Compare states / Pennsylvania
PA
Compare Pennsylvania with other states
Pennsylvania is the 5th-most populous state, with about 13.1 million residents and 292 people per square mile. It taxes wages, but its top rate of 3.07% is the 6th-lowest among the 41 states that do; its effective property-tax rate of 1.26% is the 12th-highest among the 50 states. The median home value, $288,697, ranks 36th-highest of 50. It is one of only 5 states with an inheritance tax.
Data: Pennsylvania (revenue.pa.gov, dmv.pa.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Flat 3.07% (local earned-income tax extra) |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 6.34% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 1.26% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | No annual vehicle personal-property tax |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed. The state exempts Social Security benefits from income tax. |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | Pennsylvania inheritance tax rates: 0% to a surviving spouse or to a parent from a child aged 21 or younger; 4.5% to lineal heirs; 12% to siblings; 15% to other heirs. Charities and government entities are exempt. Joint property between spouses is exempt. A 5% discount applies if tax is paid within three months of death. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $7.25 (matches the federal rate). |
| Median home value | $288,697 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 6.00% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $58.00 |
| Registration (base) | $39.00 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 125 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 0 |
| Population | 13,073,016 |
| Population density | 292.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 74.1% White (non-Hispanic) 8.4% Hispanic 13.1% Black 3.9% Asian |
| Violent crime | 245.6 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Pennsylvania
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 3.07%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Pennsylvania
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 6.00% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Pennsylvania
- Get a PA driver license within 60 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Pennsylvania.
- Title and register the car within 20 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Pennsylvania elections site.
- Nurse license: Pennsylvania is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Pennsylvania: District sets date. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Pennsylvania compares
Top listed income-tax rate: 3.07% in Pennsylvania vs 13.3% in California (lower in Pennsylvania).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Pennsylvania are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. 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. Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security benefits (PA tax agency).
- Estate tax. Pennsylvania has no state estate tax (PA tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Pennsylvania inheritance tax.
- Minimum wage. Pennsylvania $7.25.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Pennsylvania 6.00%.
- State parks. Pennsylvania 125. Official designated state parks.
- 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; PA 0).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (PA).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Pennsylvania 60 days.
- Days to title a car. Pennsylvania 20 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled