I expected NM to be in the top 5. I was off by 1. The disparity is amazing. I don't know how anyone can afford to own a house here... even the "wealthy." And for us, the working class, home ownership is almost an impossibility. While home prices have been dropping everywhere else, here they are pretty steady. A 1400 sq. ft. house sold for $105,000 just 5 years ago; now it's going for $150,000 to $160,000.

Sales tax is high (6.875%) and even medical prodedures are taxed! I've had a lot of dental work lately and am paying "through my teeth" between the base price and the sales tax.

Whatever you do don't move to Cali. Same house here will cost you >350k in a marginal neighborhood. Sales tax=7.75%. Best gas=4.10/gal. You live in an affordable area.

Dallas is more like Cali than NM--same house, $210 in marginal neighborhood, about $300 in a better neighborhood. Sales tax 8.25%. We get a slight break on gas; it hasn't hit $4 yet but it's headed there.