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Alabama vs Illinois: taxes, cost of living, laws
Alabama
Moderate tax burden · COL index 87
Wins 6 categories
VS
Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 9 categories
Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%. Politically, Alabama voted Republican in 2024 (R+28.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
5%
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
0.39%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.73%/yr
9.22%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.82%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
No
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income
Housing & Cost of Living
87
COL Index (100=avg)
92
$218K
Median Home Price
$275K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,400/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr
Crime & Safety
547
Violent Crime / 100K
413
2,247
Property Crime / 100K
1,666
194
Sex Offenders / 100K
269
89
Homeless / 100K
203
Healthcare
#41 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#20 of 50
73.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
77.2 yrs
11.2%
Uninsured Rate
7.4%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes
Education
#44 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#16 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
No
Childcare
$820/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,650/mo
Utilities & Daily Costs
$155/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$145/mo
$410/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$510/mo
#25 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#40 of 50
Social Policy
F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+28.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+14.0
Category wins
6
Alabama
9
Illinois
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