Arkansas vs Illinois: taxes, cost of living, laws

Arkansas

Moderate tax burden · COL index 85

Wins 8 categories

Illinois

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 7 categories

Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% vs Arkansas's 3.9%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Arkansas's 0.6%. The median home in Illinois costs $275K vs $195K in Arkansas. Politically, Arkansas voted Republican in 2024 (R+28.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).

Arkansas

Illinois

Taxes

3.9%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

0.6%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.73%/yr

9.46%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$195K

Median Home Price

$275K

$970/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,400/mo

$3K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

619

Violent Crime / 100K

413

2,469

Property Crime / 100K

1,666

645

Sex Offenders / 100K

269

Homeless / 100K

203

Healthcare

#44 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#20 of 50

73.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.2 yrs

9.4%

Uninsured Rate

7.4%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#42 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#16 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$820/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,650/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$145/mo

$390/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#22 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#40 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+28.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+14.0

Category wins

Arkansas

Illinois

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