I should have a bunch more info available next week, but for now there's a lot of useful relocation info *here* and *here*. As for property taxes [no WY state income tax!] there's both state and local taxes:
Wyoming is one of the 38 states that collect property taxes at both the state and local levels. As in most states, local governments collect far more. Wyoming's localities collected $411,395,000 in property taxes in fiscal year 2000, the latest year for which the Census Bureau has published state-by-state data. That amounts to $833 per capita in taxes, or if measured as a percentage of income, $31 per $1,000 of income. Wyoming's local property taxes are 22nd highest in the nation by the per capita measure and 18th highest as a percentage of income. At the state level, Wyoming collected $101,396,000 in property taxes during FY 2000, making its combined state/local property taxes $512,791,000. That brings its per capita collection to $38 (ranked 12th nationally).
I'd still have to do some calculations and see what would net us the best, financially. When we went to Texas last year, we ended up paying more in taxes because the combination of property taxes in Corpus was so high (believe it or not, we paid less in CA combining state income tax and property tax!) But other than that, I know Wyoming would be a great place to live, both demographically and with the beauty of the state.
Hey archy,
One more advantage to living in a state with no state income tax occured to me as I was adding up some sales tax receipts to deduct them in lieu of state income tax. You guys get to deduct your sales taxes AND pay no income tax. As long as the IRS rule is extended, it's a great deal!