Compare states / Texas
TX
Compare Texas with other states
Texas is the 2nd-most populous state, with about 31.7 million residents and 121 people per square mile. There is no state tax on wage income, but its effective property-tax rate of 1.40% is the 7th-highest among the 50 states. The median home value, $304,099, ranks 33rd-highest of 50. Its 78 state parks rank 6th nationally.
Data: Texas (comptroller.texas.gov, txdmv.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | None on wages |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 8.20% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 1.40% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | No annual vehicle personal-property tax |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed (no personal income tax). |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $7.25 (matches the federal rate). |
| Median home value | $304,099 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 6.25% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $33.00 |
| Registration (base) | $50.75 |
| Car inspection | Safety + emissions in some counties |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 78 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 2 |
| Population | 31,709,821 |
| Population density | 121.4 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 37.3% White (non-Hispanic) 40.9% Hispanic 13.4% Black 6.7% Asian |
| Violent crime | 389.4 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Texas
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 0.0%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Texas
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 6.25% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Texas
- Get a TX driver license within 90 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Texas.
- 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. Texas elections site.
- Nurse license: Texas 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 Texas: September 1. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Texas compares
California taxes wages (top listed 13.3%). Texas does not tax wages.
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Texas 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. Texas does not tax Social Security benefits (TX tax agency).
- Estate tax. Texas has no state estate tax (TX tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Texas has no state inheritance tax (TX tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Texas $7.25.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Texas 6.25%.
- State parks. Texas 78. 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; TX 2).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (TX).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Texas 90 days.
- Days to title a car. Texas 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled