Cost of Living in Vermont

(Last Updated – 03/2023)

Vermont is a beautiful lush green state with over 4.5 million acres of pristine, undisturbed forestland. There are only three cities in the state with over 20,000 people, as most of Vermont’s population is spread out across its sparsely populated farms and woodlands.

Vermont also has the second-lowest population in the U.S. with just about 647,100 residents; only Wyoming has a lower population. If you despise bumper-to-bumper traffic or are just looking for a scenic remote location to get away, Vermont could be the perfect state for you.

The fact that Vermont isn’t the most expensive state for its region makes it an attractive draw to those who live in neighboring states, especially nearby folks living in high-cost Massachusetts and New York. However, if you’re thinking of moving up to Vermont, you’ll want to keep an eye on those taxes and utility costs (heating a home in the deep New England winter isn’t cheap).

Let’s take a deep dive into the cost of living in Vermont.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Vermont?

Average Cost of Living in Vermont: $50,761 per year

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) the average cost of living in Vermont for a typical individual is around $50,761 per year.

Vermont has an above-average cost of living when compared to the rest of the United States, but this is normal when compared to its New England neighbors, as the region ranks above the rest of the nation in terms of expenses.

Vermont was the third-cheapest New England State to live in, beating out Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, in addition to its western neighbor of New York, which just so happens to be one of the most expensive states in the country.

MERIC ranked Vermont 42nd in its 2022 cost of living index, largely due to the above-average cost of housing and utilities in the Green Mountain State. In the New England region, only Rhode Island and Maine came in slightly cheaper in the rankings, at 39th and 41st, respectively.

How does this look in terms of your everyday costs? The latest 2021 data from the BEA breaks down the typical per capita personal consumption expenses on an annual level:

Category	Average Annual Per-Capita Cost in Vermont
Housing and Utilities	$9,544
Health Care	$8,859
Food and Beverages (non-restaurant)	$4,443
Gas and Energy Goods	$1,270
All Other Personal Expenditures	$26,645

Housing Costs in Vermont

Average Housing Costs in Vermont: $794 to $1,621 per month

The average home in Vermont cost $339,100 in February 2023, which is lower than the $359,000 median sales price of an existing home in the United States, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Vermont boasts a supply of 336,779 houses according to most recent 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here are the median mortgage and rental costs for residents in Vermont:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,621

•  Median studio rent: $834

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $834

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,271

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,382

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,475

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,293

•  Median gross rent: $1,115

Given the sprawling nature of the state, there are wide discrepancies in home values across various communities. Expect to pay more for choice properties near Burlington relative to smaller towns like Bennington or Rutland.

Vermont City	Typical Home Price
Burlington	$409,973
Barre	$327,060
Rutland	$263,902
Bennington	$323,566

Utility Costs in Vermont

Average Utility Costs in Vermont: $350 per month

Real Vermonters own multiple flannel shirts, and it’s no surprise why. When compared to the rest of the nation, Vermont’s deep winters and muddy spring seasons are part of the reason why it has above-average utility costs. Utility costs take up a large part of Vermont’s cost of living, and prospective homebuyers should be wary.

While gas heating costs run an average of $110 per month, in the winter peak seasons, that figure can easily multiply. It’s no wonder why many Vermont households have resorted to heating their homes with firewood; it’s one of the most popular heating fuels in the state!

Despite the high utility costs, conservationists will be proud to learn that Vermont leads the nation in renewable energy production, as it actually generated 100% of the electricity from renewable resources in the year 2021. This includes wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biomass, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) .

It doesn’t stop there however, as the state pledged to achieve at least 90% of its energy usage from renewable resources by the year 2050. So even if the bill is a little high, you can feel good about where the energy came from.

Utility	Average Vermont Bill
Electricity	$109
Gas	$110
Cable & Internet	$110
Water	$21

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, 2021; Inspirecleanenergy.com; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report 2022; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Vermont: $370.25 per person, per month

The average individual will spend around $370 per month on food and groceries, or $4,443 per year, according to the BEA. This is slightly above average for the New England region, which already has some of the highest food costs in the nation.

Out of all 6 New England States, Vermonters pay on the higher end for food and groceries. In fact, Vermont has some of the highest food and beverage costs in the nation.

Of course, food costs can vary widely depending on where you live. Burlington, Vermont’s biggest city, actually fell in the mid-to-higher end for grocery costs when compared to other major New England cities.

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks food expenses for major metropolitan areas within the United States. We’ve displayed the rankings for the New England States in the table below (based on data from 2022).

City	Grocery Items Index
Providence, RI	98.3
New Haven, CT	99.2
Hartford, CT	102.2
Portland, ME	103.3
Manchester, NH	105.2
Burlington, VT	106.1
Pittsfield, MA	106.8
Stamford, CT	107.3
Boston, MA	113.8

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Vermont: $4,470 to $12,675 per year

Vermonters drive fast, and true Vermonters know that the distance between towns isn’t measured in miles, it’s measured in hours. So it’s probably a good thing that Vermont’s transportation costs aren’t expensive. In fact, U.S. News named Vermont as the 7th cheapest state in the country when it comes to auto insurance.

With the state’s low population and spread-out communities, bumper to bumper traffic in Vermont is almost unheard of. What qualifies as rush-hour traffic in Vermont might compare to a leisurely weekend cruise in major cities like New York. The reduced hours spent waiting in traffic go a long way towards cutting transportation costs.

Here’s a breakdown of the average annual transportation costs by family size, according to 2023 data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator .

Family Makeup	Average Annual Transportation Cost
One adult, no children	$4,470
Two working adults, no children	$8,040
Two working adults, three children	$12,675

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Vermont: $8,859 per person, per year

The average Vermonter pays around $8,859 per year for healthcare, according to the BEA’s latest personal consumption expenditures report. This makes up a significant part of Vermont’s cost of living for its large population of citizens over the age of 50.

Vermont’s average healthcare costs fall on the higher end of the scale when compared to the rest of the nation, however they’re around average when compared to its peers in the New England region. Both of its neighbors, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, have higher average healthcare costs.

As a whole, the New England region collectively has the highest healthcare costs of any geography in the United States. Residents of Vermont who want to save on healthcare expenses can shop for and compare health insurance providers through Vermont’s state-sponsored exchange, Vermont Health Connect .

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Vermont: $1,038 to $1,742 or more per child, per month

Childcare is an expense that cannot be avoided for families, although the average costs may vary depending on the type of care you seek. In Vermont, home-based family child care is actually less expensive than classroom-based childcare for both infants and toddlers, according to costs cited by the costofchildcare.org .

Generally, childcare costs that make up 7% or less of a household’s income are defined as “affordable” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, this metric may still be difficult for some families to achieve.

For struggling parents in need, Vermont’s Agency for Human Services offers help for struggling parents through its Child Care Financial Assistance Program in the form of subsidies and financial assistance.

Type of Child Care	Average Cost Per Month, Per Child
Infant Classroom	$1,742
Toddler Classroom	$1,508
Preschooler Classroom	$1,038
Home-based Family Child Care	$1,216

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Vermont: 8.75%

The state of Vermont uses a graduated income tax system which caps out at 8.75% for the highest income bracket. This is the 8th highest rate in the nation when it comes to income taxes.

Vermont was also ranked as having the 4th highest tax burden according to the Tax Foundation’s Rankings for 2022 , with an effective tax rate of 13.6%. Keep in mind that “tax burden” measures all taxes reported through the U.S. Census Bureau, including but not limited to property, excise, estate and income taxes.

When compared to its New England neighbors, only Connecticut came in with a higher tax burden at 15.4%, while no other New England state made the top ten. New York, Vermont’s western neighbor, happens to have the highest effective tax burden in the country at 15.9%.

Miscellaneous Costs

In addition to the mundane everyday costs, let’s take a look at how much some of the Green Mountain State’s best known attractions cost:

•  2 lb Cabot sharp cheddar cheese block: $17.95

•  1 gallon jug of Vermont Maple Syrup: $65.95

•  Unlimited adult season pass to Mt. Killington (Winter): $999 – $1,609

•  16 oz pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream: ~$4.99

•  Brewery tour in Burlington: $49 – $99 per person

•  Men’s classic flannel shirt from the Vermont Flannel Company: $73.80

Whether you’re coming to town for some sight-seeing or you’re looking to hit the slopes at one of its 26 ski resorts, Vermont has something for everyone.

When it comes to cheese and syrup, real Vermonters know how to tell home-grown Vermont Cheddar and maple from Velveeta and Aunt Jemina. No state does farm-to-table better than Vermont, as Vermont is known for its ubiquitous dairy farms and farmers’ markets.

The world-famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company also calls Vermont home. If you’re visiting, try dropping by at the Ben & Jerry’s factory in the Historic Waterbury Village, or check out any of their 50+ flavors of ice cream at one of their locations in Vermont.

Finally, Vermont is a beer-aficionado’s paradise. Experts attest that its climate is ideal for beer-brewing and cider-making. This is evidenced by the presence of 64 breweries and brewpubs across the state, according to the Vermont Brewers association. Vermont competes neck and neck with neighboring Maine for the honor of having the most breweries per capita in the nation, having held the title several times in recent years.

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Vermont?

MIT’s living wage calculator cites that a single, childless person working 40 hours per week, for 52 weeks per year, would need to make at least $16.82 per hour, or $34,986 per year to have a “living wage.” However, the exact amount needed to live “comfortably” depends on your own unique tastes and habits.

Vermont ranks 39th in the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings which measures the average cost of living in a given state versus the median income most households make. While this may sound expensive for the average American, Vermont still ranks ahead of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts on the affordability chart for the New England region.

As a whole, New England does poorly on affordability, and Vermont’s rankings are fairly typical for its area. MERIC’s cost of living data series arrives at a similar conclusion, ranking Vermont 42nd, which is slightly more expensive than Maine but just a bit more affordable than New Hampshire.

What Cities Have the Lowest Cost of Living in New England?

To help you compare the cost of living in Vermont with its neighbors, we’ve collected data for major cities in the New England region from the Council for Community and Economic Research (CCER). The CCER tracks the cost of living in major metropolitan areas across the United States. We’ve included their results for the New England area in 2022 below:

Hartford, Connecticut

The capital of Connecticut, and its 4th largest city by population, has the lowest cost of living in New England, according to most recent data from the CCER. This is largely due to its low housing and grocery costs when compared to other New England cities. In fact, Hartford, Connecticut has the most affordable housing in the index when compared to other New England cities rated by the CCER.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

The small city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts ranks 2nd on the CCER’s cost of living index. Residents pay the lowest utility costs in all of New England, according to the CCER. In fact, its utilities index ranking is actually below average for the nation which is unique for the New England area, where utility costs are historically high. Pittsfield is located on the western edge of Massachusetts, less than an hour’s drive from Albany, New York.