[HostileTerritory]

And your house costs 3 times as much as mine. The end result is the same.

Nope. 2 family house, bought for $320k in 2000, now assessed at significantly more but nowhere near $750k. My property taxes have gone up from about $2,000 to $3,100.

I couldn't get the kind of house you have in my city. They don't exist. I won't disagree that a few towns further out, that house would go for way more than what you'd pay for it if you're willing and able to live in New Hampshire. The Boston housing market is insane. However, the value is there. Higher incomes and resale value make up for it to some degree. The lifestyle benefits of living near Boston, whether you work there or like the culture, are another factor.

Conversely, you couldn't pay me enough to live in a single-family house in New Hampshire. First, I love all the restaurants, museums, and culture in Boston, and second, I have a good, decent-paying job in a field that doesn't exist outside of New York, Boston, Chicago, and a few other major cities. Different markets, different lifestyles, different needs. There's no good comparison.

I think it's fine that many people find it better for them to live in New Hampshire. The cost of real estate is lower, there's no income tax or sales tax, sure. But it strains credulity to argue that property taxes are lower. We don't spend that much more money than you to make that the case.

For what it's worth, Stow is one of the wealthiest, fastest-growing towns in the state. I don't think it's a fair comparison for taxes.

[Poser]

Two family houses go for about 150K here. That would be between $2K and $3K in taxes. Same as where you live. Don't delude yourself. Your lower tax rate is offset by your higher valuation.