Living Cost Compare
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 48% higher in Washington, DC. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$893
$1,763
+97% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$856
$1,885
+120% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,097
$1,949
+78% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,207
$2,249
+86% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$176,400
$724,600
+311% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,000
$106,287
+93% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$71,060

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
48.5 yr
34.9 yr
+13.6 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
52.7%
41.1%
+11.6 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.2%
63.6%
+31.4 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
14.7 min
30.3 min
+15.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
487.8
936.3
+92% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,973.3
3,627.9
+9% 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
44.6°F
58.2°F
+13.6°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
39.7 in
+0.7 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
24.4
+0% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$27.28
+5% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Rutland, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Rutland, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Washington, DC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Rutland, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Rutland, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
10.75%
+2.0 pp in DC

Rutland vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Washington?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Washington?
Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).