California vs Iowa: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

Iowa

Moderate tax burden · COL index 88

Wins 11 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 61% higher than Iowa (index 88). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $215K in Iowa.

California

Iowa

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

3.8%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.42%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.94%

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

$215K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,050/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

284

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

1,626

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

213

475

Homeless / 100K

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#21 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

78 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

5.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#15 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,100/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$135/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$440/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#8 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

California

Iowa

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