Property tax in CA is an already low ~1%, then once you factor in Prop 13 tax advantages, CA has some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the nation.San Diego appreciation is in both price and rents, and has exceeded inflation and national averages going on for decades now (with some volatility in between), so you will likely do better long term on both cash flow and equity ... factor that in with the reduced risk and costs of staying local where you can assess and control your investments, and you almost certainly will do better local so long as you don't over extend and have to sell in panic or give it back to the bank.

There is much lower volatility in the market, so there won't be as much appreciation (for example if the coastal markets see a12-15% appreciation the midwest might get a 5% market appreciation) but they also don't drop in value as quickly.

I'd get higher cash flow from a duplex somewhere like NC or Wisconsin.....but the markets in lower income areas tend to be a little more volatile I think.