Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or South Burlington?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $61,000 in South Burlington.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or South Burlington?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Frederick vs South Burlington Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/mo est.

South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,650 in Frederick, MD versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 2% higher in South Burlington, VT. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,557

+6% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,533

+8% in South Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,805

+9% in South Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$2,356

+26% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$399,600

+9% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$97,229

+2% in South Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$60,020

+16% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

38.8 yr

+1.7 yr in South Burlington, VT

Homeownership

59.2%

60.1%

+0.9 pp in South Burlington, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

65.1%

+23.3 pp in South Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

30.1 min

18.9 min

+11.2 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

239.4

+41% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,696.3

4,446

+162% in South 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

52.1°F

46.0°F

+6.1°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

36.8 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

24.4

+12% in South Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.57

$26.07

+16% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in South Burlington, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in South Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in South Burlington, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in South Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / VT)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

8.75%

+2.3 pp in VT

Frederick vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or South Burlington?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in South Burlington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or South Burlington?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington 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).