Texas landscape illustration
Rank #5 of 50

TexasMoney Index August 2026

"No state tax, everything bigger."

The Wealth Magnet South · TX Score 60

The Short Answer

Texas charges no state income tax — every paycheck stretches further, and high earners keep tens of thousands more per year than in coastal states.

Texas — Money Index — Key Facts

  • The Short Answer. Texas charges no state income tax — every paycheck stretches further, and high earners keep tens of thousands more per year than in coastal states.
  • Banking Access: 7/10. Texas scores 7/10 on banking access — fine for everyday accounts, worth shopping online HYSA rates to beat local offers.
  • Remote Work: 7/10. Texas scores 7/10 for remote work — solid but not stand-out.
  • South Money Profile. Texas sits in the South — and its personality is "The Wealth Magnet". Low taxes plus a business-friendly climate that quietly compounds capital.
  • Business Climate: 10/10. Texas rewards founders and side-hustlers — friendly incorporation rules, low friction and (7/10) remote-work runway.
  • Zero State Income Tax. Texas charges no state income tax — a six-figure earner can keep tens of thousands more per year than in California or New York.
  • Inflation Resilience: 8/10. Texas weathers inflation better than most (8/10) — paychecks here hold their purchasing power.
  • Retirement: 8/10. Texas is a magnet for retirees — favorable tax treatment of Social Security/pensions plus lifestyle costs that stretch fixed income.
  • Affordability: 7/10. Texas sits in the middle of the affordability pack (7/10).
  • Ranked #5 of 50. Texas ranks #5 of 50 on the PickYourBank US State Money Index — a blend of taxes, affordability, retirement, business climate and remote-work fit.
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Tax friendliness
10/10
10 = no income tax
Affordability
7/10
10 = cheapest
Retirement
8/10
Tax + lifestyle
Business
10/10
Climate score
The short answer

Texas charges no state income tax — every paycheck stretches further, and high earners keep tens of thousands more per year than in coastal states.

On our 1-10 money scorecards, Texas ranks 10/10 on tax friendliness, 7/10 on cost of living, and 8/10 on retirement — placing it #5 of 50 states overall.

The full picture

How Texas scores across the board

Seven dimensions of household finance, scored 1-10. Higher is better in every category.

Tax friendliness10/10
Cost of living7/10
Retirement8/10
Business climate10/10
Banking competitiveness7/10
Inflation resilience8/10
Remote-work suitability7/10
Banking
7/10
Account access & rates
Inflation
8/10
Resilience score
Remote work
7/10
Laptop-class friendly
Overall
60
Rank #5/50
The vibe

Money personality: The Wealth Magnet

Low taxes plus a business-friendly climate that quietly compounds capital.

Did you know

Four Texas money truths

State income tax: 10/10

Texas charges zero state income tax — a high earner saving 6-figures keeps tens of thousands more per year than in California or New York.

Cost of living: 7/10

Cost of living scores 7/10 — Texas sits in the middle of the affordability pack.

Retirement: 8/10

Retirement friendliness 8/10 — favorable tax treatment of Social Security, pensions and lifestyle costs make Texas a magnet for retirees.

Business climate: 10/10

Business climate 10/10 — Texas rewards founders and side-hustlers with friendly incorporation rules and low friction.

Surprising fact

"Texas has no state income tax but among the highest property taxes in America — pick your trade-off carefully."

Play the game

Money lessons from Texas

  1. 1

    Zero income tax is worth thousands per year — invest the difference, don't lifestyle-inflate it

  2. 2

    Tax-friendly retirement states stretch fixed income further — model this before you move

  3. 3

    Business-friendly climates reward side-income — incorporate where rules favor you

See the full US state money rankings
Real questions

Texas money FAQ

Is Texas a good state for keeping your money?+

Texas scores 60 on our composite money index, with a the wealth magnet profile. Texas charges no state income tax — every paycheck stretches further, and high earners keep tens of thousands more per year than in coastal states.

What is the state income tax in Texas?+

Texas charges no state income tax. On our 1-10 tax-friendliness scale (10 = no income tax), Texas scores 10.

Is Texas good for retirement?+

Texas scores 8/10 on retirement friendliness, factoring in tax treatment of Social Security and pension income, healthcare costs, and overall affordability for fixed-income households.

Is Texas good for business owners and remote workers?+

Texas scores 10/10 on business climate and 7/10 on remote-work suitability — covering tax incentives, talent pools, infrastructure and cost of doing business.

How affordable is Texas?+

Texas scores 7/10 on cost of living (10 = cheapest). Combined with 8/10 inflation resilience, that shapes how far paychecks stretch here.

What money personality fits Texas?+

The Wealth Magnet — Low taxes plus a business-friendly climate that quietly compounds capital.

What's surprising about money in Texas?+

Texas has no state income tax but among the highest property taxes in America — pick your trade-off carefully.

Nearby

Other South states