State relocation profile · Federal data
Vermont
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Vermont from federal sources.
- 98.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,487
- 2BR rent / mo
- $74,077
- Median salary
- 52.7
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Vermont ranks #20 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (52.7/100, D), with its strongest marks in environment and safety.
- #20 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 52.7
- Life Score · D
- 98.0
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $74,077
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: schools (22/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Vermont ranks #20 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 98.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,487/mo, median salary $74,077; Life Score 52.7/100 (D), strongest in environment and safety.
Signature: Vermont lists 1 MSA; the state average is closer to a single-labor-market read.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 98.0 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,487/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $74,077.
Composite Life Score 52.7/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#20 of 51).
Metro book is thin (1 MSA); the statewide profile is closer to the labor market you will actually live in.
Life Score plate
Sheet VT · Vermont 52.7/100 · D · #20 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-PAR · LEAD-ENVIRO · BOOK-MOST
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-UPPER #20/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-PAR RPP 98.0
- LEAD-ENVIRO Lead · environment
- BOOK-MOST 6/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Utah ( -0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Vermont
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Vermont on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Vermont Life Score breakdown
Vermont composites to 52.7/100 (D) across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized); corpus place #20 of 51.
Vermont - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Environment
Environment
92 /100
- Safety
Safety
72 /100
- Wages
Wages
64 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
44 /100
- Rent 24
Rent
24 /100
- Schools 22
Schools
22 /100
What this shows Vermont's strongest dimensions are environment and safety; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 22/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 6 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Vermont on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Vermont on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Vermont
Explore detailed relocation data for 1 metropolitan area in Vermont. Vermont contains 1 metropolitan statistical area in our dataset - Burlington-South Burlington - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Burlington-South Burlington metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Vermont cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Vermont wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.