Retiring to the PNW?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

So how much is the tax in Oregon on your CalPers? There is no sales tax in Oregon...that has to count for something.

I live half in the OC and half in So Oregon and we get 200 days of sunshine annually. The weather here is better than So Cal in my opinion. We got a big ass airport at Medford that we fly out of and plenty of medical facilities.

My wife and I like to motorcycle (street and dirt), hang out by the river, do wine tasting and craft beer tasting...and eat well.

Your wife has Ashland history, no?

She grew up in Ashland, lived in Portland +20 years, OR. income tax is ~7.73 dunno for sure if that related to pension or what.

[Porsche-poor]

Sequim was a joke based on the comment of LA rain.

My advice after being born in Salem, Oregon raised in Bend and living in Tacoma for the past 27 years would be to visit the area if possible three times. Fall/spring, winter and summer. That way you can get a general idea of what to expect.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Scanned the tread and seems like a left out a huge factor...
We will be living off my CalPERS pension (we still plan on getting part time jobs).
WA does not tax pensions.
Other states without pension tax:
Alabama = too humid
Alaska = too cold
Florida = too humid
Mississippi = too humid
Nevada = too dry/hot
New Hampshire = too cold
Pennsylvania = too cold
South Dakota = too cold
Tennessee = too humid
Texas = too hot/humid
Washington
Wyoming = too cold

Spokane looks GREAT (hope you don't mind but I copied your pics to email to my wife.
When I suggested Spokane she quipped "it is out in the middle of nowhere" but I suspect she has never visited the town.

Whidby Island looks fantastic... if we really want to get away from it all... not much there for medical or airport.

WA zero income tax is nice for sure. So is OR no sales tax.

Probably worth looking at effective state tax rate at the income type (ordinary income, dividend, capital gains) and level expected in retirement. In some cases, the difference between a state with no income tax and a state with income tax but no sales tax may be minimal or even favor the latter.

[jyl]

Average WA sales tax (state + local) is 8.9%.

OR income tax on income up to $125K (after deducting federal income tax paid) is 9%. That's on ordinary income, I didn't look up rules on capital gains/dividends.

Presumably, in retirement your spending basically equals your income.

So I'm not sure why there will be any tax related reason to favour one state or another, for many retirees.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by jyl

Presumably, in retirement your spending basically equals your income.

So I'm not sure why there will be any tax related reason to favour one state or another, for many retirees.

In a sales tax state, we don't pay sales tax on:

Insurance payments
Property Tax
House payment
car payment
IRS
IRA contribution
SS deduction
Most Ebay (online) purchases
Investments
Health insurance
Food
Fuel
Vehicle registration

In the mid '80's, my parents moved from Sequim to Oregon to be near my sister and avoid certain WA taxes.....10 years later they moved back totally due to Oregon's high property Tax and their income tax.....YMMV.....

[J P Stein]

I live in WA near the Columbia River and have for the last 40ish years. The "sun days" are more than double than the Seattle area......but ,yup, it rains here.....generally the winters are mild, but I've had 2 feet of snow in the front yard.

Not a bad spot.......but full.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by J P Stein

I live in WA near the Columbia River and have for the last 40ish years. The "sun days" are more than double than the Seattle area......but ,yup, it rains here.....generally the winters are mild, but I've had 2 feet of snow in the front yard.

Going by your sig you are in Vancouver WA. just over the bridge from Portland?

I actually like rain, and figure I can dress for cold/snow... it is just the "sun days" that worry me (growing up with 300 'sun days' )

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

She grew up in Ashland, lived in Portland +20 years, OR. income tax is ~7.73 dunno for sure if that related to pension or what.

After that statement, unless she did not like Ashland, I think you are going to end up in Medford!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by madmmac

After that statement, unless she did not like Ashland, I think you are going to end up in Medford!

Good guess but no...
Per my wife "Summers in the Rogue River Valley are WAY too hot!

I think all things being equal she would rather live in Vancouver, WA., she still has some friends in Portland.

I think me pushing for 'sun days' is the only thing pushing us up north.

I have to do more research but my impression is just north of Seattle you get more rain but more 'sun days'.

I can sit in the house in front of the fire with a cat and a good book if it is pounding down rain... no biggie.

[madmmac]

North of Seattle to Everett is the convergence zone. More rain and wind and if the conditions are right, a lot more snow.

In Bellingham, you get another convergence zone with the Frazier River canyon outflow. Can get some really cold blasts, wind and heavy snow where 20 miles away gets nothing.

Shelton, Belfair along the Hood Canal have their own micro climate with cold air getting trapped there and then the snow dumps just in that area.

It is a weather man's nightmare calling western Wa weather. Though the computer models have gotten much better as of late.

[ledhedsymbols]

Skagit Valley FTW

[ledhedsymbols]

That's what I call it!

Mount Vernon is known locally as Mount Vermin.

[scottmandue]

You guys make my head hurt!

Looking like I will end up in Vancouver for the lack of any other better ideas.

[jyl]

WA is a shall issue CCW state . . . :-)

[Charles Freeborn]

The general wisdom is if you're still working you live in WA ( no income tax) and shop in OR (no sales tax). If you're retired/ fixed income you live in OR. And visit WA, but spend as little there as possible. YMMV, and those are really general guidelines. Personally if you want services within walking distance, east side Portland is the only choice.

[jhc]

I have been an east coast person my adult life and like others have fantasized about moving/retiring to the PNW. I've been to Washington state a few times and but don't want to live in the boonies and Seattle does not really appeal. Vancouver would be my number one choice but it has gotten way too expensive and I don't want to emigrate.
This past summer I finally managed to visit Oregon and not only is it stunningly beautiful Portland is still affordable and very livable. Some pictures:

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Going by your sig you are in Vancouver WA. just over the bridge from Portland?

I actually like rain, and figure I can dress for cold/snow... it is just the "sun days" that worry me (growing up with 300 'sun days' )

Ayup , over the river.
When I moved to Clark County (1975) there were 125k folks living in the whole county. Now there are close to half a million.....like I said, we're full.

[RF5BPilot]

One thing about the PNW is that flights down the CA coast (SF/LA/SD) - are cheap, short & plentiful.

Big weekend migrations from Seattle in Feb to catch some warmth & sun in southern CA....and they don't cost a lot.

Probably applies to Phoenix & Las Vegas as well.

[LakeCleElum]

Nothing to see in Washington, move along:

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/15-reasons-washington-state-worst?ref=fb

[Nordwest]

^^^^ Yeah, This place really sucks.^^^^

Dave