The Tax Brief real effective rates for 111+ countries — bi-weekly, free.
HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A Texas VS COUNTRY B Maine

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for Texas and Maine in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated August 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
Calculate your take-home → See all comparisons →
OVERVIEW
Texas and Maine sit far apart on income tax: Texas charges 0% under a constitutional prohibition dating to 1993, while Maine applies progressive brackets of 5.8%, 6.75%, and 7.15% on top of a $16,100 standard deduction. At $50,000 income, Maine residents pay $2,028 in state tax that Texans simply don't owe; the gap widens to $5,479 at $100,000, $16,204 at $250,000, and over $34,000 at $500,000, since Maine's top bracket applies to nearly all income above roughly $81,000. Property tax narrows the picture somewhat: Texas's 1.6% average rate — among the highest in the US — turns its $297,000 median home into a roughly $4,752 annual bill, while Maine's lower 1.09% rate on Portland's $275,000 median home comes to about $2,996, a full $1,756 less. Sales tax also favors Maine on paper: a flat 5.5% with no local add-on, versus Texas's combined rate of up to 8.2% (6.25% state plus local). Retirement income is taxed differently too — Maine fully exempts Social Security but taxes pensions and 401(k)/IRA withdrawals at its regular rates, while Texas taxes none of it, since it has no income tax at all. For most working-age households, Texas's income tax advantage dominates; for retirees on modest pensions and homeowners in Portland, Maine's lower property and sales tax rates soften — but don't erase — the income tax gap.
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
Texas
TAX RATE
0%
No Income Tax
Constitutionally prohibited state income tax since 1993
🦞
COUNTRY B
Maine
TAX RATE
5.8-7.15%
Progressive Brackets
3 brackets from 5.8% to 7.15%
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Maine → Texas at $100,000
$5,479
That's $457/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
⭐ TX TAX
🦞 ME TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$0
$2,028
$2,028
$20,280
$75,000
$0
$3,715
$3,715
$37,150
$100,000
$0
$5,479
$5,479
$54,790
$150,000
$0
$9,054
$9,054
$90,540
$250,000
$0
$16,204
$16,204
$162,040
$500,000
$0
$34,079
$34,079
$340,790
💡

CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships

Talk to a Real CPA

Taxhub

★ 4.8 verified reviews  ·  3,758 reviews

Moving between states means a complex multi-state tax return. Taxhub matches you with a real CPA via video call — average cost $325. Rated 4.8★ by 3,700+ clients.

⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.

Get Matched With a CPA →

Interested in reaching this audience? Advertise on CountryTaxCalc →

⭐

Texas Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Zero state income tax at every income level — Texans keep 100% of wages, retirement withdrawals, and pensions at the state level
  • Massive, diversified economy: energy (Houston), tech (Austin), aerospace and healthcare with far higher salary ceilings than Maine
  • No state estate or inheritance tax
  • Strong population and job growth (+10%+ since 2020), unlike Maine's largely flat population
  • No tax at all on retirement income, since there is no income tax to apply
− CONS
  • Property tax averages 1.6% — among the highest in the US — turning a $297,000 median home into roughly $4,752/year, well above Maine's $2,996 on its Portland median
  • Combined sales tax up to 8.2% (6.25% state + up to 2% local), versus Maine's flat 5.5% with no local add-on
  • Hot summers and Gulf Coast hurricane exposure
  • ERCOT grid reliability concerns highlighted by the February 2021 winter storm
  • Rapid population growth strains housing affordability and infrastructure in major metros
🦞

Maine Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Bottom bracket of just 5.8% on the first $27,400 of taxable income (after the $16,100 standard deduction) — lower than many progressive-tax states
  • Fully exempts Social Security income from state tax
  • Lower property tax rate (1.09% vs Texas's 1.6%) and a lower dollar bill on its $275,000 Portland median home (~$2,996/year) vs Texas's $297,000 median (~$4,752/year)
  • Flat 5.5% sales tax with no local add-on — simpler and often cheaper than Texas's combined rate
  • Strong public schools, low crime, and scenic coastal quality of life
− CONS
  • Progressive income tax up to 7.15% costs $5,479 at $100,000 income and over $34,000 at $500,000 — money Texans simply don't pay
  • Fully taxes pensions, 401(k), and IRA withdrawals at regular rates, with no broad retirement-income exemption beyond Social Security
  • Smaller, less diversified job market than Texas, concentrated around Portland and coastal tourism
  • Long, harsh winters and a seasonal, tourism-dependent economy in many regions
  • Population growth far slower than Texas, with an aging demographic base
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Texas or Maine cheaper for state income tax?

Texas is cheaper at every income level because it has no state income tax at all, while Maine applies progressive rates of 5.8% to 7.15%. At $50,000 income Maine residents pay $2,028 that Texans don't owe; at $100,000 the gap is $5,479; at $500,000 it exceeds $34,000. There is no income level at which Maine is cheaper on income tax alone.

How much would I save moving from Maine to Texas at $100,000 income?

About $5,479/year in state income tax alone ($5,479 in Maine vs $0 in Texas). Property tax works in Maine's favor, though: on a median home, Maine's Portland-area bill (~$2,996/year on a $275,000 home) runs about $1,756 less than Texas's statewide average (~$4,752/year on a $297,000 home). Net savings from moving to Texas is roughly $3,723/year once both taxes are combined for a typical homeowner.

Which state has lower property taxes, Texas or Maine?

Maine's effective property tax rate (1.09%) is lower than Texas's (1.6%), and the dollar comparison favors Maine even more once home values are factored in: Maine's $275,000 Portland median home generates about $2,996/year in property tax, while Texas's $297,000 statewide median home generates about $4,752/year — roughly $1,756 more, despite Texas's slightly lower median home price.

Does Maine tax Social Security benefits?

No. Maine fully exempts Social Security income from state tax, matching federal treatment. However, Maine does fully tax other retirement income — including pensions, 401(k) distributions, and IRA withdrawals — at its regular 5.8-7.15% progressive rates. Texas taxes none of this, since it has no state income tax of any kind.

Does Maine tax pensions and 401(k) withdrawals?

Yes. Unlike Social Security, Maine taxes pension income, 401(k) distributions, and IRA withdrawals at its regular progressive rates (5.8% to 7.15%), after the standard $16,100 deduction. There is a limited pension income deduction for certain public pension income, but private 401(k)/IRA withdrawals generally do not qualify. Texas taxes none of this, since it has no income tax at all.

How does sales tax compare between Texas and Maine?

Maine charges a flat 5.5% state sales tax with no local add-on anywhere in the state — simple and predictable. Texas charges 6.25% at the state level plus local add-ons of up to 2%, for a combined rate as high as 8.2% in many cities. On $20,000 of annual taxable spending, that's roughly $1,100 in Maine versus up to $1,640 in Texas — a modest advantage for Maine that partly offsets its higher income tax.

Which state is better for retirees, Texas or Maine?

Texas is generally better for retirees with substantial pension or 401(k)/IRA income, since none of it is taxed at the state level. Maine exempts Social Security but taxes pensions and retirement account withdrawals at its regular rates, which can add up for retirees with significant private retirement savings. Maine's lower property tax bill on a typical home and flat 5.5% sales tax provide some offset, but Texas wins on pure tax burden for most retirees with taxable retirement income.

What are Maine's income tax brackets in 2026?

Maine uses three brackets on taxable income (after the $16,100 standard deduction): 5.8% on the first $27,400, 6.75% from $27,400 to $64,850, and 7.15% above $64,850. This structure was simplified from four brackets to three under LD 1976 in 2023. Because the top bracket starts relatively low, most middle- and upper-income earners pay close to the 7.15% marginal rate on a large share of their income.

Why does Texas have such high property taxes if it has no income tax?

Texas relies heavily on property tax and sales tax to fund state and local government precisely because it has no income tax, resulting in one of the highest average effective property tax rates in the US (1.6%). On the state's $297,000 median home, that works out to about $4,752/year — more than Maine's $2,996/year on its Portland-area median home, despite Maine's income tax. It's a trade-off: no income tax, but a bigger property tax bill for homeowners.

Which state has the better job market, Texas or Maine?

Texas has a far larger and more diverse job market, anchored by energy (Houston), technology (Austin), aerospace, and healthcare, with population and job growth well above the national average. Maine's economy is smaller and concentrated around Portland, coastal tourism, and forestry/fishing, with slower population growth and an aging workforce. Career-focused movers typically favor Texas despite the higher property tax bill.
From the brief
NL27%new 2027 rate, down from 30%
DK65.4kkr/mo threshold, cut from 78k
MT1940snon-dom regime unchanged since
The Tax Brief · Subscribe free

More like this, every two weeks.

Verified rates, real after-tax figures, plain English. Free.

Bi-weekly. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.