Author: Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall Street

The government generates revenue from sources like income and employment taxes and redistributes it based on need. And not all states benefit equally.

From the checkout counter to the 1040 form due every April, what Americans end up paying in taxes depends largely on where they live.

As local industries report growing output, revenue of small businesses increases, which in turn can spur wage and employment growth.

In parts of the country with higher costs of living, $200,000 is only enough to buy a home the size of a studio apartment – or less.

Property taxes, the single largest revenue source for local governments, are ratified, collectedand spent almost entirely at the municipal level.

The government levies an 18.4 cent tax on every gallon of gasoline. On top of that, each state imposes its own tax, which if often even higher.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the net population change by state from July 2016 to July 2017 to identify the fastest growing and shrinking states.

These low-income counties tend to have much in common. They are largely rural and have relatively weak job markets.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed median home value data from the U.S. Census Bureau to identify where it’s easiest to buy a house for less than $100,000.

The U.S. economy is subject to complex, interconnected forces, but when it comes to its health, the buck often stops at the president’s desk.