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Kansas

Moderate tax burden · COL index 86

Wins 9 categories

VS

Tennessee

Low tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 6 categories

Tennessee has no state income tax. Kansas's top rate is 5.7%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Kansas averages 1.24% annually vs Tennessee's 0.45%. The median home in Tennessee costs $350K vs $220K in Kansas.

Kansas
Tennessee

Taxes

5.7%
Income Tax (top rate)
None
1.24%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.45%/yr
8.68%
Sales Tax (avg)
9.55%
No
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
None

Housing & Cost of Living

86
COL Index (100=avg)
92
$220K
Median Home Price
$350K
$1,050/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,400/mo
$5K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

410
Violent Crime / 100K
668
2,225
Property Crime / 100K
2,752

Healthcare

#29 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#39 of 50
77.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
74.2 yrs
9.6%
Uninsured Rate
10.4%
No
Medicaid Expansion
No

Education

#26 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#41 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$1,050/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,000/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$130/mo
$440/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$420/mo
#3 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#10 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+20.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+24.0

Category wins

9

Kansas

6

Tennessee

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

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People Also Ask

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas or Tennessee?

Overall cost of living in Nashville, TN is 10.7% higher than in Kansas City, MO. The average listing price for a home in Nashville, TN is $534,248, which is 23.0% higher than Kansas City, MO. The average cost of groceries in Nashville, TN is 2.9% higher than Kansas City, MO.

What is the downfall of living in Tennessee?

A: The downsides of living in Tennessee can include hot and humid summers, increasing traffic congestion in urban areas, a rising cost of living (especially in popular cities), a job market that is strong in specific industries but potentially limited in others, and cultural differences that may require adjustment for ...

Is moving to Kansas a good idea?

Low Cost of Living Kansas boasts one of the lowest costs of living in the country, making it an attractive option for people on a budget. Housing, groceries, and utilities are all more affordable than the national average, allowing residents to live comfortably without spending a fortune.

Is Tennessee the best state to move to?

The Volunteer state ranked #5 on the list behind South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina and Florida. Those are the same top five growth states as in 2023, in a slightly different order. It's the fifth consecutive year Tennessee has been ranked in the top ten and the first time South Carolina has topped the list.

Full Kansas Profile →Full Tennessee Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable