Trying to decide between two states — for a move, a job offer, a remote-work base, or just out of curiosity? The US State Comparison Tool puts any two of the 50 states (plus Washington, DC) side by side across the numbers that actually matter: population and size, household income, state taxes, and the cost of living.
Pick a state on each side, or tap two states right on the map. You get a clean, ad-free comparison sheet with each state’s figures, where it ranks nationally, and a marker on the more favorable value — while the map shades all 51 jurisdictions by whatever metric you’re looking at, so you instantly see how your two states stack up against the rest of the country.
Every figure comes from an authoritative public source — the US Census Bureau, the Tax Foundation, and MERIC — and each is dated and cited so you know exactly what you’re looking at.
Compare any two states on the map
How to use the state comparison tool
- Choose your first state in the State A picker (or tap it on the map).
- Choose your second state in the State B picker, or tap a second state on the map.
- Read the side-by-side panel: each metric shows both states’ values and their national rank out of 51.
- Tap any metric row — or a chip above the map — to shade the map by that metric and see the national picture.
- Use Swap to flip the two states, and copy the page URL to share your exact comparison (it remembers both states and the selected metric).
What you can compare
Population & size
Total population (2020 Census), total area in square miles, population density, and electoral votes. Compare a dense, populous state like California or New York with a wide-open one like Wyoming or Montana.
Income & economy
Median household income from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey — a quick read on typical earning power before you weigh it against local costs and taxes.
Taxes
Each state’s top marginal individual income tax rate and its state sales tax rate (2025, Tax Foundation). Spot the nine no-income-tax states at a glance, and see how sales taxes differ even between neighbors.
Cost of living
The MERIC cost-of-living index, where the US average is 100. A higher number means a more expensive state overall — essential context for comparing salaries or planning a move.
Where the data comes from
Population and total area come from the US Census (2020) via Wikidata; median household income from the US Census ACS 2023; income and sales tax rates from the Tax Foundation (2025); the cost-of-living index from MERIC; and the map geometry from us-atlas / Census TIGER. Data is current as of 2025.
A note on the tax figures: income tax rates shown are statutory top marginal rates, not the effective rate most people pay, and sales tax is the state statutory rate before local add-ons. Treat them as a comparison starting point, not tax advice — verify current rates before any financial decision.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states levy no broad-based individual income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. (Washington taxes only high capital gains, and New Hampshire’s tax on interest and dividends was repealed for 2025.) In the tool these show a 0% top income tax rate.
Which states have the lowest cost of living?
By the MERIC cost-of-living index (US average = 100), the most affordable states are typically Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama and Kansas, all well below the national average. Shade the map by “Cost of living” to see the full ranking at a glance.
How do I compare two states?
Choose a state in the State A and State B pickers, or simply tap two states on the map. The side-by-side panel updates instantly with both states’ figures, the national rank of each, and a marker showing the more favorable value where one direction is clearly better.
Are these the effective tax rates I would actually pay?
No. The income tax figure is each state’s statutory top marginal rate, and the sales tax figure is the state statutory rate (excluding local add-ons). Your effective tax burden depends on your income, deductions, county and spending. Always verify current rates before making a financial decision.
What year is the data from?
Tax rates are 2025 (Tax Foundation), median household income is the 2023 American Community Survey (US Census Bureau), the cost-of-living index is the latest MERIC release, and population and area come from the 2020 Census via Wikidata. Each source is listed in the tool’s footer.
Does this include Washington, DC?
Yes. All 50 states plus the District of Columbia are included, for 51 jurisdictions in total. National ranks are calculated out of 51.
How is the cost of living index calculated?
The MERIC index is a composite of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services, scaled so that the US average equals 100. A value of 110 means living costs are about 10% above the national average; 90 means about 10% below.
Where does the data come from?
Population and area come from the US Census (via Wikidata), income and sales tax rates from the Tax Foundation, median household income from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the cost-of-living index from MERIC, and the map geometry from us-atlas / Census TIGER. Every source is cited on the tool and in the page below.
Related Mappr tools
Comparing countries instead? Try the Country Comparison Tool. Weighing specific cities, use the Cost of Living Comparison. Explore population on the Population Explorer, see how big places really are with True Size of Countries, or look up your own boundaries with What County Am I In? Browse all of our free map tools.