Maine vs Montana: taxes, cost of living, laws

Maine

High tax burden · COL index 107

Wins 8 categories

Montana

Low tax burden · COL index 104

Wins 9 categories

Maine's top income tax rate is 7.15% vs Montana's 5.9%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Maine averages 1.04% annually vs Montana's 0.58%. The median home in Montana costs $450K vs $360K in Maine. Politically, Montana voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Maine went Democratic (D+6.0).

Maine

Montana

Taxes

7.15%

Income Tax (top rate)

5.9%

1.04%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.58%/yr

5.5%

Sales Tax (avg)

None

Yes

Social Security Tax

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

4.1%

Housing & Cost of Living

107

COL Index (100=avg)

104

$360K

Median Home Price

$450K

$1,500/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$900/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

109

Violent Crime / 100K

398

1,187

Property Crime / 100K

2,298

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

281

192

Homeless / 100K

177

Healthcare

#7 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#30 of 50

77.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

76.5 yrs

6.9%

Uninsured Rate

9.2%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#14 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#22 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,350/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,150/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$115/mo

$560/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#24 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#16 of 50

Social Policy

B-

Gun Laws Grade

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

Maine

Montana

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