State comparison
Texas vs Washington: which state is better to live in?
Washington costs a median household about $390 a year less in state and local taxes than Texas, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $4,788 a year against $5,440 in Texas, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 117 against 97).
Texas
Moderate tax burden · COL index 97
Wins 6 categories
Washington
Moderate tax burden · COL index 117
Wins 8 categories
Taxes: Texas vs Washington
Neither Texas nor Washington has a state income tax, so wages are untouched at the state level in both.
Property tax is 1.60% of home value a year in Texas and 0.84% in Washington (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $5,440 against $4,788, so Washington has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.19% in Texas and 9.38% in Washington; Texas is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $7,272 a year in Texas, $6,887 in Washington. Washington is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Texas's cost of living index is 97 and Washington's is 117, where 100 is the national average; Texas is about 21% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $340K in Texas and $570K in Washington (Zillow, 2024), a $230K gap in Texas's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,600 a month in Texas and $2,000 in Washington.
Home insurance averages $3,200 a year in Texas and $900 in Washington, so Washington is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 447 incidents per 100,000 residents in Texas and 347 in Washington (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Washington is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 29% lower. Property crime is 2,478 per 100,000 in Texas against 3,187 in Washington, again favoring Texas.
Health
Life expectancy is 76.3 years in Texas and 79.3 in Washington (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 3.0-year edge for Washington. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Texas's health system 36th of 50 and Washington's 10th, so Washington scores better on care.
18.4% of Texas residents have no health insurance against 6.5% in Washington, which favors Washington. Washington expanded Medicaid and Texas did not.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Texas's K-12 schools 36th in the country and Washington's 7th, 29 places apart in Washington's favor. Texas runs a school-choice voucher program; Washington does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Texas went to Trump by 14 points and Washington went to Harris by 16 points.
Texas has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Washington has shall-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so Washington regulates guns more tightly and Texas is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in Texas and protected by state law in Washington, and marijuana is medical only in Texas and legal for adults in Washington as of 2026. The minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in Texas and $16.28 in Washington.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is very high in Texas (hurricane, tornado, flood) and high in Washington (wildfire, earthquake, flood), so Washington is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 43 in Texas and 40 in Washington (under 50 is good), favoring Washington.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
6
Texas
8
Washington
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Texas or Washington better to live in?
Washington wins more of the measures that decide a move. Washington on taxes ($6,887 a year for a median household against $7,272); Texas on everyday costs (index 97 against 117); Washington on safety (347 violent crimes per 100,000 against 447); Washington on schools (ranked 7th against 36th).
Which is cheaper, Texas or Washington?
Texas is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 97 against 117. The median home is $340K in Texas and $570K in Washington (2024). On state and local taxes Washington saves a median household about $390 a year.
Does Texas or Washington have lower taxes?
Washington. A household earning $74,580 pays about $7,272 a year in Texas ($0 income tax, $5,440 property tax on the median home and $1,832 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.
Which is safer, Texas or Washington?
Washington, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 447 per 100,000 residents in Texas and 347 in Washington; property crime is 2,478 against 3,187.
Which has better schools, Texas or Washington?
Washington. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Texas 36th of 50 for K-12 and Washington 7th. Texas also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Texas or Washington better for retirees?
Texas is friendlier to retirees on paper. Texas does not tax Social Security, 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 $5,440 a year in Texas and $4,788 in Washington.