Arkansas vs California: taxes, cost of living, laws

Arkansas

Moderate tax burden · COL index 85

Wins 7 categories

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 7 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Arkansas's 3.9%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 67% higher than Arkansas (index 85). The median home in California costs $790K vs $195K in Arkansas. Politically, Arkansas voted Republican in 2024 (R+28.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).

Arkansas

California

Taxes

3.9%

Income Tax (top rate)

13.3%

0.6%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.71%/yr

9.46%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

142

$195K

Median Home Price

$790K

$970/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,300/mo

$3K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

619

Violent Crime / 100K

499

2,469

Property Crime / 100K

2,027

645

Sex Offenders / 100K

155

Homeless / 100K

475

Healthcare

#44 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#13 of 50

73.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

9.4%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#42 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#20 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$820/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$390/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$620/mo

#22 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#49 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+28.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+20.0

Category wins

Arkansas

California

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