Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Dover?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Dover?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $42,000 in Dover.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Dover?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Burlington vs Dover Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 15% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Dover, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$993

+23% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,047

+18% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,185

+32% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,634

+18% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$248,500

+38% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$58,336

+15% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$46,690

+22% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

35.1 yr

+8.4 yr in Dover, DE

Homeownership

39.8%

47.0%

+7.2 pp in Dover, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

27.1%

+33.4 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

24.0 min

+4.8 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

1,025.3

+106% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

4,408.9

6,159.1

+40% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.0°F

56.9°F

+10.9°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

46.0 in

+9.2 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

19.3

+21% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$29.73

+14% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Burlington, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Dover, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Burlington, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / DE)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

6.60%

+2.2 pp in VT

Burlington vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Dover?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Dover?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Dover?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).