A Washington man says ‘old people’ have this idea that moving to the Midwest to afford a home is the best decision. Even though they think this is the best course of action, they don’t understand that “wages match home prices.” Except moving to the Midwest has its own unique set of problems.
Posted by TikTok user Gabegreenbodybuilding, Gabe, old people are always telling him to move to the Midwest “just to be able to afford a home.” However, he questions them: “What do you expect us to do for work out there?” He asks how you’re supposed to afford that brand new home for $300,000 when you can’t even find the work to support that. As he states, “The wages in that area matches the price of the homes.”
Additionally, this means you might be looking at fewer job opportunities and way to sustain the life you’re now living. Or worse, you’ll get a cushy job and all the extra income is used to commute, making your higher salary null and void. And if you do manage to get a home ‘for cheap,’ and it’s in the middle of nowhere, what good is that home? You’d have to drive miles out of your way just to do anything fun.
It is a fact living in the Midwest means you’ll generally pay lower prices for housing costs. The cost of living in those states is actually much lower than the national average. However, you’re missing the hustle and bustle of any major cities, where people usually go to spend money.
How People Online Reacted to Gabe’s TikTok Video
Gabe’s points on people potentially moving to the Midwest and failing to find work has sparked controversy on his video. Some people agree with his points, while others disagree wholeheartedly. One commenter asked, “Do you think the ‘Midwest’ is just cornfields? There are cities, industry, trades, law firms, hospitals and most other career options.”
Another commenter pointed out, “Then on top of that, there’s literally nothing to do out there except go to Dollar General and Walmart.” And with how tough of a time people are having just getting jobs, they barely have money to spend there. One viewer even brings this up, arguing the Midwest is “expensive as hell” and homes have “quadrupled in price in the last couple years.”
One TikTok user brings up wages in the Midwest, specifically in her area being $7.25 to $14 and hour. With so little income, no one could afford the “wall-to-wall” houses going for “half a mil” in her area. Others argued that a lesser salary in the Midwest means more “purchasing power.” Using NYC for comparison, someone making 60K in the Midwest would have to make 150K in the Big Apple.
Given the response, it’s clear not enough people living in the Midwest feel they’re making enough to afford a home, regardless of others doing better. It doesn’t help that the housing market in the U.S. is in the toilet, too.
