California vs New Jersey

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 10 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs New Jersey's 10.75%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 17% higher than New Jersey (index 121). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $500K in New Jersey.

California

New Jersey

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

2.13%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.6%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

121

$790K

Median Home Price

$500K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,200/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

213

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

1,368

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#19 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#2 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,800/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$155/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$640/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#44 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+6.0

Category wins

California

New Jersey

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