Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Rutland?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 3% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$950

$893

+6% in Bridgeport, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$856

+28% in Bridgeport, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$1,097

+27% in Bridgeport, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$1,207

+26% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$176,400

+30% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$55,000

+3% in Bridgeport, CT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

48.5 yr

+12.1 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

43.3%

52.7%

+9.4 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

32.2%

+9.1 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

29.9 min

14.7 min

+15.2 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

487.8

+21% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

1,478.4

3,973.3

+169% 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

52.5°F

44.6°F

+7.9°F in Bridgeport, CT

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

40.5 in

+2.3 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

24.4

+0% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$26.07

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / VT)

6.35%

+0.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

8.75%

+1.8 pp in VT

Bridgeport vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Rutland?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).