Moving to Appalachian Highlands from New York City (Manhattan)
For people leaving New York City (Manhattan), Southwest Virginia is one of the better-value places to land. Housing and taxes cost a good deal less here, and you're right next to the Blue Ridge.
New York City's top income tax rate is 9.7% versus Virginia's 5.75%, and property taxes run about 0.90% there versus roughly 1% across the region. On a $320,000 home that's a meaningful annual difference.
Cost of living & housing
Overall costs run about 67% lower here than in New York City (Manhattan). It takes only about $76,522 here to match a $200,000 lifestyle there. The $320,000 median home here would run on the order of $981,333 back in New York City (Manhattan).
Where to live
For a first pass, compare both the numbers and the lifestyle fit. These are useful starting points before you narrow to specific homes.
Virginia's westernmost county, wedged between Kentucky and Tennessee. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park anchors the far tip, with Pennington Gap the largest town and Jonesville the county seat.