Indiana
Moderate tax burden · COL index 87
Wins 8 categories
California
High tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 3 categories
California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Indiana's 3.05%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 63% higher than Indiana (index 87). The median home in California costs $790K vs $240K in Indiana. Politically, Indiana voted Republican in 2024 (R+19.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
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Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
8
Indiana
3
California
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Is it cheaper to live in Indiana or California?
Overall cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 69.6% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. The average listing price for a home in Los Angeles, CA is $1,350,980, which is 252.2% higher than Indianapolis, IN. The average cost of groceries in Los Angeles, CA is 9.2% higher than Indianapolis, IN.
What is the downfall of living in Indiana?
Higher Poverty Rates in Rural Areas While Indiana's cities offer economic opportunities, many rural areas experience higher poverty rates. Limited job growth, lower wages, and reduced access to services contribute to economic struggles in these regions.
Is $50,000 a year a good salary in Indiana?
$36.6K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers. The median wage is $41.4K / yr. $50.3K is the 75th percentile.
Is Indiana one of the best states to live in?
A national study is putting Indiana near the bottom when it comes to how people actually live day to day. According a CNBC rankings for 2024-2025, Indiana is ranked the 2nd worst state in the country for quality of life.