Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in Burlington, VT versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 12% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$798
+38% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$782
+39% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$984
+43% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,100
+45% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$169,700
+58% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$60,293
+12% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$47,700
+21% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
35.0 yr
+8.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
39.8%
62.2%
+22.4 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
28.5%
+32.0 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
21.4 min
+2.2 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
308.9
+38% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
2,245.4
+49% in Burlington, VT

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
50.5°F
+4.5°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
38.3 in
+1.5 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
18.1
+27% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.31
$13.70
+33% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
2.95%
+5.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Fort Wayne?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).