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Pennsylvania vs South Carolina: taxes, cost of living, laws

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 9 categories

VS

South Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 93

Wins 5 categories

South Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.2% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Pennsylvania averages 1.43% annually vs South Carolina's 0.43%.

Pennsylvania
South Carolina

Taxes

3.07%
Income Tax (top rate)
6.2%
1.43%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.43%/yr
6.34%
Sales Tax (avg)
7.43%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
4.7%

Housing & Cost of Living

97
COL Index (100=avg)
93
$270K
Median Home Price
$310K
$1,350/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,350/mo
$1K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

305
Violent Crime / 100K
540
1,394
Property Crime / 100K
2,730
183
Sex Offenders / 100K
342
108
Homeless / 100K
84

Healthcare

#17 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#38 of 50
77.1 yrs
Life Expectancy
75.5 yrs
6.5%
Uninsured Rate
13.1%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
No

Education

#23 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#40 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$1,350/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$950/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$150/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$145/mo
$510/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$450/mo
#37 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#15 of 50

Social Policy

C
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+2.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+13.0

Category wins

9

Pennsylvania

5

South Carolina

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People Also Ask

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Your Priorities

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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