Side-by-side tax comparison between New Hampshire (no income tax) and Washington (no income tax). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Both New Hampshire and Washington have no state income tax, so the take-home pay difference at any salary level comes down to local taxes and cost of living. Federal tax and FICA are identical regardless of state.
Neither state imposes local income taxes, so the only difference is cost of living: New Hampshire at 108 vs Washington at 110.
New Hampshire wins at 0 out of 10 salary levels tested. The states are evenly matched.
| Salary | New Hampshire | Washington | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $34,320 | $34,320 | $0 | Tie |
| $50K | $42,355 | $42,355 | $0 | Tie |
| $60K | $50,390 | $50,390 | $0 | Tie |
| $75K | $61,538 | $61,538 | $0 | Tie |
| $100K | $79,125 | $79,125 | $0 | Tie |
| $120K | $93,195 | $93,195 | $0 | Tie |
| $150K | $113,751 | $113,751 | $0 | Tie |
| $200K | $148,887 | $148,887 | $0 | Tie |
| $250K | $183,264 | $183,264 | $0 | Tie |
| $300K | $215,329 | $215,329 | $0 | Tie |
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. New Hampshire has a cost of living index of 108 while Washington is at 110 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (108 vs 110), the tax difference is the primary factor. What you see in raw take-home pay is essentially what you get in purchasing power: $73,264 in New Hampshire vs $71,932 in Washington.
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in New Hampshire and $84,710 in Washington \u2014 a difference of $0. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
On paper, moving from Washington to New Hampshire would save $0/year on a $100K salary, or $0 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
At $0/year, the tax difference alone likely isn’t worth relocating for. Other factors — job market, lifestyle, family — should drive the decision. The tax savings are a nice bonus if you’re already considering the move for other reasons.