Iowa vs Maine: taxes, cost of living, laws

Iowa

Moderate tax burden · COL index 88

Wins 9 categories

Maine

High tax burden · COL index 107

Wins 6 categories

Maine's top income tax rate is 7.15% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Cost of living in Maine (index 107) runs 22% higher than Iowa (index 88). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Iowa averages 1.42% annually vs Maine's 1.04%. The median home in Maine costs $360K vs $215K in Iowa.

Iowa

Maine

Taxes

3.8%

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

1.42%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.04%/yr

6.94%

Sales Tax (avg)

5.5%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

107

$215K

Median Home Price

$360K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,500/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

284

Violent Crime / 100K

109

1,626

Property Crime / 100K

1,187

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

213

Homeless / 100K

192

Healthcare

#21 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#7 of 50

78 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.8 yrs

5.8%

Uninsured Rate

6.9%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#15 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#14 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,100/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$135/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$440/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$560/mo

#8 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#24 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

B-

R+13.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+6.0

Category wins

Iowa

Maine

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