Washingtonno income tax, 25th highest property tax, median home $570K
D+16 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 117
0%
Income Tax
347
Violent Crime / 100K
79.3
Life Expectancy
$570K
Median Home
$2,100
Childcare / Mo
Washington in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Washington
Washington has no income tax on wages but since 2022 taxes long-term capital gains above $278,000 at 7% and above $1,000,000 at 9%, and it has an estate tax with a $3 million exemption starting in 2025. Sales tax is high, over 10% in Seattle. Home prices in King County are among the highest in the country. The state does not tax retirement income of any kind.
What Washington taxes, and what it doesn't
Washington has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Alaska, Florida, Nevada and 5 others.
Property tax runs 0.84% of home value a year, roughly $4,788 on the state's median home of $570K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Washington has the 25th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.38%, the 4th highest in the country (the state portion is 6.5%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and an estate tax applies above $2.193 million.
Capital gains are taxed at a special rate of 7%.
Housing and the cost of living in Washington
Washington's cost of living index is 117, where 100 is the national average; that is the 7th most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $570K, 88% above the national figure and the 4th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $2,000 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $900 a year, flood coverage adds about $550 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,580.
Budget $95 a month for electricity and gas, $590 a month in groceries for two, $2,100 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 347 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Washington is the 24th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 3,187 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 79.3 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 6.5% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Washington's health system 10th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 7th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Washington is a solidly Democratic state that went to Harris by 16 points in 2024.
On guns, concealed-carry permits are shall-issue, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws A.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Washington is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $16.28 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is high. The main hazards are wildfire, earthquake, flood. Annual average air quality index is 40 (under 50 is good).
Washington has a major hub airport, with about 155 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Washington
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
No income tax but 7% capital gains tax on gains over $250K
Property Tax
~$4,788/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
7% tax on long-term capital gains over $250K threshold
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
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Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Above US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs are common (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
More restrictive than most states (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
State registration and consumer-protection requirements; local licensing/caps.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Above national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
High homelessness rate; 51% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Washington
Healthcare#10 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Top tier
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #7 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
Top 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$2,100/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs$95/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Cleaner than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Below national avg
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel155+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle84% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
5.6/100K residents: Strong scene
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Seattle grunge heritage (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden); Sasquatch! Festival; Pike Brewing; Chehalis distillery corridor
Transportation$1,580/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$16.28/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
No gestational limit; strong state protections
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
29 tribal casinos. Card rooms legal. Sports betting via tribal casinos and retail only (no mobile).
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Bare Buns Fun Run (Spokane) · Lake Associates Naturist Club · Western Outdoor Club
Environment & ClimateAQI 40▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+16 · gun law grade A▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Prohibited in bars/bar areas; restaurant dining areas allowed.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy4.4% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.8% job growth · 4.4% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the most unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#15 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
1.5% gross receipts tax applies
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Business & Occupation (B&O) gross receipts tax; rates range 0.138%–1.5% by activity type
Daily Life$3.88/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well above avg (+0.58 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Ground-based only; aerial/explosive banned statewide
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required for all riders (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks78°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 46°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards31/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Murder Hornets
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits82/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
8.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet property tax exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Washington counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Washington
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
WA vs MD
Washington vs Maryland
COL 117 vs 116 · No vs 6.5% income tax
Full comparison →
WA vs CT
Washington vs Connecticut
COL 117 vs 114 · No vs 6.99% income tax
Full comparison →
WA vs NH
Washington vs New Hampshire
COL 117 vs 114 · No vs No income tax
Full comparison →
WA vs RI
Washington vs Rhode Island
COL 117 vs 114 · No vs 5.99% income tax
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.