Alabama vs New Jersey: taxes, cost of living, laws

Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 6 categories

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 7 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs Alabama's 5%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 39% higher than Alabama (index 87). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%. The median home in New Jersey costs $500K vs $218K in Alabama.

Alabama

New Jersey

Taxes

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

0.39%/yr

Property Tax Rate

2.13%/yr

9.22%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.6%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

121

$218K

Median Home Price

$500K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,200/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

547

Violent Crime / 100K

213

2,247

Property Crime / 100K

1,368

194

Sex Offenders / 100K

Homeless / 100K

134

Healthcare

#41 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#19 of 50

73.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79 yrs

11.2%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#44 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#2 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$820/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,800/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$155/mo

$410/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$640/mo

#25 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#44 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+28.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+6.0

Category wins

Alabama

New Jersey

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