Maine vs Tennessee: taxes, cost of living, laws

Maine

High tax burden · COL index 107

Wins 7 categories

Tennessee

Low tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 9 categories

Tennessee has no state income tax. Maine's top rate is 7.15%. Cost of living in Maine (index 107) runs 16% higher than Tennessee (index 92). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Maine averages 1.04% annually vs Tennessee's 0.45%. Politically, Tennessee voted Republican in 2024 (R+24.0) while Maine went Democratic (D+6.0).

Maine

Tennessee

Taxes

7.15%

Income Tax (top rate)

None

1.04%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.45%/yr

5.5%

Sales Tax (avg)

9.55%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

None

Housing & Cost of Living

107

COL Index (100=avg)

$360K

Median Home Price

$350K

$1,500/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,400/mo

$900/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

109

Violent Crime / 100K

668

1,187

Property Crime / 100K

2,752

213

Sex Offenders / 100K

389

192

Homeless / 100K

115

Healthcare

#7 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#39 of 50

77.8 yrs

Life Expectancy

74.2 yrs

6.9%

Uninsured Rate

10.4%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Education

#14 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#41 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,350/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,000/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$130/mo

$560/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$420/mo

#24 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#10 of 50

Social Policy

B-

Gun Laws Grade

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+24.0

Category wins

Maine

Tennessee

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