DEN and IAH base (living) comparisons
12-05-2018 | 04:34 AM
#43
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,183
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From: 777, sofa
One more data point: cost of living is going to be the same no matter where you are.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
12-05-2018 | 06:42 AM
#44
Banned
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 0
One more data point: cost of living is going to be the same no matter where you are.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
12-05-2018 | 07:22 AM
#45
Banned
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
One more data point: cost of living is going to be the same no matter where you are.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
I’m not saying Houston is the the greatest place at all. Not even close. But you definitely get WAY MORE bang for your buck living there...in the right county and area. Summers are hot and muggy for sure. But a pool is fun and makes it tolerable. Winters are mild and nice. The base has a ton of variety of flying.
Denver is a much more scenic place to live and summers are awesome. But cost of living is considerably higher. It’s not a “break even” deal as you’re suggesting.
12-05-2018 | 07:33 AM
#46
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
One more data point: cost of living is going to be the same no matter where you are.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
Hang on flamers. Hear me out.
Houston real estate is far less expensive than just about anywhere. I moved from IAH to BOS to HYA and I had major sticker shock. You can't get the kind of houses they build in The Woodlands anywhere up here. And vice versa. The sprawling 3,000 sq ft McMansions just don't exist in Mass in the quantities they have there, and not at all unless you have seven figures to spend.
But you'll pay as much in property taxes on the same $400k house in TX as you do on the $1.2M house in Mass. You'll pay the difference of your mortgage payments on homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and car insurance. You'll have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford the electric bill you'll have to cool that 3,000 sq ft house for nine months out of the year.
You'll pay less per gallon of gas in TX, but you'll spend as much because everything is farther away, and you'll spend more time in your car. With the windows up and the AC on.
MUD tax is Municipal Utility District - your water and sewer. In addition to the metered fee for use, I get an annual MUD tax bill. That just doesn't exist in MA. Or rather, its rolled into other taxes and fees.
Which is my point. You have to pay for public services. Schools, fire, police, roads, libraries, etc. Those things cost pretty much the same from one city to the next, Houston suburb, Dallas suburb, Denver suburb, Boston suburb, etc. You might save some living in the sticks. You might pay more living downtown. But no matter how they divvy up the bill, you still have to pay about the same for the same level of service, pretty much anywhere you go.
12-05-2018 | 08:57 AM
#47
On Reserve
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: UAL CA
If you were hired before 2015, Houston is miserable. The flying is miserable. The traffic is miserable. The cost of living is miserable. The city and surrounding areas are miserable. Don’t come here. Everything is miserable.
For the OP… Houston and its ‘burbs are sprawling. It has every lifestyle you might want within a two hour drive from IAH: downtown/city life, suburb living or rural/farm/lots of land living. I’m here because my wife is from here and all of her family is close by. We moved here after I retired from the military. We live in a planned community in Montgomery County near Lake Conroe, about a 45 minute drive south to IAH employee parking. Between the hours of 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm the drive can be up to a 1+15, either direction. I-45 is terrible most of the time; I normally take the Hardy toll road.
My boy goes to a new high school that just opened its doors this year and my daughter goes to a middle school that was opened three years ago. Generally, the school districts around where I live, Montgomery and Conroe ISDs, are pretty good but there are a few schools within the districts to avoid. My wife is an elementary school teacher at one of those schools.
Everything that we need is within 30 minutes of my house, the furthest stuff being the Woodlands Mall area at the front of the Woodlands. Target, Walmart, groceries, gym, sports bar, craft beer, etc are within 5 miles of my house. My kid’s schools are a 15 minute drive. I haven’t been inside Beltway 8 loop but once in the last year, and that was to go to the airshow at Ellington Field in Oct. The baseball, football and basketball stadiums/arenas are on the south side of Houston and can easily be a 1+30 or greater drive.
Just for reference: Gas is currently around $1.99. Sales tax is 8.25%. No state income tax. In the area that I live, new/newer houses on 0.3-0.4 acres are generally $120-$145 a square foot (It’s higher in the Woodlands). My two story house on 0.4 acres is three years old and is around 4000 sq foot. I pay around 10k a year in property taxes and around 5k a year in MUD tax. The highest my electric bill in 2018 was in August at $287, the cheapest in April at $149. Average for 2018 was $202. It uses gas for heating and appliances, highest was in January at $185, the lowest was $26 in August and average for 2018 $84. Garbage and recycling runs once a week and costs $49 a month. A car and SUV fully insured with a $1000 deductible costs me $160 a month with USAA.
Again, all of that was just for reference. Everybody has different tastes and lifestyles so YMMV. As mentioned before, HAR.com is a pretty good place to start. My biggest hate with the Houston area is there are only two seasons. The summers are brutal hot and humid. The “cold” months, generally from November to April, are fairly mild. It rarely gets below freezing here. And the mosquitos are ginormous.
For the OP… Houston and its ‘burbs are sprawling. It has every lifestyle you might want within a two hour drive from IAH: downtown/city life, suburb living or rural/farm/lots of land living. I’m here because my wife is from here and all of her family is close by. We moved here after I retired from the military. We live in a planned community in Montgomery County near Lake Conroe, about a 45 minute drive south to IAH employee parking. Between the hours of 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm the drive can be up to a 1+15, either direction. I-45 is terrible most of the time; I normally take the Hardy toll road.
My boy goes to a new high school that just opened its doors this year and my daughter goes to a middle school that was opened three years ago. Generally, the school districts around where I live, Montgomery and Conroe ISDs, are pretty good but there are a few schools within the districts to avoid. My wife is an elementary school teacher at one of those schools.
Everything that we need is within 30 minutes of my house, the furthest stuff being the Woodlands Mall area at the front of the Woodlands. Target, Walmart, groceries, gym, sports bar, craft beer, etc are within 5 miles of my house. My kid’s schools are a 15 minute drive. I haven’t been inside Beltway 8 loop but once in the last year, and that was to go to the airshow at Ellington Field in Oct. The baseball, football and basketball stadiums/arenas are on the south side of Houston and can easily be a 1+30 or greater drive.
Just for reference: Gas is currently around $1.99. Sales tax is 8.25%. No state income tax. In the area that I live, new/newer houses on 0.3-0.4 acres are generally $120-$145 a square foot (It’s higher in the Woodlands). My two story house on 0.4 acres is three years old and is around 4000 sq foot. I pay around 10k a year in property taxes and around 5k a year in MUD tax. The highest my electric bill in 2018 was in August at $287, the cheapest in April at $149. Average for 2018 was $202. It uses gas for heating and appliances, highest was in January at $185, the lowest was $26 in August and average for 2018 $84. Garbage and recycling runs once a week and costs $49 a month. A car and SUV fully insured with a $1000 deductible costs me $160 a month with USAA.
Again, all of that was just for reference. Everybody has different tastes and lifestyles so YMMV. As mentioned before, HAR.com is a pretty good place to start. My biggest hate with the Houston area is there are only two seasons. The summers are brutal hot and humid. The “cold” months, generally from November to April, are fairly mild. It rarely gets below freezing here. And the mosquitos are ginormous.
12-05-2018 | 10:29 AM
#48
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Houses in my neighborhood are going for 380-550 a square foot for the most part depending on renovation and lot. I’m in an older neighbor with many homes built in the late 1920’s to 1950’s. That is quite a difference from sub 200 per square foot. Central Austin was even more expensive than BLVD Oaks / Rice/ Museum Area when I sold my home there.
12-06-2018 | 07:52 AM
#49
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 61
Denver was pretty awesome up until a few years ago. Now it’s busy, extremely expensive, and the dynamic is changing with all of the transplants moving in. Absolutely forget skiing on the weekends, unless you’re ok with spending five hours in a a car. Mountain biking and hiking on the front range is excellent, but there are also a lot of idiots trashing the trails with garbage, dog poop bags, and bad trail etiquette.
Finally, unless you’re willing to live way out in Aurora (which sucks), be prepared to spend well over $500k for a starter home. If you want to live somewhere cool like Golden, you’ll spend WAY more and probably be in a bidding war with someone.
I personally couldn’t wait to get out, and sold my house this fall.
Finally, unless you’re willing to live way out in Aurora (which sucks), be prepared to spend well over $500k for a starter home. If you want to live somewhere cool like Golden, you’ll spend WAY more and probably be in a bidding war with someone.
I personally couldn’t wait to get out, and sold my house this fall.
05-27-2023 | 03:57 PM
#50
New Hire
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but this is the closest in relevance I've come to asking this question, especially in regards to the hunting on the first few pages.
Anyone based in DEN ever hear of someone making the drive from Cheyenne, WY? It would be about a 2 hour drive or I assume you could back yourself up with a short regional flight? It seems like it would be doable, within 2 hours of DEN and you get all the glories of being in-state in WY. Far fewer crowds for recreation, as well as WY in-state hunting and fishing. However, the fact that I haven't found a single post on here from somebody living in SE WY makes me think I might be missing something. (It seems fairly similar to DAL pilots I know based out of SEA who live 1.5/2 hours north of SEATAC).
Anyone based in DEN ever hear of someone making the drive from Cheyenne, WY? It would be about a 2 hour drive or I assume you could back yourself up with a short regional flight? It seems like it would be doable, within 2 hours of DEN and you get all the glories of being in-state in WY. Far fewer crowds for recreation, as well as WY in-state hunting and fishing. However, the fact that I haven't found a single post on here from somebody living in SE WY makes me think I might be missing something. (It seems fairly similar to DAL pilots I know based out of SEA who live 1.5/2 hours north of SEATAC).
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