Compare states / Colorado → Texas
CO → TX
Compare Colorado and Texas
Texas has no state income tax on wages, while Colorado taxes them at a top rate of 4.4%: on $120,000 of single-filer income that is about $5,280 a year in Colorado and $0 in Texas. The median home in Colorado is valued at $548,480, about 80% more than Texas’s $304,099. Texas charges more on both counts: 8.20% average combined sales tax against 7.89%, and a 1.40% effective property-tax rate against 0.50%. Colorado taxes some Social Security benefits; Texas does not.
Moving the other way (Texas to Colorado)? The same numbers apply—swap the columns.
Deadlines and checklists on this page are for arriving in Texas; for Colorado, see the Colorado page.
Data: Colorado (tax.colorado.gov, dmv.colorado.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
| Colorado | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Top state income-tax rate | 4.4% | 0.0% |
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 7.89% | 8.20% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.50% | 1.40% |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | Yes — 1.79% effective | No |
| Social Security tax | Partial — age/income limits | No |
| Estate tax | No | No |
| Inheritance tax | No | No |
| Minimum wage | $15.16 | $7.25 |
| Median home value | $548,480 | $304,099 |
| Tax when you title a car | 2.90% | 6.25% |
| State parks | 43 | 78 |
| National parks | 4 | 2 |
| Population density | 58.0/sq mi | 121.4/sq mi |
| Violent crime per 100,000 | 476.3 | 389.4 |
| Demographics | 66.1% White (non-Hispanic) 22.5% Hispanic 4.1% Black 3.5% Asian | 37.3% White (non-Hispanic) 40.9% Hispanic 13.4% Black 6.7% Asian |
| Days to get a license | 30 | 90 |
| Days to title a car | 90 | 30 |
Will my state income tax go up or down if I move from Colorado to Texas?
Colorado: Flat 4.4%. Texas: No personal income tax. At $120,000 yearly income and 0 dependents, the bracket estimate is $5,280 in Colorado vs $0 in Texas. If you earned in both states this year, see CO tax agency and TX tax agency.
Estimate your state income tax in Colorado and Texas
This uses 2026 single-filer brackets (top listed 4.4% 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 Colorado 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. Colorado plates are not a substitute for Texas registration once the title clock runs out.
New-resident checklist: Colorado to Texas
- Get a TX driver license within 90 days. Bring your CO 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. CO tax agency · TX tax agency.
- Both Colorado and Texas are in the nurse compact — a multistate license can follow you. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
Biggest differences in moving from Colorado to Texas
- Texas does not tax wages. Colorado’s top listed rate is 4.4% (Flat 4.4%).
- New residents of Texas typically have 90 days to get a driver license (in Colorado, the window is 30 days).
- Title the car in Texas within 30 days. Colorado plates are not a substitute once that clock runs.
- Texas does not tax Social Security benefits. Colorado still taxes some (Partial — age/income limits).
- Colorado lists a vehicle personal-property tax; Texas does not have one.
Common questions
Will I stop paying state income tax if I move from Colorado to Texas?
Texas does not tax wages; Colorado’s top listed rate is 4.4%. At $120,000 yearly income and 0 dependents, the bracket estimate is $5,280 in Colorado 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.
Will I stop paying state tax on Social Security if I move from Colorado to Texas?
Colorado: Partial — age/income limits. Age 65 or older: full subtraction of federally taxable benefits. Age 55–64: full subtraction if AGI is $75,000 or less (single) or $95,000 or less (joint); otherwise a $20,000 cap shared with other pension and annuity income. Texas: No. Not taxed (no personal income tax). Federal tax on benefits can still apply in either state.
How much is vehicle sales tax in Texas compared with Colorado?
Texas title-tax rate used here is 6.25% (2.90% in Colorado). Title the car in Texas within 30 days (90 days in Colorado). On a $28,000 vehicle, estimated state charges are $1,833.75 (county extras omitted).
Does Texas drop the vehicle personal-property tax I would pay in Colorado?
Colorado lists a vehicle personal-property tax (1.79% effective). Texas does not have one. Specific ownership tax in lieu of property tax, about 1.79%.
How does property tax in Texas compare with Colorado?
Effective real-estate property tax: 0.50% in Colorado vs 1.40% in Texas.
How long do I have to get a Texas driver license after leaving Colorado?
New residents of Texas typically have 90 days after establishing residency (in Colorado, the window is 30 days).
How does the minimum wage in Texas compare with Colorado?
Colorado: $15.16. Statewide minimum wage $15.16. 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 Colorado on their own. Moving from Texas to Colorado instead? This page covers that move too; use “Swap columns” at the top.
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. Colorado Social Security tax; Texas does not tax Social Security benefits (TX tax agency).
- Estate tax. Colorado has no state estate tax (CO tax agency); Texas has no state estate tax (TX tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Colorado has no state inheritance tax (CO tax agency); Texas has no state inheritance tax (TX tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Colorado $15.16; Texas $7.25.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax when you title a car. Colorado 2.90%; Texas 6.25%.
- State parks. Colorado 43; 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; CO 4, 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 (CO vs TX: White non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Black, Asian).
- Days to get a license. Colorado 30 days; Texas 90 days.
- Days to title a car. Colorado 90 days; Texas 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled