To be honest, speaking as a transplant, it is really great up here. We moved from Austin and haven't regretted it for a second (and the whole family loved Austin too). Instead of having a miserable summer that lasts from April to October, we have a miserable winter that lasts from November to March. Taxes are about par, government is (imho) quite a bit more sane, the job market is broader and deeper, public schools are better, and the scenery is gorgeous when not hidden by clouds.
Can you explain the math here ? If you make $500k, at 9% progressive, it will be like 6% flat with all deductions. So tax will be $30k. Then you take a 10% pay cut. So you are losing $50k. So you lose $50k, and gain $30k. That’s negative $20k. Even if you keep your salary same, your mortgage has to be roughly $2.5k/month. That’s a 1 bedroom condo.