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Virginia

Moderate tax burden · COL index 102

Wins 9 categories

VS

California

High tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Virginia's 5.75%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 39% higher than Virginia (index 102). The median home in California costs $790K vs $390K in Virginia.

Virginia
California

Taxes

5.75%
Income Tax (top rate)
13.3%
0.74%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.71%/yr
5.73%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.82%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

102
COL Index (100=avg)
142
$390K
Median Home Price
$790K
$1,700/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,300/mo
$1K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

197
Violent Crime / 100K
499
1,617
Property Crime / 100K
2,027

Healthcare

#16 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#13 of 50
77.9 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
8.1%
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#10 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#20 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$1,550/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$140/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$175/mo
$530/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$620/mo
#13 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#49 of 50

Social Policy

A-
Gun Laws Grade
A
D+3.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+20.0

Category wins

9

Virginia

3

California

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

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People Also Ask

Is it better to live in Virginia or California?

Affordability. Though the cost of living in Virginia is higher than the national average, it is certainly more affordable than many places in California. In fact, Los Angeles in 82% more expensive than Richmond, Virginia and San Francisco is 81% higher.

What is the downfall of living in Virginia?

Is $100,000 low income in California?

And still be classified as lowincome nowhere is that more pronounced than in Santa Clara. County where people making under $111,700. A year are now defined. As low income. If you make $111,000.

Are more people moving to or leaving Virginia?

Between 2019 and 2022, Virginia saw more people leaving the state and moving to other parts of the country. However, in 2023, there was a reversal in this trend with more people moving into the Commonwealth from different states than people leaving Virginia. This net positive migration flow continued in 2024.

Full Virginia Profile →Full California Profile →

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Young areaRetirement-heavy

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Singles sceneFamily community