Pennsylvania vs California: taxes, cost of living, laws

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 10 categories

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 4 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 46% higher than Pennsylvania (index 97). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Pennsylvania averages 1.43% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $270K in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania

California

Taxes

3.07%

Income Tax (top rate)

13.3%

1.43%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.71%/yr

6.34%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.82%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

142

$270K

Median Home Price

$790K

$1,350/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,300/mo

$1K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

305

Violent Crime / 100K

499

1,394

Property Crime / 100K

2,027

183

Sex Offenders / 100K

155

108

Homeless / 100K

475

Healthcare

#17 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#13 of 50

77.1 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

6.5%

Uninsured Rate

6.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#23 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#20 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$1,350/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$150/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$620/mo

#37 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#49 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+2.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+20.0

Category wins

Pennsylvania

California

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →