State comparison
District of Columbia vs Massachusetts: which state is better to live in?
District of Columbia costs a median household about $1,500 a year less in state and local taxes than Massachusetts, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $3,584 a year against $6,032 in Massachusetts, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 152 against 148).
District of Columbia
Moderate tax burden · COL index 152
Wins 5 categories
Massachusetts
High tax burden · COL index 148
Wins 10 categories
Taxes: District of Columbia vs Massachusetts
District of Columbia has a graduated income tax topping out at 10.75%, which works out to 6.4% on a median income of $74,580, or $4,739 a year. Massachusetts has a graduated income tax topping out at 9%, which works out to 5.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,729 a year. Massachusetts wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.56% of home value a year in District of Columbia and 1.04% in Massachusetts (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $3,584 against $6,032, so District of Columbia has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.00% in District of Columbia and 6.25% in Massachusetts; District of Columbia is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $9,666 a year in District of Columbia, $11,159 in Massachusetts. District of Columbia is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
District of Columbia's cost of living index is 152 and Massachusetts's is 148, where 100 is the national average; Massachusetts is about 3% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $640K in District of Columbia and $580K in Massachusetts (Zillow, 2024), a $60K gap in Massachusetts's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $2,900 a month in District of Columbia and $2,400 in Massachusetts.
Home insurance averages $1,100 a year in District of Columbia and $1,500 in Massachusetts, so District of Columbia is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 750 incidents per 100,000 residents in District of Columbia and 338 in Massachusetts (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Massachusetts is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 122% lower. Property crime is 3,600 per 100,000 in District of Columbia against 1,283 in Massachusetts, again favoring Massachusetts.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.1 years in District of Columbia and 80 in Massachusetts (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 2.9-year edge for Massachusetts. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks District of Columbia's health system 5th of 50 and Massachusetts's 1st, so Massachusetts scores better on care.
3.9% of District of Columbia residents have no health insurance against 3.1% in Massachusetts, which favors Massachusetts. Both states expanded Medicaid.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks District of Columbia's K-12 schools 40th in the country and Massachusetts's 1st, 39 places apart in Massachusetts's favor. District of Columbia runs a school-choice voucher program; Massachusetts does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election District of Columbia went to Harris by 87 points and Massachusetts went to Harris by 28 points.
District of Columbia has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of A; Massachusetts has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A.
Abortion is protected by state law in both states, and marijuana is legal for adults in both as of 2026. The minimum wage is $17.00 an hour in District of Columbia and $15.00 in Massachusetts.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is low in District of Columbia (flood, nor-easter) and moderate in Massachusetts (hurricane, blizzard, nor-easter), so District of Columbia is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 43 in District of Columbia and 30 in Massachusetts (under 50 is good), favoring Massachusetts.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
5
District of Columbia
10
Massachusetts
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is District of Columbia or Massachusetts better to live in?
Massachusetts wins more of the measures that decide a move. District of Columbia on taxes ($9,666 a year for a median household against $11,159); Massachusetts on everyday costs (index 148 against 152); Massachusetts on safety (338 violent crimes per 100,000 against 750); Massachusetts on schools (ranked 1st against 40th).
Which is cheaper, District of Columbia or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 148 against 152. The median home is $640K in District of Columbia and $580K in Massachusetts (2024). On state and local taxes District of Columbia saves a median household about $1,500 a year.
Does District of Columbia or Massachusetts have lower taxes?
District of Columbia. A household earning $74,580 pays about $9,666 a year in District of Columbia ($4,739 income tax, $3,584 property tax on the median home and $1,342 in sales tax) and $11,159 in Massachusetts ($3,729 income tax, $6,032 property tax on the median home and $1,398 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, District of Columbia or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 750 per 100,000 residents in District of Columbia and 338 in Massachusetts; property crime is 3,600 against 1,283.
Which has better schools, District of Columbia or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks District of Columbia 40th of 50 for K-12 and Massachusetts 1st. District of Columbia also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is District of Columbia or Massachusetts better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. District of Columbia does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax; Massachusetts does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $3,584 a year in District of Columbia and $6,032 in Massachusetts.