Maine vs North Carolina: taxes, cost of living, laws

Maine

High tax burden · COL index 107

Wins 7 categories

North Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 94

Wins 8 categories

Maine's top income tax rate is 7.15% vs North Carolina's 4.5%. Cost of living in Maine (index 107) runs 14% higher than North Carolina (index 94). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Maine averages 1.04% annually vs North Carolina's 0.7%. Politically, North Carolina voted Republican in 2024 (R+3.0) while Maine went Democratic (D+6.0).

Maine

North Carolina

Taxes

7.15%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.5%

1.04%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.7%/yr

5.5%

Sales Tax (avg)

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

107

COL Index (100=avg)

$360K

Median Home Price

$335K

$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

2,226

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

268

192

Homeless / 100K

105

Healthcare

#7 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#23 of 50

77.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

75.7 yrs

6.9%

Uninsured Rate

11.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#14 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#29 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,350/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$135/mo

$560/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$460/mo

#24 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#14 of 50

Social Policy

B-

Gun Laws Grade

C+

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+3.0

Category wins

Maine

North Carolina

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