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Montana

Low tax burden · COL index 104

Wins 8 categories

VS

North Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 94

Wins 6 categories

Montana's top income tax rate is 5.9% vs North Carolina's 4.5%. Cost of living in Montana (index 104) runs 11% higher than North Carolina (index 94). The median home in Montana costs $450K vs $335K in North Carolina.

Montana
North Carolina

Taxes

5.9%
Income Tax (top rate)
4.5%
0.58%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.7%/yr
None
Sales Tax (avg)
7%
No
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
4.1%
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

104
COL Index (100=avg)
94
$450K
Median Home Price
$335K
$1,450/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,450/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

398
Violent Crime / 100K
398
2,298
Property Crime / 100K
2,226

Healthcare

#30 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#23 of 50
76.5 yrs
Life Expectancy
75.7 yrs
9.2%
Uninsured Rate
11.8%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#22 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#29 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$1,150/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$115/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$135/mo
$510/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$460/mo
#16 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#14 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
C+
R+13.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+3.0

Category wins

8

Montana

6

North Carolina

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People Also Ask

Is Montana cheaper than North Carolina?

North Carolina is 1.4% cheaper than Montana. The cost of transportation and groceries in North Carolina are more expensive than in Montana. Expenses including clothing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, housing, and childcare are lower in North Carolina.

What is the downfall of living in North Carolina?

Living in North Carolina has its benefits, including a mild climate, affordable cost of living, and diverse outdoor recreational options. However, it also has drawbacks like high summer humidity, limited public transportation, and potential for natural disasters.

What are the pros and cons of moving to Montana?

Why are people moving from Montana?

In recent years it has overwhelmingly been about the soaring cost of housing. But that's not the only reason long-time Montana residents are now packing up and moving out. The flood of people moving to Montana has come at many different prices. The most obvious is, well, the prices.

Full Montana Profile →Full North Carolina Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable