Compare states / California → Texas
CA → TX
Compare California and Texas
Texas has no state income tax on wages, while California taxes them at a top rate of 13.3%: on $120,000 of single-filer income that is about $7,599 a year in California and $0 in Texas. The median home in California is valued at $778,217, 2.6 times Texas’s $304,099. California has the higher average combined sales tax (8.99% vs 8.20%), while Texas has the higher effective property-tax rate (1.40% vs 0.70%). For the outdoors, California has 9 national parks to Texas’s 2.
Moving the other way (Texas to California)? The same numbers apply—swap the columns.
Deadlines and checklists on this page are for arriving in Texas; for California, see the California page.
Data: California (ftb.ca.gov, dmv.ca.gov); Texas (comptroller.texas.gov, txdmv.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes, housing, and other important data at a glance
| California | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Top state income-tax rate | 13.3% | 0.0% |
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 8.99% | 8.20% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.70% | 1.40% |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | Yes — 0.65% effective | No |
| Social Security tax | No | No |
| Estate tax | No | No |
| Inheritance tax | No | No |
| Minimum wage | $16.90 | $7.25 |
| Median home value | $778,217 | $304,099 |
| Tax when you title a car | 7.25% | 6.25% |
| State parks | 89 | 78 |
| National parks | 9 | 2 |
| Population density | 252.5/sq mi | 121.4/sq mi |
| Violent crime per 100,000 | 486.0 | 389.4 |
| Demographics | 32.5% White (non-Hispanic) 41.2% Hispanic 6.4% Black 17.5% Asian | 37.3% White (non-Hispanic) 40.9% Hispanic 13.4% Black 6.7% Asian |
| Days to get a license | 10 | 90 |
| Days to title a car | 20 | 30 |
Will my state income tax go up or down if I move from California to Texas?
California: 1%–12.3%, plus 1% over $1M (13.3% top). Texas: No personal income tax. At $120,000 yearly income and 0 dependents, the bracket estimate is $7,599 in California vs $0 in Texas. If you earned in both states this year, see CA tax agency and TX tax agency.
Estimate your state income tax in California and Texas
This uses 2026 single-filer brackets (top listed 13.3% vs 0.0%), minus a $4,300 exemption per dependent. It is not your actual tax bill.
Vehicle title, registration, and tax in Texas
New residents of Texas typically have 30 days to title and register. Inspection: Safety + emissions in some counties. The title-tax rate used here is 6.25%. On a $28,000 vehicle, estimated state charges are $1,833.75 (tax $1,750.00 + title $33.00 + registration $50.75 + plate $0.00). County and weight fees are omitted on purpose.
Estimate what you’ll pay to title the car in Texas
Title fee + plate + base registration + 6.25% tax. County extras are not included.
Driver’s license in Texas
After you become a Texas resident, you typically have 90 days to get a Texas driver license. Bring your California license, Social Security number, and proof you live in Texas. Agencies often ask for two proofs; the exact list is on the official Texas DMV. California plates are not a substitute for Texas registration once the title clock runs out.
New-resident checklist: California to Texas
- Get a TX driver license within 90 days. Bring your CA license, Social Security number, and proof you live in Texas (agencies often ask for two proofs; use the official Texas DMV list).
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Safety + emissions in some counties.
- Make sure car insurance meets 30/60/25.
- Register to vote. Typical close: 30 days before an election. Texas elections site.
- If you earned money in both states this year, you may need to file in both. CA tax agency · TX tax agency.
- Texas is in the nurse compact; California is not. You may still need a TX license if you change primary residence.
Biggest differences in moving from California to Texas
- Texas does not tax wages. California’s top listed rate is 13.3% (1%–12.3%, plus 1% over $1M (13.3% top)).
- New residents of Texas typically have 90 days to get a driver license (in California, the window is 10 days).
- California lists a vehicle personal-property tax; Texas does not have one.
- Texas is in the nurse compact; California is not. You may still need a TX license if you change primary residence.
- Title the car in Texas within 30 days. California plates are not a substitute once that clock runs.
Common questions
Will I stop paying state income tax if I move from California to Texas?
Texas does not tax wages; California’s top listed rate is 13.3%. At $120,000 yearly income and 0 dependents, the bracket estimate is $7,599 in California vs $0 in Texas. Actual bills depend on income, filing status, local tax, credits, and residency timing. This uses 2026 single-filer brackets after a $4,300 exemption per dependent.
Does Texas drop the vehicle personal-property tax I would pay in California?
California lists a vehicle personal-property tax (0.65% effective). Texas does not have one. Vehicle license fee of 0.65% of value (not a county PPT).
Can I keep a compact RN license if I move from California to Texas?
Texas is in the nurse compact; California is not. You may still need a TX license if you change primary residence.
How long do I have to get a Texas driver license after leaving California?
New residents of Texas typically have 90 days after establishing residency (in California, the window is 10 days).
How many state and national parks are in California vs Texas?
California has 89 state parks and 9 national parks. Texas has 78 state parks and 2 national parks. State-park counts are units each state officially designates as state parks (historic sites, recreation areas, wildlife areas, forests, and similar non-park units omitted). National parks are National Park Service units designated National Park, counted in each state they sit in.
How does property tax in Texas compare with California?
Effective real-estate property tax: 0.70% in California vs 1.40% in Texas.
How does the minimum wage in Texas compare with California?
California: $16.90. Statewide minimum wage $16.90. Some cities set a higher local rate. Texas: $7.25. Statewide minimum wage $7.25 (matches the federal rate). Some cities set a higher local rate. Tipped and youth rates can differ.
Related moves
Also see Texas and California on their own. Moving from Texas to California instead? This page covers that move too; use “Swap columns” at the top.
California → Arizona · Illinois → Texas · California → Nevada · California → Washington · New York → Texas · California → Oregon · Colorado → Texas
Your move
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- Top state income-tax rate. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. California does not tax Social Security benefits (CA tax agency); Texas does not tax Social Security benefits (TX tax agency).
- Estate tax. California has no state estate tax (CA tax agency); Texas has no state estate tax (TX tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. California has no state inheritance tax (CA tax agency); Texas has no state inheritance tax (TX tax agency).
- Minimum wage. California $16.90; Texas $7.25.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax when you title a car. California 7.25%; Texas 6.25%.
- State parks. California 89; Texas 78. Official designated state parks (historic sites, recreation areas, and similar units omitted).
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; CA 9, TX 2).
- Population density. U.S. Census Bureau PopClock, people per sq. mi. · state population estimates.
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (CA vs TX: White non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Black, Asian).
- Days to get a license. California 10 days; Texas 90 days.
- Days to title a car. California 20 days; Texas 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled