📉 California: A Political Engine Profiting from Your Payroll
California’s onerous tax burden is among the many reasons people are fleeing and moving to Texas.
While young couples strive to save and build a life, California’s politicians are ramping up taxes, fees, and spending—on your dime.
🔥 Government Spending vs. Real World Impact
Since 2012, California’s general fund budget has soared from $95 B to $211 B—a rise of $116 B.
How was it financed?
🚗 Higher gas taxes
🎫 Ballooning vehicle registration costs
🛒 Increased sales/use taxes
📈 Progressive income tax bracket creep
🏫 Parcel taxes, bond measures at the local level
And the result? Government bureaucracy gets bigger—while housing stays out of reach, roads degrade, schools falter, and young families feel squeezed.
| 📍 Region | 💰 Median Income | 🏡 Median Home Price | 📉 Income Gap for Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| California (statewide) | ~$95,500 | ~$850K–$880K | ❌ Unaffordable at median income |
| San Francisco | ~$136,700 | ~$1.45M–$1.5M | ❌ ~$40K income shortfall |
| San Jose | ~$183,550 | ~$1.53M | ⚠️ Barely qualifies (little buffer) |
| Los Angeles | ~$80,366 | ~$900K | ❌ ~$100K shortfall |
| San Diego | ~$104,320 | ~$910K–$1M | ❌ ~$75K shortfall |
📈 California affordability trackers show that monthly payments for a mid-tier home reached $5,900/month—up 82% since 2020lao.ca.gov+1zillow.mediaroom.com+1. To qualify, you'd need $234 K/year—more than double the median income.
The math just doesn't add up—and it’s by design.
🧨 Cost of Living: What California Legislators Leave Out
MIT (2024) estimates a living-wage for a single adult in CA: $99,763, or 30.6% higher than in Texas ($73,609)—primarily driven by housing costs that are 58% higherinvestopedia.com.
In California, renters or first-time buyers must commit 67–78% of household income to median-priced homesnbcphiladelphia.com
🏠 Texas: A Real Alternative—Not Just Hope
Texas housing snapshot:
Median home price: $307K–$340Ktrerc.tamu.edu
Median household income:
Dallas County: $74,149mysanantonio.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3
Harris County: $73,104en.wikipedia.org
Statewide: ~$64,034en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1
Affordable-income pairings:
McAllen (median home price $204,499; income $56,655) ranked No. 1 best market for first-time buyersen.wikipedia.org+6expressnews.com+6trerc.tamu.edu+6mysanantonio.com+1expressnews.com+1
Killeen ($253K/$74,976) ranked No. 3mysanantonio.com
Princeton, TX (near Dallas): fastest growth, median list $337Kmysanantonio.com+1nypost.com+1
Even in Dallas, the required income to afford median home (>$127K) is close to actual median—significantly more realistic than Californiamysanantonio.com+2axios.com+2financialsamurai.com+2.
✅ Why Taxes + Real Estate + Family Planning Just Don’t Mix in California
You pay more taxes for a bloated government—but see little in return.
Home prices outpace incomes, making family formation near impossible.
Living costs (gas, groceries, childcare) far exceed wage growth.
Your money—your future—is being drained by policy, not invested in your family's security.
✨ Texas: Where the Equation Makes Sense
Homeownership is within reach on realistic incomes
No state income tax + lower property/sales costs
You can buy equity—not pay rent, start a family in a house with a yard
Savings translate to college funds, retirement plans, and peace of mind
🔑 Final Takeaway
California’s political leaders haven’t just failed working families—they’re actively taxing them out of the housing market.
Texas offers the escape hatch provides young families a practical path to build wealth, raise children, and plan for the future—without sacrificing sanity, safety, or economic stability.
If you're ready to translate frustration into opportunity, send me a message and let's explore possibilities for your future—not Sacramento's.
