Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 18% higher in Rutland, VT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$973
$893
+8% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$856
+18% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,097
+15% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,207
+16% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$176,400
+19% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$55,000
+21% in Rutland, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
48.5 yr
+15.1 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
25.7%
52.7%
+27.0 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
32.2%
+13.9 pp in Rutland, VT
Avg Commute
22.8 min
14.7 min
+8.1 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
487.8
+8% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
3,973.3
+35% 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
51.2°F
44.6°F
+6.6°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
40.5 in
+3.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
24.4
+0% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$26.07
+12% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / VT)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
8.75%
+1.8 pp in VT

Hartford vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Rutland?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Rutland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Rutland?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).