Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Rutland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Rutland?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 25% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$893

+18% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$856

+28% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,097

+22% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,207

+34% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$176,400

+36% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$55,000

+25% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

48.5 yr

+14.9 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

54.8%

52.7%

+2.1 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

32.2%

+0.9 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

14.7 min

+12.0 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

487.8

+1% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

3,973.3

+63% in Rutland, VT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

44.6°F

+20.8°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

40.5 in

+0.9 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.94/gal

+10% in Rutland, VT

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

24.4

+53% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$26.07

+18% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / VT)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Arlington vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Rutland?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).