We moved to Durham, NC.
It was a job opportunity for my wife.
Cost of living is a tiny bit higher.
Taxes are quite a bit lower, but I tell you what, in some ways you get what you pay for. The public schools here are pretty shady. And the towns with good schools have very high home prices and higher real estate taxes. My wife works in healthcare, and I work in higher ed, so once our little one becomes school age, we're strongly considering moving back to ROC or Buffalo. We both got great career experience down here we wouldn't have gotten up there, and now we would have a lot easier time finding jobs. The weather may suck, but it's home and we miss it. Plus our son is growing up down here not knowing his grandparents or cousins, and that sucks.
I've lived in two other areas of the country now besides WNY, and I keep feeling drawn back.
So, your mileage may vary, and I would never tell anybody not to see what's out there, but the grass isn't always greener. I have buddies who work in IT jobs didn't want to leave but had to because they have very few job options in WNY, but my wife and I are fortunate to be in fields where we're pretty likely to find decent jobs up there.
Plus, we're finally at a point in our lives where we could afford Bills season tickets, so after a house and snowblower, that will be our first purchase upon returning.