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Vermont

High tax burden · COL index 111

Wins 7 categories

VS

Alabama

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 9 categories

Vermont's top income tax rate is 8.75% vs Alabama's 5%. Cost of living in Vermont (index 111) runs 28% higher than Alabama (index 87). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Vermont averages 1.73% annually vs Alabama's 0.39%. The median home in Vermont costs $380K vs $218K in Alabama.

Vermont
Alabama

Taxes

8.75%
Income Tax (top rate)
5%
1.73%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.39%/yr
6.22%
Sales Tax (avg)
9.22%
No
Social Security Tax
Yes
No
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

111
COL Index (100=avg)
87
$380K
Median Home Price
$218K
$1,600/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,050/mo
$900/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

167
Violent Crime / 100K
547
1,390
Property Crime / 100K
2,247

Healthcare

#5 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#41 of 50
79.8 yrs
Life Expectancy
73.2 yrs
3.8%
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
No

Education

#6 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#44 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$1,500/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$820/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$155/mo
$590/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$410/mo
#34 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#25 of 50

Social Policy

B-
Gun Laws Grade
F
D+31.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+28.0

Category wins

7

Vermont

9

Alabama

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People Also Ask

Are people leaving VT?

Is moving to Vermont a good idea?

Why would someone want to live in Vermont?

Vermont is the most environmentally friendly state. As the greenest state in the country, Vermont shows it has a heart for the environment. Recycling policies, energy efficiency, eco-friendly behavior, and climate-change contributions are common themes throughout the state.

Does Vermont have a good quality of life?

According to CNBC, it's quality of life. For the fifth year in a row, the publication ranked Vermont the 2025 No. 1 state in the U.S. for quality of life, spotlighting the Green Mountain State's low crime rate, clean air, and healthy lifestyles for residents.

Full Vermont Profile →Full Alabama Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable