I'd bet my average utility bills in any of those 4 "best" states would be more than my mortgage payment, instead of averaging around $150 a month.
I can't speak to your bills, but having lived for thirty years in different parts of Florida and having lived for the past twelve (and my first eleven) in Massachusetts, I can only say that here I can have my windows open more of the year than you'd expect, so instead of year-round air conditioning, I can enjoy fresh air, and have lower utility bills cumulatively. That fresh air is a lot easier to breathe, too, since the humidity is lower most of the year. It's lovely.
My tee-shirt, short and sandal budget wouldn't buy a winter coat or a reasonable supply of winter underwear, and I'm highly unlikely to slip and fall in my driveway and become a corpsicle before somebody digs me out in the spring.
I'm in a sort of unique position, because I'm only 52, but because of medical issues, my doctors have said my body is twenty years older and I have some of the problems that the elderly have. I had them back when I lived in Florida as well. And in Florida, my life was much, much harder. There were fewer resources and even the best doctors had no experience with my particular challenges, while I have the pick of doctors here who understand it.
Yep, my driveway does get icy sometimes, but if my husband isn't home, a neighbor will be there for me and there are programs that can help me with that. Plus, as much of a mess as I am physically, I can scatter snow melt or salt ahead of me when I go someplace if it's just icy. Some winters it doesn't even snow, but I don't mind when it does. Unlike the places I lived in Florida, there is also public transportation for the disabled that takes me from door-to-door, with a trained assistant walking me. They do have some of those programs in Florida, but nothing as comprehensive and helpful as what I have here (I've checked).
I already know that if something happened to my husband, as young as I am, I would need help, and having realized that, I checked out my options. I have been looking into them for my mother-in-law, who lives in Homosassa, though she has children who would take her in. She just wanted to know what was out there, both in her area and where she grew up (Ft. Lauderdale) and where one child is living (St. Pete). I have better options here. More programs that would help me stay in my home. Better and more appealing housing options. Some cities here even have programs in which the city comes and shovels and de-ices that driveway you worry about slipping on.
I guess it does cost a bit of money to have clothes for different seasons, but we don't pay sales tax on them and I haven't noticed it costing very much at all. Actually, because we traveled, I had a winter coat and snow boots when I moved here. I need fewer shorts and tank tops here, so there's a little savings there, but it's really not a big deal either way. And to see snow and autumn leaves, to look around to see what is blooming today (lilacs! tulips! hydrangea!) rather than having the same old things mostly. I love seeing the brook near my house freeze over and thaw, wait for my first glimpse of the swans (though I sometimes see them in the dead of winter--even our swans are hardy). I live on the beach and walk it most of the year, though I have to wait until spring for the clam shacks and ice cream shops down the shore at the public beach to open, and boy, do I enjoy them when I can.
Seeing the changes of season happen gives me so much pleasure. I had a hard time living without that. When we moved to Orlando from Boca Raton, I was thrilled that we had one tree in our yard that dropped its leaves, but it was a poor, poor substitute for four seasons.
Yeah, you have to be tough to live in a cold climate. I like the effect that has on the population, frankly.
Even my native Floridian husband--he had never lived anywhere but Florida until we moved here in 2002--loves it and would never go back to Florida. We don't even like to visit. I won't go into our reasons because clearly you love it, but I love my state, too and have a better life here, especially as someone with medical challenges, many of which are found in the elderly population. It's not one of the top states listed for retirement in that list, but it has been on others, and I can understand why.
