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Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 7 categories

VS

Massachusetts

High tax burden · COL index 148

Wins 6 categories

Massachusetts's top income tax rate is 9% vs Alabama's 5%. Cost of living in Massachusetts (index 148) runs 70% higher than Alabama (index 87). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Massachusetts averages 1.04% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%. The median home in Massachusetts costs $580K vs $218K in Alabama.

Alabama
Massachusetts

Taxes

5%
Income Tax (top rate)
9%
0.39%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.04%/yr
9.22%
Sales Tax (avg)
6.25%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
No
As income
Capital Gains Tax
5%

Housing & Cost of Living

87
COL Index (100=avg)
148
$218K
Median Home Price
$580K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,400/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

547
Violent Crime / 100K
338
2,247
Property Crime / 100K
1,283

Healthcare

#41 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#1 of 50
73.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
80 yrs
11.2%
Uninsured Rate
3.1%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#44 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#1 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$820/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,400/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$195/mo
$410/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$680/mo
#25 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#42 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+28.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+28.0

Category wins

7

Alabama

6

Massachusetts

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable