Economy

Here are the 10 states where the middle class pays the most in taxes — and the 9 states where they pay no state income tax at all

By Cork Gaines
Hawaiians pay more of their income toward state taxes than any other state.
Hawaiians pay more of their income toward state taxes than any other state. simonkr/ Getty Images
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The amount of taxes you pay is strongly influenced by where you live, and some states are collecting more of your income than others.

A study from personal finance company WalletHub, which was published in February, examined the tax burden for people in different income brackets for all 50 states and DC. The 10 states with the harshest taxes on the middle class come from all areas of the country and have an even mixture of red and blue political leanings.

To determine the tax burden, WalletHub looked at the percentage of a resident's income in each state that goes to sales and excise taxes, property taxes, and income taxes. It also looked at the amount of taxes paid at three different income levels, with $25,000 defined as "low," $50,000 for "medium," and $150,000 as "high."

Hawai'i was ranked as the worst state for middle-income earners, with 13.62% of earnings going to state taxes. Meanwhile, Alaska had the lowest tax rate for the middle class, with 4.98% of income paid in taxes.

New York and Illinois — home to two of the three largest cities in the US by population — came in second and third for highest tax burdens. Middle-income New Yorkers pay 12.58% of their income toward state taxes, and residents of Illinois pay 12.57%.

Alternatively, there are nine states with no state income tax. However, some of those states still have a heavy tax burden in other forms.

For example, Tennessee (ranked No. 24), Texas (No. 21), and Washington (No. 5) are in the top half in terms of the highest tax burden despite not having a state income tax. Washington ranks so high in tax burden due to its sales and excise tax rates, as middle-income earners pay 8.72% of their income to taxes, the highest rate in the country.

However, some states without income taxes give middle-class residents a break: Alaska (rank No. 50), New Hampshire (49), Wyoming (47), South Dakota (42), Nevada (40), and Florida (36) are all among the 15 states with the lowest amount of income going to state taxes.

Here are the 10 states where middle-income residents pay the highest percentage of their income on state taxes.

10. Iowa

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 10.86%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 5.21%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.56%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 2.09%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Republican

9. Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi, skyline over the Capitol Building.
Jackson, Mississippi. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 10.88%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 6.42%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 2.70%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 1.76%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Republican

8. Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas, skyline on the river at twilight.
Little Rock, Arkansas. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 11.08%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 7.15%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 2.02%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 1.91%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Republican

7. Kansas

Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas. MattGush/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 11.49%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 5.35%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.44%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 2.7%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Republican

6. Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline in autumn.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Olga Kaya/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 11.81%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 4.65%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.05%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 4.11%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Democrat

5. Washington

View of the skyline and waterfront harbor tourist area including the Great Wheel from a cruise ship in the Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle, Washington. Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 11.96%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 8.72%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.24%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 0%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Democrat

4. Louisiana

New Orleans.
New Orleans. f11photo/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 12.05%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 8.01%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 1.76%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 2.27%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Republican

3. Illinois

Chicago river and skyline
Chicago. Mlenny/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 12.57%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 5.19%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.94%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 3.43%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Democrat

2. New York

New York City.
New York City. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 12.58%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 4.79%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 3.99%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 3.8%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Democrat

1. Hawai'i

Waikiki beach and Honolulu's skyline.
Honolulu, Hawaii. SCStock/Shutterstock

Overall tax burden as a percentage of income: 13.62%

Sales and excise tax as a percentage of income: 7.55%

Property tax as a percentage of income: 2.36%

Income tax as a percentage of income: 3.71%

Result of 2020 presidential election: Democrat

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Cork Gaines
Cork Gaines
Cork was a correspondent for Insider's sports desk.Previously, he was a contributor at MLB Trade Rumors, and he has written for Yahoo Sports, Deadspin, and The Hardball Times. He has authored chapters in three books, including "The Hardball Times 2009 Season Preview." Cork's work has been featured on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and "Mike & Mike," "Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons," ESPN.com, BBC, Yahoo, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Drudge Report, the Washington Post, the Kansas City Star, the Houston Chronicle, and the Dallas Morning News, among others.He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and holds a doctorate from Fordham University.Here is a selection of his work:Under Armour hit the jackpot on its Jordan Spieth betGary Woodland once took his pants off to hit a shot and learned a funny lesson about product endorsementWe tried the alcohol diet Tom Brady put Rob Gronkowski on, and it was a lot harder than we imaginedThe University of Texas spent $7 million remodeling their football locker room and the results are jaw-droppingStephen Curry has replaced LeBron James as the best basketball player in the worldEx-NBA player who made $60 million explains what really happens to your money when you sign an 8-figure contractHere's Michael Jordan's 56,000-square-foot house in Chicago, and why it's still on the market after 6 yearsMayweather beat McGregor with a TKO in the 10th round! Here are the big moments everybody will be talking aboutPerfect conditions at Cowboys-Patriots game helped create incredible picturesWe've been using Alexa in a car for 6 months and it's the best infotainment system we've ever used.
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