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Utah
Moderate tax burden · COL index 101
Wins 10 categories
VS
California
Moderate tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 4 categories
California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Utah's 4.65%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 41% higher than Utah (index 101). The median home in California costs $790K vs $500K in Utah. Politically, Utah voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).
Taxes
4.65%
Income Tax (top rate)
13.3%
0.44%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.71%/yr
7.19%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.82%
No
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income
Housing & Cost of Living
101
COL Index (100=avg)
142
$500K
Median Home Price
$790K
$1,650/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,300/mo
$900/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr
Crime & Safety
237
Violent Crime / 100K
499
2,280
Property Crime / 100K
2,027
Healthcare
#31 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#13 of 50
79.2 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
9.8%
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes
Education
#37 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#20 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
No
Childcare
$1,150/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,200/mo
Utilities & Daily Costs
$110/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$175/mo
$490/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$620/mo
#17 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#49 of 50
Social Policy
F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+13.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+20.0
Category wins
10
Utah
4
California
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