State comparison
U.S. Virgin Islands vs Washington: which state is better to live in?
U.S. Virgin Islands costs a median household about $6,000 a year less in state and local taxes than Washington, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $910 a year against $4,788 in Washington, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 128 against 117).
U.S. Virgin Islands
Low tax burden · COL index 128
Wins 3 categories
Washington
Moderate tax burden · COL index 117
Wins 2 categories
Taxes: U.S. Virgin Islands vs Washington
U.S. Virgin Islands has a graduated income tax topping out at 37%, 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 0.30% of home value a year in U.S. Virgin Islands and 0.84% in Washington (Tax Foundation, 2023), so U.S. Virgin Islands has the lower rate.
U.S. Virgin 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: $910 a year in U.S. Virgin Islands, $6,887 in Washington. U.S. Virgin Islands is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
U.S. Virgin Islands's cost of living index is 128 and Washington's is 117, where 100 is the national average; Washington is about 9% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election U.S. Virgin Islands went to Harris by 40 points and Washington went to Harris by 16 points.
U.S. Virgin Islands has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of A-; Washington has shall-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so Washington regulates guns more tightly and U.S. Virgin 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 tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
3
U.S. Virgin Islands
2
Washington
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is U.S. Virgin Islands or Washington better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. U.S. Virgin Islands on taxes ($910 a year for a median household against $6,887); Washington on everyday costs (index 117 against 128).
Which is cheaper, U.S. Virgin Islands or Washington?
Washington is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 117 against 128. On state and local taxes U.S. Virgin Islands saves a median household about $6,000 a year.
Does U.S. Virgin Islands or Washington have lower taxes?
U.S. Virgin Islands. A household earning $74,580 pays about $910 a year in U.S. Virgin Islands ($0 income tax, $910 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 U.S. Virgin Islands or Washington better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. U.S. Virgin 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 $910 a year in U.S. Virgin Islands and $4,788 in Washington.