Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or New Haven?

New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or New Haven?

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

Burlington vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 22% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,159

+10% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

about equal

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,473

+15% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,636

+18% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$249,000

+38% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$53,771

+22% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$60,060

+0% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

31.9 yr

+5.2 yr in New Haven, CT

Homeownership

39.8%

28.4%

+11.4 pp in Burlington, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

37.7%

+22.8 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

21.0 min

+1.8 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

536.3

+8% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

4,408.9

3,601.6

+18% 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

52.2°F

+6.2°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

47.1 in

+10.3 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

24.3

+0% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$23.33

+11% in Burlington, 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 (VT / CT)

6.35%

+0.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

6.99%

+1.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or New Haven?: New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or New Haven?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).