Maine vs New Jersey: taxes, cost of living, laws

Maine

High tax burden · COL index 107

Wins 10 categories

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 5 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs Maine's 7.15%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 13% higher than Maine (index 107). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs Maine's 1.04%. The median home in New Jersey costs $500K vs $360K in Maine.

Maine

New Jersey

Taxes

7.15%

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

1.04%/yr

Property Tax Rate

2.13%/yr

5.5%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.6%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

107

COL Index (100=avg)

121

$360K

Median Home Price

$500K

$1,500/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,200/mo

$900/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

109

Violent Crime / 100K

213

1,187

Property Crime / 100K

1,368

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

192

Homeless / 100K

134

Healthcare

#7 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#19 of 50

77.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

79 yrs

6.9%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#14 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#2 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,350/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,800/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$155/mo

$560/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$640/mo

#24 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#44 of 50

Social Policy

B-

Gun Laws Grade

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+6.0

Category wins

Maine

New Jersey

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

Score For My Profile →