State comparison
Connecticut vs Northern Mariana Islands: which state is better to live in?
Northern Mariana Islands costs a median household about $10,500 a year less in state and local taxes than Connecticut, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $1,517 a year against $7,071 in Connecticut, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 118 against 114).
Connecticut
High tax burden · COL index 114
Wins 2 categories
Northern Mariana Islands
Low tax burden · COL index 118
Wins 5 categories
Taxes: Connecticut vs Northern Mariana Islands
Connecticut has a graduated income tax topping out at 6.99%, which works out to 4.9% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,652 a year. Northern Mariana Islands has a graduated income tax topping out at 35%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. Northern Mariana Islands wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 1.79% of home value a year in Connecticut and 0.50% in Northern Mariana Islands (Tax Foundation, 2023), so Northern Mariana Islands has the lower rate.
Northern Mariana Islands has no sales tax; combined state and local sales tax averages 6.35% in Connecticut.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $12,143 a year in Connecticut, $1,517 in Northern Mariana Islands. Northern Mariana Islands is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Connecticut's cost of living index is 114 and Northern Mariana Islands's is 118, where 100 is the national average; Connecticut is about 4% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Connecticut went to Harris by 12 points and Northern Mariana Islands went to Harris by 20 points.
Connecticut has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of A; Northern Mariana Islands has may-issue carry permits and a grade of B+, so Connecticut regulates guns more tightly and Northern Mariana Islands is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at rates in force as of 2026-09-04. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
2
Connecticut
5
Northern Mariana Islands
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Connecticut or Northern Mariana Islands better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Northern Mariana Islands on taxes ($1,517 a year for a median household against $12,143); Connecticut on everyday costs (index 114 against 118).
Which is cheaper, Connecticut or Northern Mariana Islands?
Connecticut is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 114 against 118. On state and local taxes Northern Mariana Islands saves a median household about $10,500 a year.
Does Connecticut or Northern Mariana Islands have lower taxes?
Northern Mariana Islands. A household earning $74,580 pays about $12,143 a year in Connecticut ($3,652 income tax, $7,071 property tax on the median home and $1,421 in sales tax) and $1,517 in Northern Mariana Islands ($0 income tax, $1,517 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is Connecticut or Northern Mariana Islands better for retirees?
Northern Mariana Islands is friendlier to retirees on paper. Connecticut taxes Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax; Northern Mariana Islands does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $7,071 a year in Connecticut and $1,517 in Northern Mariana Islands.