sales tax is 6.5% which is the same as mass. property tax is also lower than the national average, compared to MA like 2% higher than the national average.

I grew up in MA and left for WA at 19. I've lived in WA for 7 years, before moving back to MA over the summer of 2022. I left very shortly after to navigate my way back to the PNW. You can't beat the access you have to the mountains, the ocean, the rainforest, all the national parks. To me its the only place that's ever felt like home-- its not claustrophobic like Massachusetts out here, sometimes, it feels like driving along the coast, or through the Cascades up north or even along the Columbia Gorge on the Western side of the state, that the sky will go on forever, and you'll never run out of room to breathe. I dig the city vibes of Tacoma and Seattle, I love how accessible other gloriously beautiful parts of the west coast are. A 2 day drive to the Redwoods, A 2ish day drive to Glacier NP in Montana, 2 days to Moab, UT.

I'm also wildly into overlanding and 4x4 adventuring and you don't get that out on the east coast.

Also-- no state income tax or vehicle inspection process is a godsend.

However-- I desperately miss good Chinese food and diner food lol.