Montana vs Pennsylvania: taxes, cost of living, laws

Montana

Low tax burden · COL index 104

Wins 6 categories

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 10 categories

Montana's top income tax rate is 5.9% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Pennsylvania averages 1.43% annually vs Montana's 0.58%. The median home in Montana costs $450K vs $270K in Pennsylvania.

Montana

Pennsylvania

Taxes

5.9%

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

0.58%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.43%/yr

None

Sales Tax (avg)

6.34%

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

4.1%

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

104

COL Index (100=avg)

$450K

Median Home Price

$270K

$1,450/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,350/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

398

Violent Crime / 100K

305

2,298

Property Crime / 100K

1,394

281

Sex Offenders / 100K

183

177

Homeless / 100K

108

Healthcare

#30 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#17 of 50

76.5 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.1 yrs

9.2%

Uninsured Rate

6.5%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#22 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#23 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,150/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$115/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$150/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#16 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#37 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+13.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+2.0

Category wins

Montana

Pennsylvania

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