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As another poster has already mentioned, the term "rich" is inexorably linked to geographic location.

I left work about 7 years ago to raise the kids. My husband is a policeman here on Long Island. He makes a nice salary (over the $92K mark) and knows it.

HOWEVER, the average house price has skyrocketed here, and I dare you to find a house -- even a teeny tiny one -- in a decent neighborhood for less than $250K (that's a VERY conservative estimate; it's more like $325K). Add to that the extraordinary taxes (we pay just shy of $10K/year in PROPERTY TAXES ALONE for a 4 BR Cape on 1/3 acre) and WHAMMO! that $92K is whittled down to approximately $50K for a family of four. Not exactly rollin' in the dough. In our case, we are paying an extra hit for Catholic school tuition, because we refuse to subject our children to the nonsense in the (very expensive) public schools.

All that being said, the SECOND my husband can retire in about 7 years, we will leave NY for good. People are absolutely insane trying to retire on Long Island. It just ain't worth the $$$.

Regards,

HOWEVER, the average house price has skyrocketed here, and I dare you to find a house -- even a teeny tiny one -- in a decent neighborhood for less than $250K (that's a VERY conservative estimate; it's more like $325K). Add to that the extraordinary taxes (we pay just shy of $10K/year in PROPERTY TAXES ALONE for a 4 BR Cape on 1/3 acre) and WHAMMO! that $92K is whittled down to approximately $50K for a family of four. Not exactly rollin' in the dough. In our case, we are paying an extra hit for Catholic school tuition, because we refuse to subject our children to the nonsense in the (very expensive) public schools.

Man, that's high. In contrast, I'm sitting in a 1750 sq. ft. ranch, with 2 car garage on 1/2 acre that would sell for around $170K. Taxes are $1400/year. Your cost of living is outragious - way more than one should have to pay.

All that being said, the SECOND my husband can retire in about 7 years, we will leave NY for good. People are absolutely insane trying to retire on Long Island. It just ain't worth the $$$.

I certainly don't blame you. Take that hefty capital gain from the house and move out of the big city - you'll not have a house payment again.

You cannot find a decent 50's 3-bedroom 1 bath in a decent (not gang-infested) neighborhood anywhere in the Los Angeles basin for less than $500K. My parents bought their home, miles from town at that time, in 1960 for $15K and thought it was expensive. Their home is now closing in on $2 million in a prime neighborhood. Same home. It's been remodeled a few times though.