California
Moderate tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 3 categories
West Virginia
Moderate tax burden · COL index 82
Wins 11 categories
California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs West Virginia's 5.12%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 73% higher than West Virginia (index 82). The median home in California costs $790K vs $155K in West Virginia. Politically, West Virginia voted Republican in 2024 (R+36.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
3
California
11
West Virginia
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Is West Virginia cheaper than California?
Heading to the other side of the country (but not as north as Alaska), we'll use San Francisco to compare California to West Virginia. California's cost of living is about 49% higher, with new homes going for a whopping 279% more.
Is West Virginia a better place to live than Virginia?
Virginia offers diverse geography, better education, and more cultural opportunities, while West Virginia is known for its rugged mountains and lower cost of living, with areas like South Boston and Lexington recommended for small towns and high- speed internet.
What are the drawbacks to living in West Virginia?
What is the 3 term rule in West Virginia?