Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,688 in California versus $1,275 in Vermont. Overall, Vermont runs roughly 24% cheaper on rent than California, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $83,969 in California and $68,854 in Vermont — about 18% higher in California. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
8.75%
+4.6 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,275
+24% in California
Median Home Value
$771,700
$400,200
+48% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$68,854
+18% in California
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
46.0°F
+18.4°F in California
California vs Vermont — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in California or Vermont?
- Vermont is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,275 runs about 24% below California's $1,688, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in California than in Vermont?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in California versus $51,000 in Vermont.
- Which has lower taxes, California or Vermont?
- California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/Vermont — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.