Living Cost Compare
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Rutland, VT
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$893
$1,103
+24% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$856
$1,024
+20% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,097
$1,213
+11% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,207
$1,394
+15% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$176,400
$224,500
+27% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$55,000
$55,269
+0% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$54,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
48.5 yr
37.0 yr
+11.5 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
52.7%
46.0%
+6.7 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.2%
33.1%
+0.9 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
14.7 min
23.0 min
+8.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
487.8
1,138.2
+133% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,973.3
3,182.4
+20% 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
54.9°F
+10.3°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
43.1 in
+2.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.4
19.3
+21% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.07
$29.73
+14% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
8.75%
6.60%
+2.2 pp in VT

Rutland vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Wilmington?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Wilmington?
Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).