Name: New York ranks near bottom nationally for state, local tax burden
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T16:55:52.562Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: Taxes remain a top concern for Long Islanders who say the rising cost of living is making it harder to afford staying in the region.

Taxes remain a top concern for Long Islanders who say the rising cost of living is making it harder to afford staying in the region.

Long Island

A new study by Wallet Hub has ranked New York as having the second highest state and local tax burden in the United States, surpassed only by Illinois. The analysis highlights high real estate taxes, a 3.8% effective income tax rate, and elevated taxes on goods and services, including the nation's highest cigarette tax, as key contributors to the ranking.

Residents and analysts express concern that these high taxes are making it increasingly difficult for people to afford living in New York, particularly on Long Island. Neighboring states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut also rank among the most taxed, prompting some residents to consider relocating for better affordability.

New York ranks near bottom nationally for state, local tax burden

to deal with affordability challenges. A new study is diving deeper. Into just how high our state and local taxes really are, it's our latest taxing Long Island report. Everybody I know would like to see taxes lowered. We hear that all the time from Long Islanders taxes are too high costs are too much affordability feels out of reach. Taxes have to be reduced. Cost of living has to come down. Inflation has to come down. The data is backing with so many of you are feeling a recent study by the personal finance company Wallet Hub analyzed tax rates across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. New York ranks 50th in state and local tax rates second to last only Illinois is worse. So why is that? Which driving that chip? Wallet Hub analyst Chip Lupo laughs because, well, what's not driving it is high real estate taxes, which is near the top and high income taxes about 3.8. Effective rate, which is among the highest, even high taxes on certain goods and services have an impact. New York has the highest cigarette taxes. 51st that makes him the most expensive, which is 31 times more than the lowest tax state, which is Missouri. And Lupo says the situation isn't much better in neighboring states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, which also rank among the most taxed states in the country. Dave Club full of Brightwater says he's worried that reality will send his friends and his children packing. I have friends my age. That are getting to retirement age and they're thinking about leaving. They don't want to stay. They can't afford to stay. I have three kids college age. They're going to be graduating soon and I'd love to see them be able to afford and live and raise their family on Long Island. It's such a special place. It's just a little too expensive. I think so many of us are feeling that for more on the study's findings, including the top five least tax states in the country, visit our website or the news 12 app. We're going to put a link there to that study and watch news 12 Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5 AM for more of our taxing Long Island series.

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