State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Middle-Class Families

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last updated 8 December 2022

Almost 28 million Americans moved in 2021. That's over 8% of the country's entire population. Many of those moves were from one state to another, which can have a significant impact on your overall state tax burden. That's because there are wide variations in taxes by state. In fact, for a typical middle-class family, relocating to another state can knock your state tax bill up or down by thousands of dollars. You could, for instance, go from a state with no income taxes to one with very high taxes. Other state and local taxes ‒ like sales taxes and property taxes ‒ can vary dramatically from one state to another, too. That's why it's so important to understand the tax consequences of an interstate move before you pack up the moving van.

The map below will help you compare taxes by state for middle-class families. (The state tax burden may be different for people in other income levels, retirees, or others with unique financial circumstances.) Hover over and click on any state in the map to open detailed information about its income, sales, property, gasoline, cigarette, and other taxes that affect middle-income Americans. Or, in the alternative, you can also click on the state-specific links near the bottom of this page to get the full tax picture for a particular state.

Also check out the tax-specific articles listed below the map, including our picks for the 10 most tax-friendly states and the 10 least tax-friendly states in the U.S. for middle-class families. (Retirees, visit our Retiree Tax Map to learn how each state taxes different kinds of retirement income and to discover special tax breaks for seniors.) If you're contemplating a move across state lines, hopefully this information on taxes by state will help you make a proper decision and/or avoid any state tax surprises in your new home.

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See the Full Tax Picture by State

SOURCES: State government websites, American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Census Bureau, Tax Foundation, Federation of Tax Administrators, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

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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.