Iowa
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 8 categories
Maine
High tax burden · COL index 107
Wins 5 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.
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Category wins
8
Iowa
5
Maine
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What is the downfall of living in Maine?
That said, Maine isn't for everyone. Winters are long and harsh, job opportunities can be limited outside of certain industries like healthcare, education, and tourism, and access to amenities may be sparse in rural areas.
Is moving to Iowa a good idea?
Why is it so cheap to live in Iowa?
What are the pros and cons of living in Maine?