California
D+20 · High tax burden · COL index 142
13.3%
Income Tax
499
Violent Crime / 100K
79.2
Life Expectancy
$790K
Median Home
$2,200
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$5,609/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
No preferential rate; taxed as ordinary income
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Airports & Travel
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle
Urban Population
Highly urban — big city feel
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
More secular
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.7/100K residents — Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
One of the nation's top distillery states
Live Music
LA + SF + SD dominate — every genre covered; Coachella, Outside Lands, BottleRock
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
Abortion Access
State constitution protects abortion rights; no gestational limit
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Largest tribal casino market in US (60+ casinos). Commercial card rooms legal (poker, pai gow). Sports betting ballot measures have failed repeatedly.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Black's Beach (La Jolla) · Baker Beach (San Francisco) · Pirate's Cove (Avila Beach) · Glen Eden Sun Club
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Poor — can affect health
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Job Market
+1.1% job growth · 5.4% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Daily Life
Gas Price (Regular)
Well above avg (+1.42 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Only 'Safe & Sane' non-aerial fireworks; aerial/explosive banned. Many cities ban all fireworks.
Weather & Natural Risks
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 57°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Veteran Benefits
Veteran-Friendly Score
5.8% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
$4K–$180K exemption based on disability
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore California counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in California
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
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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 UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.