Colorado vs Illinois: taxes, cost of living, laws

Colorado

Moderate tax burden · COL index 110

Wins 9 categories

Illinois

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 6 categories

Cost of living in Colorado (index 110) runs 20% higher than Illinois (index 92). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Colorado's 0.48%. The median home in Colorado costs $545K vs $275K in Illinois.

Colorado

Illinois

Taxes

4.4%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

0.48%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.73%/yr

7.76%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

110

COL Index (100=avg)

$545K

Median Home Price

$275K

$1,850/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,400/mo

$3K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

453

Violent Crime / 100K

413

2,859

Property Crime / 100K

1,666

337

Sex Offenders / 100K

269

314

Homeless / 100K

203

Healthcare

#9 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#20 of 50

78.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.2 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

7.4%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#9 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#16 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,600/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,650/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$145/mo

$530/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#30 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#40 of 50

Social Policy

A-

Gun Laws Grade

D+11.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+14.0

Category wins

Colorado

Illinois

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

Score For My Profile →