Where state income taxes hit the middle class hardest

Where state income taxes hit the middle class hardest

If you’re earning $50,000 a year, where you live could mean the difference between paying less than $50 or about $4,000 in state income taxes annually. That’s a lot more in your pocket — or your state’s coffers — depending on whether you call North Dakota or Oregon home.

This wide disparity highlights a shifting tax landscape across the United States, one where location alone can drastically shape a worker’s financial reality. Behind these numbers is a growing trend: More and more U.S. states are adopting flat tax systems on wages, where everyone in the state pays the same income tax rate, regardless of income level.

The number of U.S. states imposing a flat income tax has jumped from eight states in 2019 to 14 states in 2025. The mo