Living Cost Compare
Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 36% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,284
$630
+51% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$841
+34% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,731
$980
+43% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,002
$1,195
+40% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$400,200
$153,600
+62% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$68,854
$44,140
+36% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,020
$37,750
+37% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
26.7 yr
28.7 yr
+2.0 yr in Hattiesburg, MS
Homeownership
39.8%
36.5%
+3.3 pp in Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.5%
35.0%
+25.5 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
19.2 min
17.0 min
+2.2 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
497.1
221.5
+55% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
4,408.9
3,475.7
+21% 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
66.1°F
+20.1°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
36.8 in
59.2 in
+22.4 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Burlington, VT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
14.9
+39% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$29.04
+11% in Hattiesburg, MS

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 Hattiesburg, MS
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 / MS)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
4.00%
+4.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Hattiesburg?
Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).