10 Least Tax-Friendly States for Middle-Class Families

It can cost your family thousands of dollars each year if you end up in one of the worst states for taxes after a move.

U.S. map made of dollar bills
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you and your family pull up stakes and move from one state to another, make sure you don't end up in one of the least tax-friendly states for middle-class families. Your federal income tax bill won't change just because you crossed a state line, but the same can't be said about your overall state and local tax liability. Moving from a low-tax state to a high-tax state can literally cost you thousands of dollars each year. Your income, sales, property, and other state and local taxes can all be higher in your new location. That's why people who are contemplating a move to a different state need to do their homework before hiring the movers.

If you don't want to end up in a state with higher taxes than the one you're in right now, one of the first things you need to know is which states to avoid. And we can help with that. When creating our State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Middle-Class Families, we estimated the overall income, sales, and property tax burden in each state and the District of Columbia for a hypothetical married couple with two children, combined wages of $77,000, $3,000 of other income, and a $300,000 home.

That information also allowed us to cobble together the following list of the 10 least tax-friendly states for middle-class families (the least-friendly state is listed last). So, if you and your family are considering packing your bags and moving to another state, make sure you check out the list before finalizing your decision. It might make you think twice before relocating. (A complete description of our ranking methodology and sources of information is at the end of this article.)

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Rocky Mengle

Rocky Mengle was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023 with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, Rocky worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.