Minnesota vs Montana: taxes, cost of living, laws

Minnesota

High tax burden · COL index 95

Wins 7 categories

Montana

Low tax burden · COL index 104

Wins 8 categories

Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85% vs Montana's 5.9%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Minnesota averages 1.02% annually vs Montana's 0.58%. The median home in Montana costs $450K vs $335K in Minnesota. Politically, Montana voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Minnesota went Democratic (D+4.0).

Minnesota

Montana

Taxes

9.85%

Income Tax (top rate)

5.9%

1.02%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.58%/yr

7.42%

Sales Tax (avg)

None

Social Security Tax

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

4.1%

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

104

$335K

Median Home Price

$450K

$1,450/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

286

Violent Crime / 100K

398

2,094

Property Crime / 100K

2,298

333

Sex Offenders / 100K

281

159

Homeless / 100K

177

Healthcare

#2 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#30 of 50

79.4 yrs

Life Expectancy

76.5 yrs

4.5%

Uninsured Rate

9.2%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#8 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#22 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,450/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,150/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$140/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$115/mo

$500/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#7 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#16 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+4.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

Minnesota

Montana

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