California
D+20 · High tax burden · COL index 142
13.3%
Income Tax
499
Violent Crime / 100K
79.2
Life Expectancy
$790K
Median Home
$2,200
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
Taxes
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$5,609/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
No preferential rate; taxed as ordinary income
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
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Median home price in California: $790,000
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Avg home insurance in California: $2,100/yr
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Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
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Social & Legal
Abortion Access
State constitution protects abortion rights; no gestational limit
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Poor — can affect health
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Law Grade
Source: Giffords Law Center
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
See your full cost of living in California
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.