Low-Tax States for 'Middle-Class' Families

Here are the best states for 'middle-class' families (taxpayers with middle incomes) due to low tax burdens.

Three houses in a middle-class neighborhood with cars parked out front
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you hate paying taxes, and you want to keep more of your income, you might consider moving to one of these states that have a relatively low tax burden for middle-income families. After all, the cost of living for families considered to be “middle-class” is high enough as it is, and who doesn’t want to pay less taxes?

'Tax Friendly' States for Middle-Income Families

Median salaries can differ greatly from state to state, so we considered each state's median annual salary to determine which states have the lowest tax burden for households with middle incomes. Then, we calculated the average annual tax spent for three tax categories: state income tax, property taxes, and sales taxes on essential items (groceries, diapers, and feminine hygiene products). States with the lowest tax burden are considered to be "tax-friendly " for these rankings.

Sales tax was not calculated for states that don't tax essentials at the state level. However, it is important to note that local sales taxes may apply. The states with the lowest percentage of income spent on state taxes made our list. And here they are.

Note: See below for full details about the methodology Kiplinger used to rank the states for this story.

Katelyn Washington
Tax Writer

Katelyn has more than 6 years’ experience working in tax and finance. While she specializes in tax content, Katelyn has also written for digital publications on topics including insurance, retirement and financial planning and has had financial advice commissioned by national print publications. She believes that knowledge is the key to success and enjoys helping others reach their goals by providing content that educates and informs.