As someone who was born here, went to school here, and left here…. Then came back a decade later, I can say that finances were why I left… Specifically job opportunities and cost of housing.
And quality of life and family is why I came back.
Back in 1990 when I left, the defense industry was totally collapsing. That impacted engineering jobs. Qualcomm had like 100 employees – it was a start up. There were more jobs elsewhere.
And back in 1990 – a starter condo in mission valley was starting to hit closer to $150k… And salaries were pretty low – so that was a stretch. I wondered if I’d ever be able to buy.
Taxes were not on my radar. Jobs and home prices were totally the driving factors.
Fast forward more than a decade and I’d built up equity elsewhere. I had sticker shock on house prices when I moved back in 2001 – but not enough to keep me from moving back. Quality of life was a driving factor. Wanting my kids to grow up going to the beach, having year round outdoor activity, being close to my side of the family.
Taxes were not on my radar returning either. Things are a trade off. Taxes are a little higher here – but medical insurance is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper here than Pennsylvania. Childcare is more expensive here, but I can roll more of my PTO per year here. Lots of pros and cons. Taxes were not in the mix.
