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Wisconsin

High tax burden · COL index 93

Wins 10 categories

VS

California

High tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 2 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Wisconsin's 7.65%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 53% higher than Wisconsin (index 93). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Wisconsin averages 1.51% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $285K in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin
California

Taxes

7.65%
Income Tax (top rate)
13.3%
1.51%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.71%/yr
5.43%
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

93
COL Index (100=avg)
142
$285K
Median Home Price
$790K
$1,200/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,300/mo
$1K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

295
Violent Crime / 100K
499
1,787
Property Crime / 100K
2,027

Healthcare

#8 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#13 of 50
78.1 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
5.7%
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
No
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

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

Childcare

$1,250/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$135/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$175/mo
$470/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$620/mo
#11 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#49 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+1.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+20.0

Category wins

10

Wisconsin

2

California

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People Also Ask

How much more expensive is California than Wisconsin?

Overall cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 51.4% higher than in Milwaukee, WI. The average listing price for a home in Los Angeles, CA is $1,350,980, which is 133.3% higher than Milwaukee, WI. The average cost of groceries in Los Angeles, CA is 8.8% higher than Milwaukee, WI.

Is $70,000 enough to live in California?

Is Wisconsin the best state to live in?

Why are people moving to Wisconsin?

Full Wisconsin Profile →Full California Profile →

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Annual Income

$150K
$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

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Social Security

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My Property Is Worth

$400K
Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K
Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

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Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

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Airport Access

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City vs Country

Mid-size city
Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

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Food Scene

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Political Preference

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Gun Laws

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Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

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Community

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Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

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Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral
Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral
Singles sceneFamily community