Arizona vs California: Why is everyone moving to Arizona?
Every day, hundreds of people pack their bags and set out to make the Great Canyon state their new home. Arizona draws in migrants from New York, Nevada, Utah, and of course, California. This prompts us to ask an often ignored, albeit very important question: why is everyone moving to Arizona?
In this post, we’ll cover the trend of Californians moving to Arizona and juxtapose the perks of living in Arizona vs California in this ultimate Arizona vs California guide.
We’ll start with the cost of living in Arizona vs California.
Arizona vs California cost of living
Cost of living in Arizona
The cost of living in Arizona is relatively fair. With median home prices at just over 380,000, and the average grocery prices being considerably less than the rest of the country, it is no wonder that people are relocating to Arizona to grab a hold of this opportunity. Two cities, Tuscon and Mesa are noted to be some of the most affordable places to live in the US, and the tax rates offered in Arizona make the deal even sweeter.
Arizona state tax rate
Arizona state tax rates are 2.59%, 3.34%, 4.17%, and 4.50% depending on a number of variables. Additionally, a study conducted by Bloomberg concluded that Arizona’s tax rates are much more favorable than that of California. In fact, income taxes in California are twice as high as those in Arizona.
California, for example, has a state sales tax of 7.25%, while it is only 6.60% in Arizona. Similarly, the property tax per capita is set at $1,449 in California while it is only $1,043 in Arizona. Speak about tax incentive.
California vs Arizona weather
The weather in California is partly cloudy all year round, this is a sharp contrast to Arizona’s almost constant happy, sunny weather. The summers in California are wet and humid while those in Arizona are hot and dry, and in the winter months, California can get really cold and snowy.
Although it does get cold (and sometimes even snowy) during the winter months in Arizona, especially around the settlements resting on higher elevations, the climate warms up fairly quickly, and in the southern part of Arizona, the rains might set in from the end of December through to February.
California vs Arizona housing market
The median home price in California is a whopping $800,000! Arizona’s median home price of about $385,000 is pocket change in comparison to this rate. In addition, estate taxes and other affiliated estate fees in California far exceed the amount required of you to pay in Arizona.
The verdict is simple – if you would like more house space for less money spent, choose Arizona.
Arizona vs California jobs
The job market in Arizona is booming. With an influx of giants in major sectors like technology and retail, we’re bound to see thousands of new job opportunities created within the next couple of years.
Additionally, with all the revamping and renovations going on, construction has become another huge sector to look out for. That is in addition to the state’s rich mining history.
Arizona time vs California time
If you’re planning on making a move from California to Arizona, then you need not worry about being thrust into a drastically different timezone, as even though there are many time zones, Arizona is generally only about an hour ahead of California.
Arizona vs California – our verdict
The decision of which to choose between Arizona vs California lies with you. Financially, moving to Arizona may be a smart decision to make for your pockets, however, the ultimate choice, however lies with you, and while we cannot make that decision for you, we can help you get in touch with the best real estate agent around Arizona to help you with your move.
With over 20 years of sales experience, Tammy is a full-time realtor, with the HomeSmart at the Scottsdale, AZ branch, who specializes in assisting buyers and sellers with their real estate needs in the Southeast Valley of Phoenix, and she sure can help you too.
Call her at (480)-848-7173 today.