Alabama vs Pennsylvania: taxes, cost of living, laws

Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 5 categories

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 9 categories

Alabama's top income tax rate is 5% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Cost of living in Pennsylvania (index 97) runs 11% higher than Alabama (index 87). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Pennsylvania averages 1.43% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%.

Alabama

Pennsylvania

Taxes

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

0.39%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.43%/yr

9.22%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.34%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$218K

Median Home Price

$270K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,350/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

547

Violent Crime / 100K

305

2,247

Property Crime / 100K

1,394

194

Sex Offenders / 100K

183

Homeless / 100K

108

Healthcare

#41 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#17 of 50

73.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.1 yrs

11.2%

Uninsured Rate

6.5%

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#44 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#23 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$820/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$150/mo

$410/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#25 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#37 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+28.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+2.0

Category wins

Alabama

Pennsylvania

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