Moving to Vermont

Quick facts

Vermont's most consequential 2026 facts run in several genuinely distinct directions this record discloses honestly rather than collapsing into one "idyllic New England" story. On the tax side: Vermont levies a real, graduated income tax topping out at 8.75% (among the higher top marginal rates in the country) and a statewide effective property tax rate that Tax Foundation ranks the 4th highest in the nation (1.51%, with a real, disclosed wider spread up to ~1.90% across other sources) -- layered with a genuinely distinctive, town-varying statewide homestead/nonhomestead education property tax system whose FY2026 bills were projected to rise a real, disclosed 5.9% on average. Vermont's general sales tax (6.00%-7.00% combined) runs close to the national average, though a separate 9% meals-and-rooms tax and 10% alcohol-for-immediate-consumption tax apply on top of it. Vermont's real, current population is small (approximately 644,663-647,464 depending on source) and, as of the most recent year this pass's research found, genuinely DECLINING (down ~1,900, or ~-0.3%, from 2024-2025 -- the lowest population growth of any US state that year) rather than merely slow-growing, a direct consequence of Vermont's aging population structure (the 4th oldest median age of any US state) and a real, current 2.2% year-over-year labor-force contraction. Vermont's housing picture is defined less by extreme prices (a moderate, roughly national-figure statewide home value) than by a real, chronic, worsening supply shortage: the state's own housing needs assessment found approximately 30,000 additional homes needed by 2030, against 2025 production that fell to roughly a third of that need. Vermont's real, substantial $1.6 billion ski-tourism and second-home economy is concentrated in specific, named mountain communities -- Stowe, Killington, Sugarbush/the Mad River Valley, Okemo, Stratton, Mount Snow, and Jay Peak -- within a broader $4.2 billion annual visitor economy supporting more than 31,000 jobs. Vermont's real, current, and severe river-valley flood history (catastrophic July 2023 flooding that put downtown Montpelier mostly underwater, followed by three separate 2024 flood events, with many towns still rebuilding as of mid-2025) is a genuine, recent hazard this record discloses directly rather than treating Vermont as hazard-free. Balanced against these real challenges: Vermont's crime rate runs consistently favorable (39% below the national violent-crime average), its healthcare access ranks consistently in the top 10 nationally, its unemployment rate (2.6%) runs substantially below the national rate, its homeowners insurance ranks the 2nd cheapest in the country, and its overall 2026 US News Best States standing (10th of 50, with the #1 Opportunity ranking nationally) reflects a genuinely strong, if imperfect, overall picture.

Explore Vermont in depth

• Moving to Vermont
• Cost of Living in Vermont
• Housing Market in Vermont
• Buying a Home in Vermont
• Renting in Vermont
• Property Taxes in Vermont
• Income Taxes in Vermont
• Sales Tax in Vermont
• Homeowners Insurance in Vermont
• Flood & Hurricane Risk in Vermont
• Hurricane Preparedness in Vermont
• Climate & Weather in Vermont
• Jobs & Economy in Vermont
• Schools in Vermont
• Colleges & Universities in Vermont
• Crime & Safety in Vermont
• Healthcare in Vermont
• Traffic & Transportation in Vermont
• Airports & Getting Around Vermont
• Best Places to Live in Vermont
• Best Places to Retire in Vermont
• A Guide to Vermont's Regions
• Pros and Cons of Living in Vermont
• Who Should Move to Vermont?
• Who Should NOT Move to Vermont?
• Retiring in Vermont
• Retirement Communities in Vermont
• Living in Vermont for Families
• Living in Vermont for Remote Workers
• Vermont for College Students
• Snowbird Living in Vermont
• Military Relocation to Vermont
• Beaches & Coastal Living in Vermont
• Utilities & Everyday Costs in Vermont

The tradeoffs

Taxes

Vermont's top state income tax rate is 8.75% (Tax Foundation, "2026 Vermont Tax Rates & Rankings"; ustax.tools, "Vermont State Income Tax — 3.35%–8.75% (VT)"; KDA Inc., "Vermont Income Tax Rates 2026"; countrytaxcalc.com, "Vermont Income Tax Guide 2026"). The statewide average effective property tax rate is 1.51%, though this varies significantly by county -- from 1.42% to 1.90%. A reliable statewide median annual property tax bill is not yet sourced.

Insurance

Vermont's homeowners insurance runs real, current, and genuinely well below the national average -- a spread of roughly $1,054-$1,170/year, with Vermont ranked the second-cheapest state in the nation by one source reviewed. This record discloses the real flood-coverage caveat directly given Vermont's documented recent flood history.

Major cities we've researched in Vermont

• Burlington -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Burlington's real strengths -- genuine Lake Champlain lakefront recreation, a career or affiliation tied to UVM or UVMMC, a genuine, walkable, car-free downtown core (the Church Street Marketplace), and a real, well-documented progressive political and cultural environment -- and who take the city's honestly-disclosed challenges (a genuinely high cost of living and property/income tax burden, a chronic, current housing-affordability crisis, and a crime rate running above this project's national comparison figure) seriously enough to budget for them and research current, address-specific data directly before committing to a specific Burlington property.
• South Burlington -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with South Burlington's real strengths -- a genuinely high-income, low-unemployment Burlington-metro suburb with genuinely strong public schools, a real, growing aerospace/tech/healthcare employer base (BETA Technologies, OnLogic, UVM Medical Center), genuinely cheap homeowners insurance, and short average commute times -- and who take the city's honestly-disclosed challenges (an above-national property tax rate, above-national housing costs, a genuinely disputed current crime picture, and a real, ongoing F-35 noise dispute) seriously enough to research current, address-specific data (including a target property's actual proximity to Burlington International Airport's flight paths and FEMA flood-zone status) directly before committing to a specific South Burlington property.
• Essex Junction -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Essex Junction's real strengths -- a genuinely low unemployment rate, above-national median household income, a career or affiliation tied to GlobalFoundries' Fab 9 or the wider Burlington-metro UVM Health Network/university ecosystem, real in-city transit access (Amtrak, GMT's highest-ridership bus route), and genuinely low homeowners insurance costs -- and who take the city's honestly-disclosed challenges (a genuinely high state income tax and property tax rate, a wide-cross-source-disclosed high cost of living, and a real, documented Winooski River flood risk) seriously enough to research current, address-specific data (including FEMA flood-zone status) directly before committing to a specific Essex Junction property.
• Montpelier -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Montpelier's real strengths -- a genuinely walkable, small-scale capital-city lifestyle, a career tied to Vermont state government or National Life Group, below-national property tax and homeowners-insurance costs, and families or retirees prioritizing strong local schools and genuinely strong regional healthcare access via Central Vermont Medical Center -- and who take the city's honestly-disclosed challenges (a genuinely high state income tax and a real, recent, severe, well-documented flood-risk profile) seriously enough to research a target property's current FEMA flood-zone status directly before committing.
• Rutland -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Rutland's real strengths -- genuinely affordable housing and rent relative to this project's national comparison figures, a genuinely low county unemployment rate, a fast average commute, a career or affiliation tied to Rutland Regional Medical Center or another regional healthcare/service employer, genuine proximity to the Killington and Pico ski resorts for mountain/outdoor recreation, and retirees drawn to Rutland's real single-system healthcare anchor and Vermont's real, income-based Social Security exemption -- and who take the city's honestly-disclosed challenges (a high state income tax, an above-national property tax rate, a genuinely elevated and cross-source-consistent crime picture, and a real, ongoing population decline) seriously enough to research current, address-specific data directly before committing to a specific Rutland property.
• Colchester -- Best fits families and young professionals drawn to a genuine Lake Champlain-adjacent Burlington-metro suburb with ready access to Chittenden County's strong job market, plus outdoor-recreation-minded movers drawn to Malletts Bay and the broader lake.
• Williston -- Best fits young professionals and families drawn to a genuine Burlington-metro suburb with substantial local retail/commercial employment at Taft Corners, ready airport and interstate access, and a strong-ranked regional high school via the Champlain Valley Unified School District.
• Milton -- Best fits families and young professionals prioritizing relative affordability within Chittenden County, real manufacturing/industrial employment via Husky Injection Molding Systems, and Lake Champlain access, alongside movers who value Milton's comparatively more favorable crime picture against neighboring Chittenden County towns.
• Bennington -- Best fits affordability-focused families and small-town-living movers drawn to genuinely lower housing costs than the Burlington metro, real historical character (the Bennington Battle Monument), a real, currently-operating small liberal arts college, and an in-town hospital.
• Brattleboro -- Best fits retirees and movers drawn to a genuinely small, culturally rich Vermont town with low property taxes and a real, established arts scene, plus those prioritizing Vermont's southern gateway location near I-91 and the Massachusetts/Connecticut border.
• Barre -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine affordability in Vermont's capital region, first-time homebuyers, and those drawn to Barre's real, historic granite-industry identity and its more working-class, blue-collar character relative to nearby Montpelier.
• St. Albans -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine affordability via low property taxes, Lake Champlain access and outdoor recreation, and Franklin County's real regional-hub employment base, including cross-border-trade-adjacent roles given St. Albans' proximity to Canada.
• Winooski -- Best fits urban-living-focused movers, young professionals, and first-time homebuyers drawn to genuine walkability, direct proximity to Burlington and UVM, and Winooski's real, well-documented diverse, revitalized-mill-town character.
• St. Johnsbury -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine housing affordability, small-town Northeast Kingdom character, and direct local access to hospital-level healthcare, including first-time homebuyers drawn to St. Johnsbury's real, substantial price advantage over the rest of Vermont.
• Middlebury -- Best fits young professionals and movers drawn to a genuine college-town cultural and economic environment, outdoor-recreation access via the nearby Green Mountains and Adirondacks, and small-town Vermont character with more amenities than a typical rural NEK town.
• Shelburne -- Best fits families and higher-income buyers drawn to an affluent, established Burlington-metro suburb with genuine cultural landmarks (the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms), lake access, and strong regional schools, plus movers who prioritize proximity to Burlington's broader economy and healthcare system.
• Springfield -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine housing affordability, remote workers drawn to the Black River Innovation Campus's active tech-economy pivot, and those interested in Springfield's real, distinctive 'Precision Valley' industrial history.
• Hartford -- Best fits retirees and remote workers drawn to a genuinely distinctive small Upper Valley community with real creative-economy character, substantial healthcare access (a VA Medical Center directly in town, plus cross-river access to a major academic medical center), and movers prioritizing small-town living over urban scale.
• Newport -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuinely affordable Vermont housing and small-town, lake-adjacent Northeast Kingdom living, and those drawn to outdoor recreation on Lake Memphremagog, who are comfortable with a real, remote regional-hub setting and limited local healthcare/school options.
• Vergennes -- Best fits movers seeking a genuinely walkable, historic small-city downtown with a consistently favorable crime profile, within easy reach of Middlebury College and Lake Champlain -- particularly retirees and those prioritizing small-town living over urban scale.
• Northfield -- Best fits movers seeking a genuinely small, rural, and notably safe central-Vermont town with real regional access to the state capital and Burlington -- particularly those drawn to or connected with Norwich University, and retirees prioritizing safety and moderate (for Vermont) property taxes.
• Stowe -- Best fits mountain/outdoor-recreation enthusiasts, second-home and vacation-property buyers, and affluent movers who can absorb Stowe's real, extreme housing-cost premium in exchange for direct access to Stowe Mountain Resort and Vermont's highest peak.
• Manchester -- Best fits retirees and affluent movers drawn to Manchester's genuine historic character (Hildene), upscale shopping, and convenient ski access, alongside second-home buyers targeting the Bromley/Stratton corridor.
• Woodstock -- Best fits retirees and second-home buyers drawn to Woodstock's genuine historic-village beauty, Billings Farm & Museum and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, and its genuinely low violent-crime rate.
• Waterbury -- Best fits movers seeking genuine Central Vermont convenience -- proximity to both Montpelier and Stowe -- alongside Ben & Jerry's factory-adjacent character, at a real, disclosed lower housing-cost premium than Stowe itself.
• Randolph -- Best fits movers drawn to genuine small-town affordability relative to Vermont's statewide housing costs, dramatically low crime, and direct access to Vermont State University's Randolph Center campus and central Vermont's outdoor recreation along the White River.
• Morrisville -- Best fits movers wanting genuine, budget-conscious access to Stowe Mountain Resort's skiing, dining, and events without Stowe's considerably higher housing costs, alongside those valuing Copley Hospital's genuine regional healthcare quality.
• Ludlow -- Best fits retirees, second-home buyers, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to genuine, direct Okemo Mountain Resort access and Ludlow's substantial vacation-rental market, particularly those comfortable with resort-driven housing costs and Vermont's real, disclosed river-valley flood exposure.
• Waitsfield -- Best fits retirees, second-home buyers, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to genuine, direct access to both Sugarbush Resort and Mad River Glen's distinctive cooperative mountain culture, particularly those comfortable with resort-driven housing costs and rapid recent appreciation.
• Warren -- Best fits retirees, second-home buyers, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to genuine, direct Sugarbush Resort access and Mad River Valley mountain living, who are comfortable with a genuinely high price point and a small, seasonal-occupancy-driven local economy.
• Swanton -- Best fits movers prioritizing an authentic, working small-town Vermont character, genuine lake and wildlife-refuge access, and low crime, who are comfortable with a genuinely high property tax rate and a below-average-rated school district.
• Derby -- Best fits retirees and cost-conscious movers drawn to genuine small-town Northeast Kingdom affordability and Derby's real, distinctive binational Haskell Library landmark, who are comfortable with a remote regional setting and limited independent local healthcare/school infrastructure.
• Richford -- Best fits cost-conscious movers and first-time homebuyers drawn to genuine small-town, historic-mill-town affordability and genuinely low crime, who are comfortable with a rural border-town setting, a real, disclosed local economic-challenge profile, and regional (rather than local) healthcare access.
• Hardwick -- Best fits movers drawn to a genuine, food-centered small-town identity and cost-conscious buyers prioritizing housing affordability over the lowest possible property tax bill.
• Johnson -- Best fits movers with a direct connection to Vermont State University's Johnson campus, and cost-conscious buyers prioritizing a genuine small college-town character and favorable crime data.
• Poultney -- Best fits cost-conscious movers drawn to genuine small-town affordability, favorable crime data, and an honest, disclosed understanding of a rural Vermont town navigating real economic transition after losing its anchor college.
• Castleton -- Best fits movers with a direct connection to Vermont State University's Castleton campus, lake-recreation enthusiasts drawn to Lake Bomoseen, and safety-conscious buyers weighing Castleton's genuinely favorable crime and flood-risk data.
• Fairfax -- Best fits families and small-town-living movers prioritizing genuine safety, a rural Franklin County setting, and commuter access to St. Albans/Burlington, comfortable with Vermont's real, current higher-than-national housing costs and income tax.
• Jericho -- Best fits families and outdoor-recreation-minded movers prioritizing genuine safety, solid schools, Mount Mansfield-area mountain access, and a real commuter relationship to Burlington's job market, comfortable with Vermont's real, current above-national housing costs and elevated local property tax rate.
• Killington -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine mountain access, world-class skiing, and short-term-rental/second-home investment potential, comfortable with a small, genuinely resort-dominated year-round community and a real, disclosed workforce-housing affordability challenge.
• Dover -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine mountain access, big-mountain skiing, and short-term-rental/second-home investment potential close to Northeast metro areas, comfortable with a small, genuinely second-home-dominated year-round community.
• Wilmington -- Best fits movers prioritizing mountain access and outdoor recreation, comfortable with a real tourism/second-home housing market and its associated price premium, and for whom a small, seasonal Windham County town's economy fits their income situation.
• Jay -- Best fits movers prioritizing direct mountain access, heavy natural snowfall, and outdoor recreation, comfortable with a genuinely tiny, remote Northeast Kingdom community and a resort-dependent local economy.
• Bethel -- Best fits budget-conscious movers prioritizing low home prices, comfortable with a small, rural White River Valley setting and a genuinely high local property tax rate that offsets some of the housing-cost savings.
• Enosburg Falls -- Best fits budget-conscious movers prioritizing low home prices, comfortable with a small, rural Franklin County village with a dairy-farming heritage and needing to confirm current listings and employment data directly given this pass's disclosed research gaps.
• Brandon -- Best fits budget-conscious movers who value a genuinely historic, well-preserved small-town village center and can absorb a genuinely high local property tax rate -- Vermont's highest cited town-level rate -- in exchange for otherwise low home prices.
• Bristol -- Best fits movers prioritizing a genuinely small, walkable Vermont village with real mountain access and historic small-town character, comfortable confirming current, specific listing prices directly given this record's disclosed housing-figure spread and willing to accept a real, disclosed above-average local property tax rate.
• Fair Haven -- Best fits budget-conscious movers prioritizing genuinely low home prices, a small, historic southwestern Vermont town setting, and an interest in the region's real, still-active slate-industry heritage and the broader Poultney/Granville, NY slate belt.
• Hinesburg -- Best fits families and movers prioritizing a genuinely rural-feeling Chittenden County bedroom community within reasonable commuting distance of Burlington, comfortable with an above-average local property tax rate and Hinesburg's disclosed, ongoing growth-versus-rural-character debate.
• Charlotte -- Best fits affluent movers and luxury buyers prioritizing a genuinely rural, Lake Champlain-adjacent Chittenden County setting with real lake access and Champlain Valley farmland character, comfortable with substantially above-average home prices and commuting into the broader Burlington-area job market.