Dream State

[woad_yurt]

TN exceeds all of your qualifications except the one about the school system. But, as someone who has taught in the public school system here, my view about the quality of education may be biased. Yes, I have my gripes but they may be the same gripes had by teachers in other states, things such as administrative red tape, for example.

All of your other requirements are definitely met, however. I'm near Fort Campbell on the KY/TN border and it's nice here. The cost of living is low, low, low compared to the rest of the country, land is available and cheap, gun laws are really reasonable and property tax is way down on the scale. There's no state income tax but the sales tax is 9.75%, which kinda bites. But, the KY border is 5 miles from me so I would buy any big ticket items there.

My one criticism: A lack of arts and entertainment. For a show, play or concert, one has to go to Nashville, about 45 minutes' drive.

 

[lab28143]

Virginia, all the way

 

[rustcat]

Im just going to throw plano or allen Tx out there

 

[HoosierQ]

I vote Indiana.

1. Great gun laws.
2. Great colleges...public school not so great at all...but good colleges.
3. Lot's of hunting...deer, turkey, squirrel, mushroom
4. Fishing is so-so.
5. Hiking is so-so.
6. Skiing...nope.
7. Boating...considering the lack of really fabulous bodies of water, boating here is huge.
8. Weather is warm in summer but cold in winter...real 4-season climate.
9. Cost of living is just about the lowest in the USA.
10. We've got a big city (#13 in size) that is cheap to live in...which means there are jobs here.