a landable guide
At $150k, a 9% state income tax costs $13,500 a year. These cities charge low or zero state income tax and have the lifestyle to back it up.
By Karol Gajda
At $150k gross, rent stops being the binding constraint and state income tax takes over. A 9% state rate, the kind California, New York, and Oregon levy, costs $13,500 a year at that income. The dollar gap between a high-tax and a no-tax state becomes the biggest single line a move can change.
This list filters for state income tax rates under 5% and then ranks by quality of life, because a lower tax bill only matters if you actually want to live there. Every blurb reports the rough annual state-tax figure at $150k against the $13,500 a 9% state would charge.
01
Photo by Rolando Yera on Unsplash
FL · 6.2M metro
Miami tops the $150k list: no state income tax, versus $13,500 a year in a 9% state, plus 272 pleasant days at $2,665 median rent.
0%
state and local income tax
$2,665
median rent / month
272
pleasant days a year
02
Photo by Chad Populis on Pexels
LA · 962k metro
New Orleans lands second with about $4,500 a year in state income tax at $150k, well below the $13,500 a high-tax state charges, and 235 pleasant days.
3.0%
state and local income tax
$1,612
median rent / month
235
pleasant days a year
03
Photo by Thom Milkovic on Unsplash
WA · 4.0M metro
Seattle takes third: no state income tax, $2,193 rent, and 182 pleasant days. The tax math and the lifestyle both check out.
0%
state and local income tax
$2,193
median rent / month
182
pleasant days a year
04
Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash
FL · 262k metro
Sarasota pairs no state income tax with 249 pleasant days and $2,121 median rent. A lower tax line without a lifestyle compromise.
0%
state and local income tax
$2,121
median rent / month
249
pleasant days a year
05
Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash
CO · 3.0M metro
Denver earns its spot on both fronts: about $6,600 a year in state income tax at $150k, $1,863 rent, 174 pleasant days.
4.4%
state and local income tax
$1,863
median rent / month
174
pleasant days a year
06
AL · 412k metro
Mobile is the mid-list pick that delivers at $150k: about $7,500 a year in state income tax, 225 pleasant days, $1,302 rent.
5.0%
state and local income tax
$1,302
median rent / month
225
pleasant days a year
07
PA · 2.4M metro
Pittsburgh clears the bar with about $4,605 a year in state income tax, 161 pleasant days, and $1,473 median rent.
3.1%
state and local income tax
$1,473
median rent / month
161
pleasant days a year
08
Photo by Randuski Dowell on Unsplash
NV · 565k metro
Reno keeps the high-earner case simple: no state income tax and 201 pleasant days at $1,908 a month.
0%
state and local income tax
$1,908
median rent / month
201
pleasant days a year
09
Photo by Joshua Burdick on Unsplash
FL · 530k metro
Pensacola lands near the bottom of the ten and still earns it: no state income tax, $1,752 rent, 226 pleasant days.
0%
state and local income tax
$1,752
median rent / month
226
pleasant days a year
10
Photo by Matt Koffel on Unsplash
OH · 2.3M metro
Cincinnati rounds out the $150k list: about $5,985 a year in state income tax, 162 pleasant days, $1,549 median rent.
4.0%
state and local income tax
$1,549
median rent / month
162
pleasant days a year
We rank by 25% weather, 25% parks, 20% affordability, 15% things to do, and 15% walkability, filtered to a state income tax rate under 5%.
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