State comparison
Northern Mariana Islands vs Washington: which state is better to live in?
Northern Mariana Islands costs a median household about $5,400 a year less in state and local taxes than Washington, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $1,517 a year against $4,788 in Washington.
Northern Mariana Islands
Low tax burden · COL index 118
Wins 3 categories
Washington
Moderate tax burden · COL index 117
Wins 2 categories
Taxes: Northern Mariana Islands vs Washington
Northern Mariana Islands has a graduated income tax topping out at 35%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. Washington has no state income tax. On income tax the two are even.
Property tax is 0.50% of home value a year in Northern Mariana Islands and 0.84% in Washington (Tax Foundation, 2023), so Northern Mariana Islands has the lower rate.
Northern Mariana Islands has no sales tax; combined state and local sales tax averages 9.38% in Washington.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $1,517 a year in Northern Mariana Islands, $6,887 in Washington. Northern Mariana Islands is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Northern Mariana Islands's cost of living index is 118 and Washington's is 117, where 100 is the national average; Washington is about 1% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Northern Mariana Islands went to Harris by 20 points and Washington went to Harris by 16 points.
Northern Mariana Islands has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of B+; Washington has shall-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so Washington regulates guns more tightly and Northern Mariana 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 rates in force as of 2026-09-04. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
3
Northern Mariana Islands
2
Washington
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Northern Mariana Islands or Washington better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Northern Mariana Islands on taxes ($1,517 a year for a median household against $6,887); Washington on everyday costs (index 117 against 118).
Which is cheaper, Northern Mariana Islands or Washington?
Washington is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 117 against 118. On state and local taxes Northern Mariana Islands saves a median household about $5,400 a year.
Does Northern Mariana Islands or Washington have lower taxes?
Northern Mariana Islands. A household earning $74,580 pays about $1,517 a year in Northern Mariana Islands ($0 income tax, $1,517 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax) and $6,887 in Washington ($0 income tax, $4,788 property tax on the median home and $2,099 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is Northern Mariana Islands or Washington better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Northern Mariana Islands does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Washington does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $1,517 a year in Northern Mariana Islands and $4,788 in Washington.