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Colorado

Moderate tax burden · COL index 110

Wins 4 categories

VS

Minnesota

High tax burden · COL index 95

Wins 11 categories

Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85% vs Colorado's 4.4%. Cost of living in Colorado (index 110) runs 16% higher than Minnesota (index 95). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Minnesota averages 1.02% annually vs Colorado's 0.48%. The median home in Colorado costs $545K vs $335K in Minnesota.

Colorado
Minnesota

Taxes

4.4%
Income Tax (top rate)
9.85%
0.48%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.02%/yr
7.76%
Sales Tax (avg)
7.42%
No
Social Security Tax
No
Yes
Estate Tax
No
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

110
COL Index (100=avg)
95
$545K
Median Home Price
$335K
$1,850/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,450/mo
$3K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

453
Violent Crime / 100K
286
2,859
Property Crime / 100K
2,094

Healthcare

#9 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#2 of 50
78.8 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.4 yrs
7.4%
Uninsured Rate
4.5%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#9 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#8 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$1,600/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,450/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$140/mo
$530/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$500/mo
#30 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#7 of 50

Social Policy

A-
Gun Laws Grade
B
D+11.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+4.0

Category wins

4

Colorado

11

Minnesota

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People Also Ask

Which state is better to live in, Minnesota or Colorado?

Beyond housing, other living costs such as groceries, healthcare, and transportation may also see an uptick. However, Colorado offers some financial advantages, such as lower property tax rates and a lower state income tax—4.25% compared to Minnesota's 9.85%. For many, this can offset the higher housing expenses.

What is the downfall of living in Colorado?

Is Minnesota or Colorado more expensive?

Overall cost of living in Denver, CO is 19.1% higher than in Minneapolis, MN. The average listing price for a home in Denver, CO is $665,372, which is 62.9% higher than Minneapolis, MN. The average cost of groceries in Denver, CO is 1.2% higher than Minneapolis, MN.

Where are people moving out of Colorado to?

Full Colorado Profile →Full Minnesota Profile →

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

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State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

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Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

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Annual sunny days per state

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Food Scene

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Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

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Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable