Where you live changes everything.
Every state is scored on taxes, cost of living, income and housing, then ranked for the goals that actually move your money. Free to explore — no account.
Best States for Wealth Building
Where high income relative to cost of living and low taxes let you keep and grow the most.
- 1
New Hampshire
Northeast · median income $90,800
88/100
Wealth score
- 2
Utah
West · median income $86,800
83/100
Wealth score
- 3
Delaware
Northeast · median income $79,300
76/100
Wealth score
- 4
North Dakota
Midwest · median income $73,900
75/100
Wealth score
- 5
Virginia
South · median income $87,200
74/100
Wealth score
- 6
Colorado
West · median income $87,600
72/100
Wealth score
- 7
Wyoming
West · median income $72,500
72/100
Wealth score
- 8
Maryland
Northeast · median income $98,500
71/100
Wealth score
Best States for Young Professionals
Deep job markets, strong earning power and a manageable cost of living to launch a career.
- 1
New Jersey
Northeast · median income $97,100
76/100
Opportunity
- 2
Texas
South · median income $73,000
74/100
Opportunity
- 3
California
West · median income $91,900
73/100
Opportunity
- 4
Massachusetts
Northeast · median income $96,500
73/100
Opportunity
- 5
Minnesota
Midwest · median income $84,300
72/100
Opportunity
- 6
Connecticut
Northeast · median income $90,200
70/100
Opportunity
- 7
Maryland
Northeast · median income $98,500
70/100
Opportunity
- 8
Virginia
South · median income $87,200
70/100
Opportunity
Best States for Homeownership
Where the median income buys the most home and property taxes stay reasonable.
- 1
West Virginia
South · median income $55,200
$170K
Avg home price
- 2
Alabama
South · median income $59,600
$235K
Avg home price
- 3
Mississippi
South · median income $52,900
$180K
Avg home price
- 4
Arkansas
South · median income $56,300
$210K
Avg home price
- 5
Louisiana
South · median income $57,900
$240K
Avg home price
- 6
Indiana
Midwest · median income $67,200
$250K
Avg home price
- 7
Oklahoma
South · median income $61,400
$220K
Avg home price
- 8
Kentucky
South · median income $60,900
$230K
Avg home price
Best States for Retirement
Low overall taxes, gentle cost of living and affordable healthcare for a fixed income.
- 1
Tennessee
South · median income $64,000
87/100
Retirement score
- 2
South Dakota
Midwest · median income $69,500
82/100
Retirement score
- 3
Wyoming
West · median income $72,500
79/100
Retirement score
- 4
West Virginia
South · median income $55,200
77/100
Retirement score
- 5
Mississippi
South · median income $52,900
74/100
Retirement score
- 6
Alabama
South · median income $59,600
73/100
Retirement score
- 7
Nevada
West · median income $71,600
70/100
Retirement score
- 8
Arkansas
South · median income $56,300
69/100
Retirement score
Best States for Families
Affordable housing, everyday costs and healthcare for raising a household.
- 1
Kansas
Midwest · median income $69,700
93/100
Family score
- 2
Oklahoma
South · median income $61,400
88/100
Family score
- 3
Iowa
Midwest · median income $70,600
86/100
Family score
- 4
Mississippi
South · median income $52,900
83/100
Family score
- 5
West Virginia
South · median income $55,200
83/100
Family score
- 6
Ohio
Midwest · median income $66,900
82/100
Family score
- 7
Missouri
Midwest · median income $65,900
80/100
Family score
- 8
Arkansas
South · median income $56,300
79/100
Family score
Lowest Tax States
Combined state income, sales and property tax burden — from lightest to heaviest.
- 1
Wyoming
West · median income $72,500
2.2%
Tax burden
- 2
Alaska
West · median income $86,400
1.6%
Tax burden
- 3
Nevada
West · median income $71,600
3%
Tax burden
- 4
Delaware
Northeast · median income $79,300
5.1%
Tax burden
- 5
Tennessee
South · median income $64,000
3.4%
Tax burden
- 6
Florida
South · median income $67,900
3%
Tax burden
- 7
New Hampshire
Northeast · median income $90,800
1.6%
Tax burden
- 8
Montana
West · median income $70,800
5.2%
Tax burden
Most Affordable States
Lowest overall cost-of-living index — your dollar stretches furthest here.
- 1
Mississippi
South · median income $52,900
86
Cost of living
- 2
Oklahoma
South · median income $61,400
87
Cost of living
- 3
Arkansas
South · median income $56,300
87
Cost of living
- 4
West Virginia
South · median income $55,200
88
Cost of living
- 5
Kansas
Midwest · median income $69,700
88
Cost of living
- 6
Alabama
South · median income $59,600
88
Cost of living
- 7
Missouri
Midwest · median income $65,900
89
Cost of living
- 8
Ohio
Midwest · median income $66,900
90
Cost of living
Best States for Trades
Strong blue-collar demand and earning power against a low cost of living.
- 1
Texas
South · median income $73,000
77/100
Trades score
- 2
Kansas
Midwest · median income $69,700
74/100
Trades score
- 3
Minnesota
Midwest · median income $84,300
73/100
Trades score
- 4
Illinois
Midwest · median income $78,400
72/100
Trades score
- 5
Michigan
Midwest · median income $68,500
70/100
Trades score
- 6
Ohio
Midwest · median income $66,900
70/100
Trades score
- 7
Iowa
Midwest · median income $70,600
69/100
Trades score
- 8
Georgia
South · median income $72,800
66/100
Trades score
Best States for Tech
Highest-paying markets with the deepest concentration of tech and knowledge jobs.
- 1
New Jersey
Northeast · median income $97,100
$97.1K
Median income
- 2
Maryland
Northeast · median income $98,500
$98.5K
Median income
- 3
Massachusetts
Northeast · median income $96,500
$96.5K
Median income
- 4
Connecticut
Northeast · median income $90,200
$90.2K
Median income
- 5
Virginia
South · median income $87,200
$87.2K
Median income
- 6
New Hampshire
Northeast · median income $90,800
$90.8K
Median income
- 7
California
West · median income $91,900
$91.9K
Median income
- 8
Colorado
West · median income $87,600
$87.6K
Median income
Best States for Small Business
Low tax drag, strong incomes and active metros to start and grow a business.
- 1
Washington
West · median income $90,300
86/100
Small-biz score
- 2
New Hampshire
Northeast · median income $90,800
85/100
Small-biz score
- 3
Alaska
West · median income $86,400
84/100
Small-biz score
- 4
Delaware
Northeast · median income $79,300
77/100
Small-biz score
- 5
Colorado
West · median income $87,600
76/100
Small-biz score
- 6
Wyoming
West · median income $72,500
73/100
Small-biz score
- 7
Utah
West · median income $86,800
72/100
Small-biz score
- 8
Arizona
West · median income $72,600
69/100
Small-biz score
Location figures are educational estimates and should be verified with current local sources.
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