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Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 6 categories

VS

West Virginia

Moderate tax burden · COL index 82

Wins 8 categories

Alabama
West Virginia

Taxes

5%
Income Tax (top rate)
5.12%
0.39%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.57%/yr
9.22%
Sales Tax (avg)
6.37%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

87
COL Index (100=avg)
82
$218K
Median Home Price
$155K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$900/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

547
Violent Crime / 100K
278
2,247
Property Crime / 100K
1,380

Healthcare

#41 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#46 of 50
73.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
71.9 yrs
11.2%
Uninsured Rate
6.6%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#44 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#49 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$820/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$850/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$125/mo
$410/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$400/mo
#25 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#45 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+28.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+36.0

Category wins

6

Alabama

8

West Virginia

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

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People Also Ask

Is it cheaper to live in Alabama or West Virginia?

Alabama is 6.0% more expensive than West Virginia. The cost of childcare, groceries, and entertainment and sports in Alabama are more expensive than in West Virginia. Expenses including transportation, clothing, housing, and restaurants are lower in Alabama.

What are the drawbacks to living in West Virginia?

Is it better to live in West Virginia or Virginia?

Is West Virginia liberal or Republican?

West Virginia is now a heavily Republican state, with John McCain winning the state in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Full Alabama Profile →Full West Virginia Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

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