What you owe in state and local taxes varies by $10,000 or more depending on where you live. A family earning $100,000 pays effectively zero state income tax in Florida but over $8,000 in California. This guide ranks all 50 states by total tax burden for 2026 — income tax, sales tax, property tax, and effective rates for different incomes.
2026 State Tax Rankings: Overall (Best to Worst)
Rank
State
No Income Tax
Sales Tax (combined)
Property Tax (eff. rate)
Overall Tax Burden
Grade
1
Wyoming
✅
5.36%
0.56%
Very Low
A+
2
Nevada
✅
8.23%
0.53%
Very Low
A+
3
Florida
✅
7.01%
0.86%
Low
A
4
Alaska
✅
1.76%
1.04%
Low
A
5
South Dakota
✅
6.40%
1.17%
Low
A
6
Tennessee
✅
9.55%
0.64%
Low
A-
7
New Hampshire
✅*
0.00%
1.86%
Low-Medium
B+
8
Texas
✅
8.20%
1.68%
Medium
B+
9
Washington
✅
9.29%
0.87%
Medium
B
10
North Dakota
No (1.95% max)
6.96%
0.98%
Medium
B
*New Hampshire taxes dividends and interest income only; that tax phases out completely in 2027.
The Middle 30 States
Rank
State
Income Tax Range
Sales Tax
Property Tax
Overall
11
Montana
1.0-6.75%
0.00%
0.74%
B
12
Indiana
3.05% flat
7.00%
0.81%
B
13
Utah
4.55% flat
7.19%
0.57%
B
14
Arizona
2.50% flat
8.37%
0.62%
B
15
Colorado
4.40% flat
7.77%
0.49%
B
16
Idaho
5.80% flat
6.02%
0.63%
B-
17
Oklahoma
0.25-4.75%
8.98%
0.87%
B-
18
North Carolina
4.50% flat
6.99%
0.80%
B-
19
Missouri
2.0-4.80%
8.29%
0.91%
B-
20
Alabama
2.0-5.0%
9.24%
0.40%
B-
21
Georgia
1.0-5.39%
7.37%
0.89%
C+
22
Michigan
4.25% flat
6.00%
1.38%
C+
23
South Carolina
0-6.40%
7.44%
0.56%
C+
24
Louisiana
1.85-4.25%
9.55%
0.55%
C+
25
Kentucky
4.00% flat
6.00%
0.83%
C+
26
Virginia
2.0-5.75%
5.75%
0.80%
C
27
West Virginia
2.36-5.12%
6.50%
0.57%
C
28
Arkansas
2.0-3.90%
9.45%
0.62%
C
29
Mississippi
0-5.0%
7.07%
0.65%
C
30
Ohio
0-3.50%
7.24%
1.53%
C
31
Nebraska
2.46-5.84%
6.94%
1.61%
C-
32
Kansas
3.1-5.7%
8.71%
1.33%
C-
33
Pennsylvania
3.07% flat
6.34%
1.49%
C-
34
Wisconsin
3.50-7.65%
5.43%
1.61%
C-
35
Iowa
4.40-5.70%
6.94%
1.52%
C-
36
Maine
5.80-7.15%
5.50%
1.24%
D+
37
Rhode Island
3.75-5.99%
7.00%
1.40%
D+
38
Vermont
3.35-8.75%
6.24%
1.83%
D+
39
Maryland
2.0-5.75% + local
6.00%
1.07%
D
40
Oregon
4.75-9.90%
0.00%
0.93%
D
The 10 Highest-Tax States
Rank
State
Income Tax Range
Sales Tax
Property Tax
Overall
41
Hawaii
1.40-11.0%
4.44%
0.31%
D
42
Massachusetts
5.00% flat + 4% surtax >$1M
6.25%
1.15%
D
43
Minnesota
5.35-9.85%
7.49%
1.08%
D-
44
Connecticut
3.0-6.99%
6.35%
1.79%
D-
45
Illinois
4.95% flat
8.82%
2.07%
D-
46
New Jersey
1.40-10.75%
6.63%
2.23%
F
47
California
1.0-13.3%
8.68%
0.71%
F
48
New York
4.0-10.9% + NYC 3.88%
8.52%
1.40%
F
49
Connecticut/NJ*
F
50
New York (NYC resident)
12.7-14.8% combined
8.88%
0.88%
F
Tax Bill Comparison by Income Level
$75,000 Household Income (Single, No Home)
State
Income Tax
Sales Tax (est.)
Total State/Local Tax
Savings vs. CA
Wyoming
$0
$1,600
$1,600
$5,600
Florida
$0
$2,100
$2,100
$5,100
Texas
$0
$2,460
$2,460
$4,740
Tennessee
$0
$2,870
$2,870
$4,330
North Carolina
$3,375
$2,100
$5,475
$1,725
Colorado
$3,300
$2,330
$5,630
$1,570
Georgia
$3,600
$2,210
$5,810
$1,390
California
$4,200
$3,000
$7,200
—
Minnesota
$5,100
$2,250
$7,350
-$150
New York (NYC)
$6,300
$2,660
$8,960
-$1,760
$150,000 Household Income (Married, Homeowners, $400K Home)
State
Income Tax
Property Tax
Sales Tax
Total Tax
Savings vs. CA
Wyoming
$0
$2,240
$3,200
$5,440
$15,160
Florida
$0
$3,440
$4,200
$7,640
$12,960
Nevada
$0
$2,120
$4,940
$7,060
$13,540
Texas
$0
$6,720
$4,920
$11,640
$8,960
North Carolina
$6,750
$3,200
$4,200
$14,150
$6,450
Colorado
$6,600
$1,960
$4,660
$13,220
$7,380
Georgia
$7,500
$3,560
$4,420
$15,480
$5,120
California
$10,800
$2,840
$6,960
$20,600
—
New Jersey
$7,200
$8,920
$3,980
$20,100
$500
New York (NYC)
$12,500
$5,600
$5,330
$23,430
-$2,830
$300,000 Household Income (Married, Homeowners, $600K Home)
State
Income Tax
Property Tax
Sales Tax
Total Tax
Savings vs. CA
Wyoming
$0
$3,360
$5,000
$8,360
$31,540
Florida
$0
$5,160
$6,500
$11,660
$28,240
Texas
$0
$10,080
$7,380
$17,460
$22,440
North Carolina
$13,500
$4,800
$6,300
$24,600
$15,300
Colorado
$13,200
$2,940
$6,990
$23,130
$16,770
California
$26,400
$4,260
$9,240
$39,900
—
New York
$21,000
$8,400
$7,660
$37,060
$2,840
New York (NYC)
$27,800
$5,280
$8,000
$41,080
-$1,180
At $300K income, moving from California to Wyoming saves $31,540/year in taxes — that’s $2,628/month.
Best States by Situation
Best States for High Earners ($200K+)
Rank
State
Why
Watch Out For
1
Wyoming
No income tax, low everything else
Remote location, limited services
2
Nevada
No income tax, near California amenities
High sales tax, desert climate
3
Florida
No income tax, strong economy, lifestyle
Hurricane insurance costs, humidity
4
Tennessee
No income tax, growing economy (Nashville)
High sales tax (9.55% combined)
5
Texas
No income tax, massive job market
Very high property taxes (1.68%)
Best States for Retirees
Rank
State
Why
Watch Out For
1
Wyoming
No income tax on any retirement income
Cold winters, remote
2
Florida
No income tax, no estate tax, warm climate
Hurricane insurance, flood risk
3
Nevada
No income tax, no inheritance tax
Hot summers in Las Vegas
4
South Dakota
No income tax, low COL
Very cold winters
5
Tennessee
No income tax, moderate climate
Sales tax on groceries
Best States for Families
Rank
State
Why
Watch Out For
1
Utah
Low effective rate, great schools, family culture
Higher income tax (4.55%)
2
Florida
No income tax, outdoor lifestyle
Schools vary widely by district
3
Indiana
Low flat tax (3.05%), affordable housing
Limited major metro areas
4
North Carolina
Flat 4.50%, growing economy, good weather
Hurricane risk on coast
5
Colorado
Flat 4.40%, outdoor lifestyle, strong schools
Rising housing costs
Worst States for Each Situation
Situation
Worst States
Why
High earners
California, New York, New Jersey
10-13%+ top income tax rates
Retirees
Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut
Tax most retirement income + high property taxes
Shoppers/consumers
Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama
9%+ combined sales tax on most purchases
Homeowners
New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut
1.79-2.23% effective property tax rates
2026 Tax Law Changes by State
State
Change
Impact
Arizona
Flat 2.50% tax now fully implemented
Saved taxpayers earning $100K about $1,200 vs. old graduated rates
Massachusetts
4% surtax on income >$1M still in effect
Millionaires pay 9% on income over $1M
Iowa
Continued rate reduction (flat 3.90% target by 2027)
Middle-income taxpayers saving $500-$1,500/year
Mississippi
Income tax phase-out in progress
Gradual elimination of income tax over 10 years
New Hampshire
Dividends/interest tax ends in 2027
Soon will be fully no-income-tax state
Idaho
Flat 5.80% rate (simplified from graduated)
Simplification, slight savings for higher earners
Should You Move for Tax Savings?
The Break-Even Analysis
Your Income
Tax Savings (CA → FL)
Moving Cost
Break-Even
$75,000
$5,100/year
$10,000-$20,000
2-4 years
$100,000
$7,500/year
$10,000-$20,000
1-3 years
$150,000
$13,000/year
$15,000-$25,000
1-2 years
$300,000
$31,500/year
$15,000-$30,000
Under 1 year
Don’t Forget These Factors
Factor
Why It Matters
Cost of living difference
Lower taxes may be offset by higher housing/gas/groceries
Job market and salary
Moving to a no-tax state may come with a salary cut
Quality of schools
Some low-tax states have underfunded schools
Healthcare access
Some low-tax rural states have limited healthcare
Social network and family
The non-financial cost of moving is real
Bottom line: Moving purely for tax savings makes clear financial sense at $150K+ income. Below that, the savings need to align with lifestyle preferences to be worthwhile.
WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.
The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy
