California vs Michigan

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 5 categories

Michigan

Moderate tax burden · COL index 88

Wins 10 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Michigan's 4.25%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 61% higher than Michigan (index 88). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Michigan averages 1.32% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $250K in Michigan.

California

Michigan

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.32%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

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

$250K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,150/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

445

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

1,670

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#25 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

75.7 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

5.9%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#38 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,300/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$140/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$460/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#47 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

C+

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+2.0

Category wins

California

Michigan

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →