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

South Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 93

Wins 2 categories

VS

South Dakota

Low tax burden · COL index 95

Wins 11 categories

South Dakota has no state income tax. South Carolina's top rate is 6.2%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: South Dakota averages 1.08% annually vs South Carolina's 0.43%.

South Carolina
South Dakota

Taxes

6.2%
Income Tax (top rate)
None
0.43%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.08%/yr
7.43%
Sales Tax (avg)
6.11%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
4.7%
Capital Gains Tax
None

Housing & Cost of Living

93
COL Index (100=avg)
95
$310K
Median Home Price
$310K
$1,350/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,150/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

540
Violent Crime / 100K
388
2,730
Property Crime / 100K
2,027
342
Sex Offenders / 100K
475
84
Homeless / 100K
145

Healthcare

#38 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#28 of 50
75.5 yrs
Life Expectancy
78.2 yrs
13.1%
Uninsured Rate
9%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#40 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#31 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$950/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$900/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$130/mo
$450/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$460/mo
#15 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#2 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+13.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+27.0

Category wins

2

South Carolina

11

South Dakota

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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