA. That's where the middle class was hiding for decades out there. Now in Cali you are either making films or slinging crack rock. Not much inbetween. Pretty sad really because the state really is beautiful.

[newton22]

The drama between California and Texas residents is ridiculous.

No one ever thinks of it as Americans from one part of the country moving to another part of the country anymore. Instead, it's a constant mindset of our state vs. their state.

Domestic migration built this country. The understated desire to keep Texas, Texas and to keep the other Americans out is absolutely ass-backwards and does nothing to help advance a country that is now struggling against other economic powerhouses overseas.

So much for southern hospitality.

[JoshRall]

Originally Posted by Prairieparson

I'm not the least bit shocked. I'm actually surprised there weren't more. Why? Terribly high cost of living for the average middle class guy. About 10 years ago, I knew a guy who said that in the LA area where his job was, a basic house of 300,000 was still in a bad area with drug dealers on the street.
A lady I knew was offered a job transfer from Texas to Calif. Not much pay increase. She said to maintain the same standard of living in Ca. vs. Tex. she would have to make 55% more income just to break even. Texas has affordable living, many very low crime cities with affordable housing, and plenty of jobs.

These are NOT all TRUE.

(1) California has MUCH LOWER crime than Texas. To be more specific, Los Angeles/ Orange County has MUCH MUCH Lower crime than Houston/ Sugar Land/ Baytown metro area.

(2) Property tax in Texas is 2-4%. Property tax in CA is around 1%.

(3) For most people (income $30k - 90k), you pay $250 - $600 for State income tax, that is $7,200/ year. So, REALLY, you 'only' need to be paid $7200 more per year to even it out. BUT, look at my point (2). You are paying $6 for a BigMac in LA; you also pay $6 for a BigMac in TX. Right?

(4) Quality of life in CA is overall MUCH higher than in TX (weather, beach front).

(5) Road and freeway condition in LA/ OC is MUCH better than those in Houston. Look at the roads around Tx Med Center.

But yea, red tape is chewing up Californians though.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by marcopolo2000

I'm sure a large percentage of California transplants actually have Texas roots. During California's boom years, alot of Texans fled west. This is especially true for African Americans who fled racist, Jim Crow Texas for more opportunities in California. I welcome the influx of Californians. Perhaps it will help balance the pull of all of the right-wing nutjobs that call Texas home so that the state can evolve into a more tolerant, open-minded place.

I don't know where those Texans fled to in CA. I have been here 3 years and have not met ONE!

We don't have real BBQ here either.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by TVC15

I don't know where those Texans fled to in CA. I have been here 3 years and have not met ONE!

51k Texans move to California every year on average. Its just outnumbered by the amount of Californians moving to Texas which numbers about 70k on average.

[nana053]

This has been posted before, but it is fun

American Migration [Interactive Map] - Forbes

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by justme02

51k Texans move to California every year on average. Its just outnumbered by the amount of Californians moving to Texas which numbers about 70k on average.

They all must have moved to So Cal. I have not met one up here in Nor Cal.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by TVC15

They all must have moved to So Cal. I have not met one up here in Nor Cal.

I believe thats probably right. I know lots of Texans that live in LA, Orange County, and San Diego. Even I split my time between the two. I have a house in Plano and a condo on the West side of LA. Im going to be working in LA during the week and flying back to Texas on the weekends 2-3 weeks a month starting next year.

Theres a very close relationship between Texas and California even though the two but heads from time to time.

[14Bricks]

Great more communist moving here from California. They'll turn this state blue and destroy it like they did to California. We'll have to pay high taxes to live in a sh*t hole state.