Moving from Massachusetts to California is a very big transition; a 3,100 mile transition. While MA has a population of 6.66 million, it doesn’t even come close to comparing with CA’s population of 38.1 million. The majority of the population in CA is under 20 years old, while the majority of the population in MA is 45-65 years old.
Taxes
Both Massachusetts and California are on the Top 10 States with the Highest Tax Burden list. Massachusetts is #8 with an income tax of 10.4%, while California is all the way up at #4 with an income tax of 11.2%. It may seem surprising that Massachusetts is below California, since it is also known as “Taxachusetts.” However, in 1980, MA enacted a very strict 2.5% property tax cap that limits town’s property tax levy to increase 2.5% per year.
Registering
To register a vehicle in California, you’ll need present proof of ownership, a smog certificate, an ID, car insurance, an application for Title or Registration, and pay a $46 registration fee, a $23 CHP fee, title fees, and taxes. Residents are required to register their vehicles within 20 days of establishing residency. In order to be registered to vote in California, you’ll need a California ID, the last four digits of your social security number, and your date of birth. The deadline to register is the 15th calendar day before the election.
Job Opportunities
The unemployment rate has dropped from 8.5% in 2013, to 6.9% in 2015. In January 2013 alone, job openings grew by approximately 36,500. Some of the fastest-growing occupations in CA are biomedical engineers, home and personal health aides, carpenter and mason helpers, market research analysts, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and medical scientists.
Weather
Since CA is such a long state that spans from the top to the bottom of the US, the weather varies from hot desert to subarctic. The ocean strongly influences the temperature extremes, creating warmer winters and cooler summers in coastal areas. The northern regions have a moderately oceanic climate and receive a higher rainfall than the southern regions. Further inland, the climate becomes more continental with colder winters and hotter summers.
Boston, MA vs. San Francisco, CA
• Consumer prices in CA are 14.62% higher than in MA
• Rent prices in CA are 65.26% higher than in MA
• Restaurant prices in CA are 7.45% higher than in MA
• Groceries prices in CA are 26.45% higher than in MA
• Local purchasing power in CA is 22.17% lower than in MA