To restate your goal: It is to be able to easily afford to raise a family. The 250K is all relative. If you still think you need $250, search for the Highest

To restate your goal: It is to be able to easily afford to raise a family. The 250K is all relative. If you still think you need $250, search for the Highest COL area, (like switzerland etc) and get a job there. If you desire to raise a family, then I would recommend 1) find a low Cost Of Living area and try to find a job there. You will take a paycut, but try to make it loss less than the COL delta. 2) when comparing COL be sure to plug in what you really spend money on. Back 25 years ago I was going to move from Orlando to Raleigh, but the company offer said the COL delta was enough of a raise (10%). Researching the data used, it was true, if I smoked 2 packs and drank a quart of whiskey each and every day. Otherwise the cost of living was equal. 3) Re examine what you think you need to raise a family and what you really need. If you do, you will find you can live on a lot less. <soap box time> Over the years people talk about this person or that person being rich. And how they need to pay more in. Odds are if you are reading this, you are rich. If your choice each day is: what do I want to eat, followed by where can I find that food - then you are rich. If your plan is to eat something at home, or maybe buy at the store and then fix it at home - then you are middle class. If you are not sure if you can afford to eat, and not because you are too lazy to get the food - then you are poor. <end soap box>