Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Rutland?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Rutland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Rutland?

Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Evansville vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Evansville

Indiana

$970/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Evansville, IN versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 5% higher in Rutland, VT. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$741

$893

+21% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$768

$856

+11% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,022

$1,097

+7% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,167

$1,207

+3% in Rutland, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$129,100

$176,400

+37% in Rutland, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,251

$55,000

+5% in Rutland, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,540

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.1 yr

48.5 yr

+10.4 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

53.9%

52.7%

+1.2 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

32.2%

+9.9 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

18.7 min

14.7 min

+4.0 min in Evansville, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,210.5

487.8

+60% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,716.2

3,973.3

+7% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.4°F

44.6°F

+11.8°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

45.3 in

40.5 in

+4.9 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

24.4

+40% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.52

$26.07

+6% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / VT)

+1.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

8.75%

+5.8 pp in VT

Evansville vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Rutland?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Rutland?: Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).