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Iowa vs Alabama: taxes, cost of living, laws
Iowa
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 10 categories
VS
Alabama
Moderate tax burden · COL index 87
Wins 3 categories
Alabama's top income tax rate is 5% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%.
Taxes
3.8%
Income Tax (top rate)
5%
1.42%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.39%/yr
6.94%
Sales Tax (avg)
9.22%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income
Housing & Cost of Living
88
COL Index (100=avg)
87
$215K
Median Home Price
$218K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,050/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr
Crime & Safety
284
Violent Crime / 100K
547
1,626
Property Crime / 100K
2,247
213
Sex Offenders / 100K
194
81
Homeless / 100K
89
Healthcare
#21 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#41 of 50
78 yrs
Life Expectancy
73.2 yrs
5.8%
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
No
Education
#15 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#44 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes
Childcare
$1,100/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$820/mo
Utilities & Daily Costs
$135/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$155/mo
$440/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$410/mo
#8 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#25 of 50
Social Policy
F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+13.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+28.0
Category wins
10
Iowa
3
Alabama
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