State comparison
American Samoa vs Oregon: which state is better to live in?
American Samoa costs a median household about $8,600 a year less in state and local taxes than Oregon, mostly because its income tax takes 0.0% of a median income against 8.3% in Oregon.
American Samoa
Low tax burden · COL index 110
Wins 2 categories
Oregon
Moderate tax burden · COL index 110
Wins 1 categories
Taxes: American Samoa vs Oregon
American Samoa has a graduated income tax topping out at 30%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. Oregon has a graduated income tax topping out at 9.9%, which works out to 8.3% on a median income of $74,580, or $6,207 a year. American Samoa wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.50% of home value a year in American Samoa and 0.82% in Oregon (Tax Foundation, 2023), so American Samoa has the lower rate.
American Samoa has no sales tax and neither does Oregon.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $1,517 a year in American Samoa, $10,143 in Oregon. American Samoa is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
American Samoa's cost of living index is 110 and Oregon's is 110, where 100 is the national average; the two are level.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election American Samoa went to Harris by 15 points and Oregon went to Harris by 14 points.
American Samoa has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of B; Oregon has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A-, so Oregon regulates guns more tightly and American Samoa is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
2
American Samoa
1
Oregon
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is American Samoa or Oregon better to live in?
American Samoa wins more of the measures that decide a move. American Samoa on taxes ($1,517 a year for a median household against $10,143).
Which is cheaper, American Samoa or Oregon?
Day-to-day costs are level: both states sit at a cost of living index of 110. On state and local taxes American Samoa saves a median household about $8,600 a year.
Does American Samoa or Oregon have lower taxes?
American Samoa. A household earning $74,580 pays about $1,517 a year in American Samoa ($0 income tax, $1,517 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax) and $10,143 in Oregon ($6,207 income tax, $3,936 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is American Samoa or Oregon better for retirees?
American Samoa is friendlier to retirees on paper. American Samoa does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Oregon does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $1,517 a year in American Samoa and $3,936 in Oregon.