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HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A New Jersey VS COUNTRY B Maryland

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for New Jersey and Maryland in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated August 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
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OVERVIEW
New Jersey's income tax is meaningfully cheaper than Maryland's once Maryland's mandatory county income tax is factored in. At $100,000 income, New Jersey's state tax bill ($3,218) is $3,148/year lower than Maryland's combined state-plus-county bill ($6,366), and the gap widens to $5,885/year at $250,000. But New Jersey's income-tax advantage comes with a major trade-off: New Jersey has the highest average property tax bill in the entire United States (average effective rate of about 1.88%, tied for #1 nationally with Illinois), while Maryland's average effective property tax rate is roughly 1.09% — meaningfully lower. On a typical $400,000 home, that's about $7,520/year in New Jersey property tax versus $4,360/year in Maryland, a $3,160/year gap that nearly cancels out New Jersey's income-tax savings at $100,000 income. In other words: renters and lower-income earners in New Jersey may come out ahead of Maryland, but New Jersey homeowners at moderate income levels could end up paying about the same total tax bill as Maryland residents once property tax is included — and only pull ahead at higher incomes, where the income-tax gap grows faster than the property-tax gap. On retirement income, New Jersey fully exempts Social Security and offers a substantial pension/retirement income exclusion for residents 62 and older with total income under $150,000, while Maryland exempts Social Security only below a $50,000 Maryland-AGI threshold and offers a smaller $34,300 pension deduction for residents 65 and older.
Section 01

The Big Picture

Top-line rates and effective take-home for a typical earner — including income tax, social contributions, and applicable surcharges.

🏙️
COUNTRY A
New Jersey
TAX RATE
1.4-10.75%
7-Bracket Progressive
7 progressive brackets from 1.4% to 10.75% (top rate applies over $1M); no local income tax anywhere in the state
🦀
COUNTRY B
Maryland
TAX RATE
2-6.5% + County
10-Bracket Progressive + County Tax
10 state brackets (2-6.5%) plus a mandatory county income tax (2.25-3.3%, avg ~2.9%) every resident must pay
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Maryland → New Jersey at $100,000
$3,148
That's $262/month back in your pocket
Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges — for a single employee with no dependents.
GROSS INCOME
🏙️ NJ TAX
🦀 MD TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$523
$2,541
$2,018
$20,180
$75,000
$1,762
$4,453
$2,691
$26,910
$100,000
$3,218
$6,366
$3,148
$31,480
$150,000
$6,403
$10,298
$3,895
$38,950
$250,000
$12,773
$18,658
$5,885
$58,850
💡

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🏙️

New Jersey Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Income tax beats Maryland's combined state-plus-county burden at every income level shown — saving $2,018 to $5,885/year
  • No local income tax anywhere in New Jersey, unlike Maryland where every resident also owes a mandatory county income tax of 2.25-3.3%
  • Social Security fully exempt at any income level, plus a pension/retirement income exclusion for residents 62+ with total income under $150,000
  • Zero sales tax on clothing and most groceries, plus proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia job markets without either city's local income tax
− CONS
  • Highest average property tax bill in the nation — roughly 1.88% effective rate (tied #1 with Illinois), versus Maryland's roughly 1.09% average
  • On a $400,000 home, New Jersey's property tax premium (about $3,160/year more than Maryland) nearly cancels out the income-tax savings at $100,000 income
  • Top marginal rate of 10.75% (over $1,000,000) is one of the highest state income tax rates in the country
  • High overall cost of living, especially in North Jersey commuter counties near New York City
🦀

Maryland Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Average property tax (~1.09%) is meaningfully lower than New Jersey's — on a $400,000 home, that's about $3,160/year less
  • For homeowners at moderate income levels, Maryland's lower property tax substantially offsets its higher income tax, unlike renters who see no such offset
  • Deep federal-government, biotech, and defense-contractor job market in the DC suburbs (NIH, Johns Hopkins, federal agencies)
  • $34,300 pension deduction for residents 65 and older, plus full Social Security exemption for households under the $50,000 Maryland-AGI threshold
− CONS
  • Mandatory county income tax (2.25-3.3%, averaging ~2.9%) stacks on top of the state's 10-bracket structure — a two-tier system unique among states, costing $2,018 to $5,885/year more than New Jersey across the incomes shown
  • Social Security becomes fully taxable once household Maryland AGI exceeds $50,000, a steep cliff compared to New Jersey's unconditional exemption
  • Top combined state+county rate reaches roughly 9.05% (5.75% state plus 3.3% in Baltimore City or Montgomery County), among the highest combined rates in the region
  • Tax complexity is higher: total tax bill depends on both the 10 state brackets and which of Maryland's 24 counties (or Baltimore City) you live in
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Jersey or Maryland cheaper for state income tax?

New Jersey is cheaper at every income level shown. At $100,000, New Jersey's income tax costs $3,218 versus Maryland's combined state-plus-county tax at $6,366 — a $3,148/year difference. The gap widens to $5,885/year at $250,000 because Maryland's mandatory county tax compounds its already-progressive state brackets.

Does New Jersey's high property tax cancel out its income-tax advantage?

For homeowners, largely yes at moderate incomes. New Jersey has the highest average property tax in the nation (~1.88% effective rate) versus Maryland's ~1.09%. On a $400,000 home, that's roughly $3,160/year more in New Jersey — which nearly offsets the $3,148/year income-tax savings at $100,000 income. Renters, however, see none of this offset and come out ahead in New Jersey.

What is Maryland's county income tax, and does everyone pay it?

Yes — every Maryland resident pays a mandatory county (or Baltimore City) income tax on top of the state rate, ranging from 2.25% to 3.3% depending on where they live. The $6,366 figure at $100,000 income already reflects the average county rate of about 2.9%. New Jersey has no equivalent local income tax anywhere.

Which state has lower property tax, New Jersey or Maryland?

Maryland has the lower average effective property tax rate at roughly 1.09%, compared to New Jersey's roughly 1.88% — the highest average in the United States, tied with Illinois. On a $400,000 home, that's about $4,360/year in Maryland versus $7,520/year in New Jersey, a difference of about $3,160/year in Maryland's favor.

Does either state tax Social Security and retirement income?

New Jersey fully exempts Social Security at any income level and offers a pension/retirement income exclusion for residents 62 or older with total income under $150,000. Maryland exempts Social Security only if household Maryland AGI is under $50,000, and offers a smaller $34,300 pension deduction for residents 65 and older. New Jersey is more retirement-friendly for most retirees.

How much would I save moving from Maryland to New Jersey?

At $100,000 income, moving from Maryland to New Jersey could save about $3,148/year in state and local income tax. But if you're buying a comparable home, New Jersey's higher property tax (roughly $3,160/year more on a $400,000 home) largely offsets that savings — so the net benefit depends heavily on whether you rent or own, and at what home value.

How do capital gains get taxed in New Jersey versus Maryland?

Neither state offers a preferential rate for capital gains — both New Jersey and Maryland tax capital gains as ordinary income at their regular state (and, in Maryland's case, state-plus-county) rates. There is no long-term capital gains discount in either state, unlike the federal system.

Are New Jersey and Maryland both expensive states for federal employees and commuters?

Both states have significant commuter populations — New Jersey into New York City and Philadelphia, Maryland into Washington, DC. Neither state's income tax depends on where you work, only where you live, so the comparisons above apply regardless of which metro area you commute into.

Why is Maryland's tax system considered more complex than New Jersey's?

Maryland layers 10 separate state income-tax brackets (2% to 6.5%) on top of a mandatory county tax that varies by jurisdiction (2.25%-3.3%), so your total rate depends on both your income and which of Maryland's 24 counties (or Baltimore City) you live in. New Jersey's 7-bracket structure applies uniformly statewide with no local add-on.
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