California vs Alabama: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 7 categories

Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 7 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Alabama's 5%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 63% higher than Alabama (index 87). Property taxes are meaningfully different: California averages 0.71% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $218K in Alabama.

California

Alabama

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.39%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

9.22%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

$790K

Median Home Price

$218K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,050/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

547

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

2,247

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

194

475

Homeless / 100K

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#41 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

73.2 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

11.2%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#44 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$820/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$155/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$410/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#25 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+28.0

Category wins

California

Alabama

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