West Virginia vs Wisconsin: taxes, cost of living, laws

West Virginia

Moderate tax burden · COL index 82

Wins 8 categories

Wisconsin

Moderate tax burden · COL index 93

Wins 5 categories

Wisconsin's top income tax rate is 7.65% vs West Virginia's 5.12%. Cost of living in Wisconsin (index 93) runs 13% higher than West Virginia (index 82). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Wisconsin averages 1.51% annually vs West Virginia's 0.57%. The median home in Wisconsin costs $285K vs $155K in West Virginia.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Taxes

5.12%

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

0.57%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.51%/yr

6.37%

Sales Tax (avg)

5.43%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$155K

Median Home Price

$285K

$900/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,200/mo

$1K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

278

Violent Crime / 100K

295

1,380

Property Crime / 100K

1,787

356

Sex Offenders / 100K

463

101

Homeless / 100K

Healthcare

#46 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#8 of 50

71.9 yrs

Life Expectancy

78.1 yrs

6.6%

Uninsured Rate

5.7%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Education

#49 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#11 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$850/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,250/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$125/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$135/mo

$400/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$470/mo

#45 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#11 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

R+36.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+1.0

Category wins

West Virginia

Wisconsin

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

Score For My Profile →