Side-by-side tax comparison between Massachusetts (5% top rate, flat) and Wyoming (no income tax). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Wyoming has no state income tax, while Massachusetts uses a flat system with rates of 5% flat + 4% surtax >$1M. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $5,000/year that Wyoming residents simply don’t pay.
Massachusetts’s flat 5% rate means the gap scales linearly with income. At $200K, you’d save $10,000 by being in Wyoming instead.
Wyoming wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage is consistent and significant across the income spectrum.
| Salary | Massachusetts | Wyoming | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $32,320 | $34,320 | +$2,000 | Wyoming |
| $50K | $39,855 | $42,355 | +$2,500 | Wyoming |
| $60K | $47,390 | $50,390 | +$3,000 | Wyoming |
| $75K | $57,788 | $61,538 | +$3,750 | Wyoming |
| $100K | $74,125 | $79,125 | +$5,000 | Wyoming |
| $120K | $87,195 | $93,195 | +$6,000 | Wyoming |
| $150K | $106,251 | $113,751 | +$7,500 | Wyoming |
| $200K | $138,887 | $148,887 | +$10,000 | Wyoming |
| $250K | $170,764 | $183,264 | +$12,500 | Wyoming |
| $300K | $200,329 | $215,329 | +$15,000 | Wyoming |
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 118 while Wyoming is at 94 (national average = 100).
This is a substantial difference. After adjusting for cost of living, $100K in Massachusetts has purchasing power of $62,818 compared to $84,176 in Wyoming. Wyoming wins on both raw take-home and cost-adjusted purchasing power, making it the clear winner for a $100K earner.
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $79,710 in Massachusetts and $84,710 in Wyoming \u2014 a difference of $5,000. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
On paper, moving from Massachusetts to Wyoming would save $5,000/year on a $100K salary, or $25,000 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
The $5,000/year savings is meaningful but probably not enough to justify a move on its own. However, combined with other factors like career growth, lifestyle preferences, or family proximity, it could tip the scale.