State comparison
Maryland vs U.S. Virgin Islands: which state is better to live in?
U.S. Virgin Islands costs a median household about $8,000 a year less in state and local taxes than Maryland, mostly because its income tax takes 0.0% of a median income against 4.7% in Maryland, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 128 against 116).
Maryland
High tax burden · COL index 116
Wins 2 categories
U.S. Virgin Islands
Low tax burden · COL index 128
Wins 4 categories
Taxes: Maryland vs U.S. Virgin Islands
Maryland has a graduated income tax topping out at 5.75%, which works out to 4.7% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,490 a year. U.S. Virgin Islands has a graduated income tax topping out at 37%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. U.S. Virgin Islands wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.97% of home value a year in Maryland and 0.30% in U.S. Virgin Islands (Tax Foundation, 2023), so U.S. Virgin Islands has the lower rate.
U.S. Virgin Islands has no sales tax; combined state and local sales tax averages 6.00% in Maryland.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $8,906 a year in Maryland, $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. Virgin Islands is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Maryland's cost of living index is 116 and U.S. Virgin Islands's is 128, where 100 is the national average; Maryland is about 10% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Maryland went to Harris by 24 points and U.S. Virgin Islands went to Harris by 40 points.
Maryland has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of A; U.S. Virgin Islands has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A-, so Maryland regulates guns more tightly and U.S. Virgin Islands is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
2
Maryland
4
U.S. Virgin Islands
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Maryland or U.S. Virgin Islands better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. U.S. Virgin Islands on taxes ($910 a year for a median household against $8,906); Maryland on everyday costs (index 116 against 128).
Which is cheaper, Maryland or U.S. Virgin Islands?
Maryland is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 116 against 128. On state and local taxes U.S. Virgin Islands saves a median household about $8,000 a year.
Does Maryland or U.S. Virgin Islands have lower taxes?
U.S. Virgin Islands. A household earning $74,580 pays about $8,906 a year in Maryland ($3,490 income tax, $4,074 property tax on the median home and $1,342 in sales tax) and $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands ($0 income tax, $910 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is Maryland or U.S. Virgin Islands better for retirees?
U.S. Virgin Islands is friendlier to retirees on paper. Maryland does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an estate tax; U.S. Virgin Islands does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $4,074 a year in Maryland and $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands.