Iowa vs California: taxes, cost of living, laws

Iowa

Moderate tax burden · COL index 88

Wins 11 categories

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 61% higher than Iowa (index 88). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $215K in Iowa.

Iowa

California

Taxes

3.8%

Income Tax (top rate)

13.3%

1.42%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.71%/yr

6.94%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

142

$215K

Median Home Price

$790K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,300/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

284

Violent Crime / 100K

499

1,626

Property Crime / 100K

2,027

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

155

Homeless / 100K

475

Healthcare

#21 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#13 of 50

78 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

5.8%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#15 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#20 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,100/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$135/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$440/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$620/mo

#8 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#49 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+13.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+20.0

Category wins

Iowa

California

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