But no matter what area of the country, there are pockets of depressed incomes. Palm Beach still has it's share - think of the people who work for the mega-rich cleaning their houses and servicing their other needs.
I am from Seattle, and as much as I would like to return, I can no longer afford to live there. Outlying areas in my price range are too far to commute. Even Everett, where my family lives now, is being taxed into oblivion, so should my mom leave me her house, I would liquidate after selling all the old growth timber. Then perhaps I could move to Index, or Mt Vernon, but that puts me into harsher environs. Farmers and dairys are struggling everywhere, and in the SW corner of WA you undoubtedly have pockets of poverty, or official government definition of poverty. It is everywhere. NC outside of Asheville is gorgeous, but a summertime area for tourists. Go there in the winter, talk to the people, they will tell you. I spent 4 weeks up there talking to locals and they all pretty much told me I needed to have my own business year round if I expected to make it up there. I don't think SA qualifies at this time either, leaving me in FL until the market changes. Can't always go by per capita - the rich bring the poor to levels they aspire and don't reach. |
