---
title: "Virginia vs Maryland Taxes: DMV Comparison"
description: "VA vs MD tax comparison 2026. Compare DC metro area taxes. Income tax, property tax, and sales tax analysis for Virginia and Maryland residents."
canonical_url: "https://www.themoneypocket.com/articles/virginia-vs-maryland-taxes-2026"
last_updated: "2026-05-01T16:53:21.557Z"
---

## Virginia vs Maryland Taxes 2026: Complete DMV Comparison

Virginia and Maryland compete for DC-area workers and residents. Both are expensive states, but which has the better tax situation? **Virginia wins decisively for most income levels.**

## Quick Comparison

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Tax Category
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Virginia
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Maryland
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Winner
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Income Tax
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      2% - 5.75%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      2% - 5.75% + county
    </td>
    
    <td>
      ⭐ <strong>
        Virginia
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        County Income Tax (MD)
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      N/A
    </td>
    
    <td>
      +2.25% - 3.2%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      ⭐ <strong>
        Virginia
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Sales Tax
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      5.3% - 6%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      6%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      ⭐ <strong>
        Virginia
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Property Tax
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      0.82%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      1.09%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      ⭐ <strong>
        Virginia
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Total Tax Burden
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      11.2%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      11.3%
    </td>
    
    <td>
      ⭐ <strong>
        Virginia
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

**Bottom Line:** Virginia wins on virtually every metric. Maryland's county income taxes make it significantly more expensive for most residents.

<federal-tax-bracket-calculator>



</federal-tax-bracket-calculator>

## Income Tax: The County Tax Killer

### Virginia: 2% - 5.75%

**Single Filers (2026):**

- 2% on first $3,000
- 3% on $3,001-$5,000
- 5% on $5,001-$17,000
- **5.75% on $17,001+**

**Examples:**

- $75K = **$4,028**
- $100K = **$5,465**
- $150K = **$8,340**

### Maryland: State + County

**State Tax (2026):**

- 2% on first $1,000
- 3% on $1,001-$2,000
- 4% on $2,001-$3,000
- 4.75% on $3,001-$100,000
- 5% on $100,001-$125,000
- 5.25% on $125,001-$150,000
- 5.50% on $150,001-$250,000
- **5.75% on $250,001+**

**PLUS County Income Tax:** 2.25% - 3.2%

**Total Top Rate:**

- Montgomery County: **8.95%** (5.75% + 3.2%)
- Prince George's County: **8.7%** (5.75% + 2.95%)

**Examples (Montgomery County):**

- $75K = **$6,112**
- $100K = **$8,445**
- $150K = **$13,195**

### Income Tax Winner

**Virginia saves $2,000-5,000/year** for most DMV residents!

<standard-deduction-calculator>



</standard-deduction-calculator>

## Property Tax: VA Wins

### Virginia

**Average:** 0.82%

- Northern VA higher: ~1.0%
- $500K home = **~$5,000/year**

### Maryland

**Average:** 1.09%

- Montgomery County: ~1.0%
- $500K home = **~$5,450/year**

**Virginia saves ~$450/year** on property tax

## Sales Tax: VA Wins

### Virginia

- **State:** 4.3%
- **Most areas:** 5.3% - 6%
- **Northern VA:** 6%

### Maryland

- **State + county:** 6%

**Roughly similar,** slight edge to VA

<tax-withholding-calculator>



</tax-withholding-calculator>

## Real-World Scenarios

### Scenario 1: DC Commuter (Fairfax VA vs Montgomery MD)

**Income:** $130,000<br />

**$600K home**

**Fairfax County, VA:**

- Income: $7,403
- Property: $6,000
- Sales: $2,400
- **Total: $15,803**

**Montgomery County, MD:**

- Income: $11,491
- Property: $6,000
- Sales: $2,400
- **Total: $19,891**

**VA saves: $4,088/year** 🎉

### Scenario 2: Family (Arlington VA vs PG County MD)

**Income:** $180,000 (married)<br />

**$750K home**<br />

**2 kids**

**Arlington, VA:**

- Income: $10,215
- Property: $7,500
- Sales: $3,000
- **Total: $20,715**

**Prince George's, MD:**

- Income: $15,566
- Property: $8,175
- Sales: $3,000
- **Total: $26,741**

**VA saves: $6,026/year** 🎉

<child-tax-credit-calculator>



</child-tax-credit-calculator>

### Scenario 3: Federal Employee

**Income:** $95,000<br />

**Rents apartment**

**Virginia:**

- Income: $5,278
- Sales: $2,120
- **Total: $7,398**

**Maryland (Montgomery):**

- Income: $7,763
- Sales: $2,400
- **Total: $10,163**

**VA saves: $2,765/year** 🎉

## Which State Wins?

### Virginia Better For:

✅ **Nearly everyone** (lower income tax)<br />


✅ **High earners** (huge county tax savings)<br />


✅ **DC commuters** (Metro access, lower taxes)<br />


✅ **Young professionals**<br />


✅ **Those maximizing savings**

### Maryland Better For:

✅ **Those requiring MD location** (Johns Hopkins, NIH, etc.)<br />


✅ **Baltimore-area workers** (cheaper than VA, different job market)<br />


✅ **Crab lovers** (better access to Bay)<br />


✅ **Those who really value MD schools** (though VA has great schools too)

**Honestly, VA wins for taxes in almost every scenario.**

## Special Considerations

**DC Workers:**
Many federal employees choose between VA and MD. **VA wins on taxes**, but consider:

- Commute patterns
- School quality (both excellent in wealthy suburbs)
- Lifestyle preferences

**Maryland 529 Tax Deduction:**
MD offers $5K/individual ($2,500 married) state tax deduction for 529 contributions. VA offers none. Small advantage for MD parents.

**Virginia vs Maryland Cost of Living:**

- **Similar housing costs** in DC suburbs
- **VA** saves significantly on taxes
- Other costs roughly equivalent

**DC Tax Trap:**
DC has high income tax (up to 10.75%). Living in VA/MD and working in DC means you pay DC tax on DC-source income. But VA/MD residents still come out ahead.

<qbi-deduction-calculator>



</qbi-deduction-calculator>

## FAQ

**Q: If I live in VA and work in DC, who taxes me?**<br />


DC taxes your DC-source income. VA gives you a credit for taxes paid to DC, so you don't double-pay. Net result: you pay DC rate on work income, but VA rate on other income.

**Q: Which has better schools?**<br />


Both have excellent suburban school systems. Fairfax County (VA) and Montgomery County (MD) both rank among the nation's best.

**Q: Metro accessibility?**<br />


Both VA and MD have extensive Metro coverage in DC suburbs. Roughly equivalent.

**Q: Cost of living difference?**<br />


Northern VA and MD suburbs are similarly expensive. But **VA's lower taxes** effectively make it 3-5% cheaper for most households.

**Q: Why does MD have county income tax?**<br />


Historical funding mechanism for local services. Counties control their rate. Makes MD much less competitive.

## Conclusion

**For virtually all DMV residents, Virginia offers $2,000-6,000/year in tax savings** compared to Maryland—mainly due to MD's county income taxes.

**A $130K earner in Fairfax VA vs Montgomery MD saves $4,088/year**—that's $122,640 over 30 years, or **$456,000 invested at 7%**.

Maryland offers great quality of life, but Virginia's tax advantage is undeniable.

### Calculate Your Savings:

<federal-tax-bracket-calculator>



</federal-tax-bracket-calculator>

<standard-deduction-calculator>



</standard-deduction-calculator>

<eitc-calculator>



</eitc-calculator>

<amt-calculator>



</amt-calculator>

---

**Last Updated:** Jan 2, 2026