Illinois vs New Jersey

Illinois

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 7 categories

New Jersey

Very High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 6 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs Illinois's 4.95%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 32% higher than Illinois (index 92). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs Illinois's 1.73%. The median home in New Jersey costs $500K vs $275K in Illinois.

Illinois

New Jersey

Taxes

4.95%

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

1.73%/yr

Property Tax Rate

2.13%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.6%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

121

$275K

Median Home Price

$500K

$1,400/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,200/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

413

Violent Crime / 100K

213

1,666

Property Crime / 100K

1,368

Healthcare

#20 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#19 of 50

77.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#16 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#2 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,650/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,800/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$155/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$640/mo

#40 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#44 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+14.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+6.0

Category wins

Illinois

New Jersey

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

Score For My Profile →