Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 08:53     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My financial advisor tells me I need to move out of Maryland/Montgomery County in retirement because of the tax burden. I understand this in theory but why move to a place with no culture and away from my children just to save on taxes? Is this standard practice? Has anyone here done this and been happy? Where did you go?


A) do you really think that the only place(s) with lower taxes have no culture?
B) how do you know your children will stay here?


I hope they mean the culture they are used to is here. Because, I can assure you that the arts culture in the Triangle area of NC (meaning the music created there, artists who live and work there in visual arts, ceramics, writing, etc.) is far more prolific than that of the DC area where artists can't afford to live.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 08:37     Subject: Re:Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I agree with the poster who says there is a miniscule difference once the cost of moving/realtor/closing costs are factored in. Also, my very experienced and highly regarded CPA does not agree with my FA. He says Florida is worth moving to if you make a million dollars every year (not just one time). BTW I don't make a million ever.

We looked at Suburban Philly (to have doctors and stuff to do) but the real estate taxes are higher than Maryland. There is also a school tax. They get you somehow it seems.

presumably you would get a smaller place when you retire and move, so even if the tax rate is higher, your overall property tax may be lower than here.

PA does not tax retirement income from IRA/401ks.

We are planning to move out of MD in a few years due to the high taxes and miserable weather. I'm actually thinking of socal where my family are and where I'm originally from. While the sales tax, gas, and overall property values are higher than here, at least I get year round great weather. Also, CA does not reassess property values every few years, unlike MD. Our property taxes have gone up significantly since we moved here 10+ years ago.

I looked at the income tax band, and CA actually has a lower income tax rate for our expected income in retirement compared to MD because every county in MD has income tax. Sales tax where I'm looking at is 7.75% - not that different to MD.

I"m basically buying the great weather. I'm happy to pay for great weather. What am I paying for in MD when I retire? I don't need good schools.

CA has good medical care, too. My elderly parents live there just fine on a fixed income. I'm not worried about earthquakes (I've already lived through a big one there before). The fires may be an issue, but we will probably be moving to an area that won't get fires but may get the smoke.

The only thing that worries me is the water issue. But, I lived in CA for 40+ years and lived through several droughts. I think we will be ok. We'll get solar panels (year round sun) and rain barrels.

I can't stand MD anymore. I need to get out.


OP here. Unfortunately, I grew up in MD and my roots are here. I don't want a significantly smaller place. At least this isn't New Jersey.

? ok, then stay in MD?

For some of us, we don't need to stay in MD for family, nor do we think MD is the only cultural center.

MD is a high tax state. There are plenty of other places that have "culture", and better weather to boot.

The better question is: Why would one stay in MD if not for family and work?

For peace and if you love your home/lot and have the means, then there are people willing to pay a premium for it. My current home backs to a park that has protective designations assigned to it. That doesn’t mean that a data center or casino will never disrupt the peace and tranquility that I currently have, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. I can still go into DC and travel to gather all the culture and activities that my heart can hold. As a retired older person, I feel like I will value my peace even more than I do now.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 17:20     Subject: Re:Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to move whe yo uretire, as opposed to now? Most people have lower income in retirement (since they aren't working) so income taxes, which are high in MD, are less of a concern.

The nearest state to here with no state income tax is TN and it's about 8 hours drive from MD to Knoxville, TN. Delaware and PA both do have state income tax.

MD has county income tax everywhere. If you're on a fixed income, that can be a burden.


Or you can move to part of MD with lowest county tax or buy a second place there and use as primary address. MoCo has high county taxes.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 17:19     Subject: Re:Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why would someone move to a place where they didn't know a soul , just to save a few bucks? It could take years to make up the sunk costs of moving as well.

states with no income tax is saving more than a few bucks.


Those states have to get the money from somewhere and it’s usually very high property tax, as well as a higher sales tax that is applied to everything.

Delaware is very tax efficient because the state earns a ton of $$$s from all the incorporation fees for all the companies technically based in DE but no physical presence. That allows them to have no sales tax and fairly low property and income tax.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 17:15     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
In retirement you have way less income till you start RMDs and you could delay SS till 70 if you want. So staying in MoCo makes not much difference.

Or you could move to DE by Beach six months and one day a year and keep your MoCo house.

I may buy a beach condo or smaller home in HOA in the South or near Rehoboth. I am trapped as all my kids are single. None live at home but untill they are married want to pick a place I could actually visit them or then came come to me easily. Since they are all over I need to be near airports and trains which is something DC has going for it.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 17:15     Subject: Re:Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:Why would someone move to a place where they didn't know a soul , just to save a few bucks? It could take years to make up the sunk costs of moving as well.

states with no income tax is saving more than a few bucks.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 17:08     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
Oh man OP-- with your definition of culture there are loads of cheaper places to live with much better restaurants than MOCO and better taxes in retirement. Hell I would put Richmond on your list. Better taxes, less traffic, great restaurants and still close to your kids. It can be as simple as that.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:28     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
If you can afford it, live where you want. Life is about more than pinching every penny.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:26     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not trolling. I am not weird. Culture can be as simple as many interesting dining options for me. True, I saw all museums 10x already and I actually have grown to dislike DC proper. Unless one is rich, the options outside of Maryland are quite boring. Gettysburg PA, no thank you! I really have grown to dislike DCUM as well.


That's a really odd way to define culture...when 99.999% of the rest of us would say we want to be close to the restaurants in Bethesda (I don't really know what other part of Montgomery County you could be referring for restaurants).

Again, Old Town Alexandria or Clarendon / Arlington have the same number (maybe more) and type of restaurants as Bethesda. You are moving...but you aren't really "moving".
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:25     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
I hate posters like OP.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:09     Subject: Re:Moving Out of Maryland
Why would someone move to a place where they didn't know a soul , just to save a few bucks? It could take years to make up the sunk costs of moving as well.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:02     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not trolling. I am not weird. Culture can be as simple as many interesting dining options for me. True, I saw all museums 10x already and I actually have grown to dislike DC proper. Unless one is rich, the options outside of Maryland are quite boring. Gettysburg PA, no thank you! I really have grown to dislike DCUM as well.

yet, here you are ... still on dcum and in MD.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 15:02     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
Anonymous wrote:I would move to follow where my kid settles down.

They can move throughout their career. Are you going to follow them each time?
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 14:58     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
OP here. I am not trolling. I am not weird. Culture can be as simple as many interesting dining options for me. True, I saw all museums 10x already and I actually have grown to dislike DC proper. Unless one is rich, the options outside of Maryland are quite boring. Gettysburg PA, no thank you! I really have grown to dislike DCUM as well.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 14:40     Subject: Moving Out of Maryland
I would move to follow where my kid settles down.