California vs Montana: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 5 categories

Montana

Low tax burden · COL index 104

Wins 11 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Montana's 5.9%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 37% higher than Montana (index 104). The median home in California costs $790K vs $450K in Montana. Politically, Montana voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).

California

Montana

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

5.9%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.58%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

None

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

4.1%

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

104

$790K

Median Home Price

$450K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

398

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

2,298

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

281

475

Homeless / 100K

177

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#30 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

76.5 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

9.2%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#22 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,150/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$115/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#16 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

California

Montana

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