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California

High tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 5 categories

VS

Massachusetts

High tax burden · COL index 148

Wins 7 categories

California
Massachusetts

Taxes

13.3%
Income Tax (top rate)
9%
0.71%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.04%/yr
8.82%
Sales Tax (avg)
6.25%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
No
As income
Capital Gains Tax
5%

Housing & Cost of Living

142
COL Index (100=avg)
148
$790K
Median Home Price
$580K
$2,300/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,400/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

499
Violent Crime / 100K
338
2,027
Property Crime / 100K
1,283

Healthcare

#13 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#1 of 50
79.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
80 yrs
6.8%
Uninsured Rate
3.1%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#20 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#1 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$2,200/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,400/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$195/mo
$620/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$680/mo
#49 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#42 of 50

Social Policy

A
Gun Laws Grade
A
D+20.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+28.0

Category wins

5

California

7

Massachusetts

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Annual Income

$150K
$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0
None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None
None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K
Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K
Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care
Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care
Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care
Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city
Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care
Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care
Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral
LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral
Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral
Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None
AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care
Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral
Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition