Kansas vs California: taxes, cost of living, laws

Kansas

Moderate tax burden · COL index 86

Wins 8 categories

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 7 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Kansas's 5.7%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 65% higher than Kansas (index 86). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Kansas averages 1.24% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $220K in Kansas.

Kansas

California

Taxes

5.7%

Income Tax (top rate)

13.3%

1.24%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.71%/yr

8.68%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

142

$220K

Median Home Price

$790K

$1,050/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,300/mo

$5K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

410

Violent Crime / 100K

499

2,225

Property Crime / 100K

2,027

379

Sex Offenders / 100K

155

Homeless / 100K

475

Healthcare

#29 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#13 of 50

77.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

9.6%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#26 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#20 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,050/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$440/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$620/mo

#3 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#49 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+20.0

Category wins

Kansas

California

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