News & Data Studies

Original studies built from CostByState's cited data — cost of living, take-home pay, and affordability across US states. Journalists are welcome to cite these figures with a link.

• The Most and Least Retirement-Tax-Friendly States in 2026

  Fourteen states tax none of your retirement income; a handful still tax Social Security, pensions, and 401(k)/IRA withdrawals. Here’s the full 2026 spectrum.

  2026-08-02

• The States Americans Are Fleeing in 2026 — and Where They’re Going

  California, New York, and Illinois lose the most residents to other states. We ranked net interstate migration and matched it to taxes and cost of living.

  2026-07-31

• The Best States to Retire in 2026: Where Your Retirement Income Isn’t Taxed

  Fourteen states take nothing from Social Security, pensions, and 401(k)/IRA withdrawals in 2026. We ranked them by what it actually costs to live there.

  2026-07-29

• 8 States Just Cut Income Taxes for 2026 — Here’s How Much More You’ll Keep

  On January 1, eight states lowered their income tax. We ran the numbers on what the cut is actually worth in your paycheck.

  2026-07-27

• The Flat-Tax Wave: Why 2026’s Biggest Tax Trend Quietly Favors High Earners

  A dozen states have gone flat. It sounds fairer — but a flat rate reshuffles who pays, and the math isn’t neutral.

  2026-07-25

• Rent or Buy in 2026? Where a Mortgage Now Costs Double the Rent

  At 2026 mortgage rates, buying the median home costs far more than renting in some states — and barely more in others.

  2026-07-23

• The Median Home Now Costs Over 8 Years of Income in These States

  The home-price-to-income ratio is the clearest measure of the affordability crunch. Here’s where it’s worst — and where it isn’t.

  2026-07-21

• How Much Home a $75K Salary Buys in Every State (at 2026 Rates)

  Same salary, wildly different houses. We applied the 28/36 lender rule at today’s mortgage rate across the states.

  2026-07-18

• A $100K Salary Isn’t Worth $100K — Where It Goes Furthest in 2026

  Take-home pay is only half the story. Adjust a six-figure salary for state taxes and local costs and the ranking flips.

  2026-07-16

• Moving for a Raise? The Salary Math Most People Skip

  A 20% raise in a pricier state can leave you poorer. Here’s the two-step calculation to run before you say yes.

  2026-07-14

• Your Tax Bracket Is Not Your Tax Rate — What You Really Pay in 2026

  Being “in the 22% bracket” doesn’t mean 22% of your income goes to tax. The gap surprises almost everyone.

  2026-07-12

• “No Income Tax” Has a Catch: How 9 States Actually Fund Themselves

  Nine states take nothing from your paycheck. They get it back another way — and sometimes charge you more overall.

  2026-07-11

• What It Costs to Keep the Lights On: The Priciest States for Electricity in 2026

  Electricity prices vary more than 3x across the country. Here’s where the typical bill hurts most — and why.

  2026-07-09

• The Salary You Need to Live Comfortably in Each State (2026)

  We ran the cost of living in 10 states through the tax code to find the gross salary a single adult needs for a comfortable life.

  2026-07-08

• Cost of Living by State: The 2026 Ranking

  Monthly essential costs for a single adult across 10 states, from most to least expensive.

  2026-07-08

• Take-Home Pay on a $100,000 Salary by State (2026)

  The same $100k salary leaves you with thousands more in some states than others. Here is the 2026 breakdown.

  2026-07-08

• Do No-Income-Tax States Actually Cost Less? (2026)

  No state income tax sounds like a raise. We checked whether it really leaves you better off once cost of living is in the picture.

  2026-07-08