But basically the higher property taxes and additional taxes and fees that Texan's pay on consumption, like energy taxes, end up more than making up for the lack of income tax, unless you're a top 1% earner (which is somewhere around $700k/yr). Energy tax is a big one because Texan's use a lot more energy since they have hotter summers and colder winters.
The question was about a Cupertino homeowner vs what that corresponding homeowner would see in Austin. You're linking an article about the median Californian vs median Texan, which -- even accepting its assumptions -- is only superficially relevant, and very unrepresentative for the comparison under discussion.
Even at the lower rate, the property taxes on the Cupertino house alone dwarf any tax difference they would pay for a comparable lifestyle in Austin [1].
To be blunt, but it looks like you deliberately chose a misleading comparison to push the narrative you already settled on. That's below the standard I've come to expect of your comments.
To which one must add interest if one has a mortgage. It's nuts. Not I'm wondering what the shelter situation is like for the bottom 10% in California vs. Texas. And if affordable shelter == long commute, one has to value that time, and the mileage and gas or public transportation costs, etc.
"About the only Texans who fare better than Californians are the wealthy. The top 1% of earners in Texas — those making $617,900 or more annually — only pay 3.1% of their income in state and local taxes. That compares to a rate of 12.4% for top earners in California, who make $714,400 or more per year."
So if you're a top 1% or more, you save at least 4X in taxes. I'm sure you come out on top in TX financially for the vast majority of people reading this site, $100k+ earners. Everyone I know that moved to Austin from CA did so to avoid paying taxes on cashing out stock options.
https://www.yahoo.com/video/everything-bigger-texas-includin...
But basically the higher property taxes and additional taxes and fees that Texan's pay on consumption, like energy taxes, end up more than making up for the lack of income tax, unless you're a top 1% earner (which is somewhere around $700k/yr). Energy tax is a big one because Texan's use a lot more energy since they have hotter summers and colder winters.