It’s no secret that many middle-class families are struggling. Higher grocery expenses and housing costs are major factors, but high tax burdens can make matters worse. If you live in one of the least tax-friendly states for middle-class families, you probably know this too well.
Least tax-friendly states for the middle-class
Median salaries can differ greatly from state to state, so to determine which states have the highest tax burden for households with middle incomes, we considered each state’s median annual salary. Then, we calculated the average annual tax spent for three main tax categories: state income tax, property taxes, and sales taxes on essential items (groceries, diapers, and feminine hygiene products).
- We didn’t consider sales tax for states that don’t tax essentials at the state level.
- It is important to note that local sales taxes may apply.
- (See below for full details about the methodology Kiplinger used to rank the states for this story.)
The states with the highest percentage of income spent on state taxes made our list. And here they are.
