On the opposite side of the coin Idaho has also maintained a lower unemployment rate currently and historically as well as is much cheaper in cost of living. Wh

On the opposite side of the coin Idaho has also maintained a lower unemployment rate currently and historically as well as is much cheaper in cost of living. While I have lived in both, that is not entirely anecdotal - however in my early career I made much more money by migrating through the desert over to Idaho. The effect of this could be argued that there is not as high of a demand for public assistance and allows for a MUCH lower personal income tax paired with a small sales tax where as Oregon has no sales tax but is around 7% on personal income, Idaho is 1.6%. I'll hold my opinion on California ;)