Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Jackson?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 37% 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

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,085

+15% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$816

+36% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$991

+43% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,121

+44% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$108,200

+73% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$43,238

+37% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$42,850

+29% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

34.7 yr

+8.0 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

39.8%

48.6%

+8.8 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

28.6%

+31.9 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

20.2 min

+1.0 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

—

Property Crime

4,408.9

—

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

65.3°F

+19.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

54.3 in

+17.5 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

16.2

+35% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.31

$27.68

+36% in Jackson, 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 Jackson, 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)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

4.00%

+4.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Jackson?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson 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).