Originally Posted by vesteroid

If you are looking for total cost of living, instead of just taxes, then that copled with the rest of your desires says Reno nv to me.

I live here now, and the climate is exactly what you describe in the valley. It gets snow down here but it's weird, it will snow to beat the band, and 4 hours later warm up and melt off. I think the longest time I have seen snow on the ground in the valley(roads) was maybe two days.

It doesnt get exeremely cold in the winters...teen and single digits are rare. I would bet. Last days highs in the valley are over 30 in the winter. In the summer it maybe gets to 100 3 days a year, but the great thing is it still gets in the mid 60s each night...so hiking, biking, etc are easy in the morning or late evenings all summer.

Its dry here, it rarely rains from
late June through October.

Does get windy in late fall, and most of the winter and early spring.

Outdoor activities are almost limitless. You name it, you can do it within an hour of here. In about 30 minutes you can be deep,in the sierras and easily over 9000 feet if thats your thing.

So many ski resorts I can't even name them all and the season usually runs from thanksgiving to mid April or later

Housing is dirt cheap right now, and taxes are coming down with th housing prices...it's still a buyers market.

Its big enough to have all the basic amenities, without having all the crime and traffic. You can get from one end of town to the other in 15-20 minutes most anytime.

Easy access to California if you want more than you can find here

Since you have no issues with jobs or schools,I highly recommend you check it out.