State Comparison

Massachusetts vs Vermont

Vermont is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Vermont, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Massachusetts has lower state income tax, and Massachusetts gets more sunshine.

Massachusetts

MA • Northeast

Better quality of life

Quality of Life Score

60.23

Vermont

VT • Northeast

Quality of Life Score

52.71

Massachusetts

15 / 30

metrics won

Score

Tie

Vermont

15 / 30

metrics won

VT wins Housing

VT wins Quality of Life

MA wins Climate

MA wins Demographics

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Massachusetts winner

60.23

Vermont

52.71

Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 7.52 points difference.

Quick Take

Massachusetts vs Vermont

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

Massachusetts has a larger population than Vermont by 6,386,840 people.
Vermont has the lower cost-of-living index. Vermont is at 117.6, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $97.83 of local buying power in Vermont, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $74,014 in Vermont.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Vermont is 31.2 points cheaper overall

Vermont has the lower cost-of-living index. Vermont is at 117.6, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $2.28 further in Vermont

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $97.83 of local buying power in Vermont, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.

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Income

Massachusetts income is 30.4% higher

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $74,014 in Vermont.

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Jobs

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $14.42/hr in Vermont.

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Housing

Massachusetts homes cost about 1.7x more

Vermont has the lower median home value at $295,900, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.

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Taxes

Massachusetts has lower state income tax

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.

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Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Boston	Montpelier	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	7,029,917	643,077	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$96,505	$74,014	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	148.8	117.6	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$510,400	$295,900	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.07%	1.59%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	5.00%	8.75%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$15.00/hr	$14.42/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.933/gal	$4.094/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	31.16 c/kWh	23.29 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	60.23	52.71	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	47.9°F	42.9°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	98 days	58 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	10,554 sq mi	9,616 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	666.1 per sq mi	66.9 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	February 6, 1788 (#6)	March 4, 1791 (#14)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	7,029,917	643,077	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	666.1 per sq mi	66.9 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	47.8%	43.7%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	22.4%	18.5%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$15.00/hr	$14.42/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	60.23	52.71	Details ->
Best State to Live In Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.	60.23	52.71	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	148.8	117.6	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.933/gal	$4.094/gal	Details ->
Gas Tax State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.	24.00 c/gal	12.10 c/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	31.16 c/kWh	23.29 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	30.4 min	22.2 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Best State to Live In -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Gas Tax -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	47.9°F	42.9°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	68.0°F	65.1°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	27.4°F	19.4°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	98 days	58 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	47.7 in	42.7 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$510,400	$295,900	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,678/mo	$1,147/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	62.8%	71.8%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	5.29x	4.00x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	20.9%	18.6%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	19.5%	18.8%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	5.00%	8.75%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	6.25%	6.00%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	1.07%	1.59%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Blue	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Dem +25.20	Dem +31.51	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Not a battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Republican	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic Trifecta	No Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Restrictive	Restrictive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	License State	Control State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Legal	Legal	Details ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	10,554 sq mi	9,616 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Mount Greylock (3,491 ft)	Mount Mansfield (4,395 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	February 6, 1788 (#6)	March 4, 1791 (#14)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Boston	Montpelier	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	Northeast	Northeast	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	80.0 yrs	80.0 yrs	Details ->
Older Adult Health Outcomes Composite score for comparing state health outcomes for older adults, using life expectancy, insurance coverage, and obesity prevalence.	88.9	84.2	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	2.6%	3.4%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	27.0%	29.0%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Older Adult Health Outcomes -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	283.3	187.6	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	1086.4	1713.8	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$96,505	$74,014	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	110.4	102.5	Details ->
Purchasing Power of $100 Real local value of $100 after adjusting for BEA Regional Price Parities.	$95.55	$97.83	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	10.4%	9.7%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	64.4%	63.2%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	4.8%	2.6%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	0.0%	1.0%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Purchasing Power of $100 -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

Metric	MA	VT	Deep dive
Retirement Score Composite score for comparing states for retirement, combining affordability, taxes, housing, health, safety, and winter climate.	56.2	57.1	Details ->

Retirement Score ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

Saving Money

Vermont is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 117.6 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $4.094/gal in Vermont. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts vs $14.42/hr in Vermont. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Vermont has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 23.29 c/kWh in Vermont vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

Vermont is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.00x in Vermont vs 5.29x in Massachusetts. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Vermont is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 18.6% in Vermont vs 20.9% in Massachusetts. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Property Tax

Massachusetts has lower property taxes

Effective property tax rate: 1.07% in Massachusetts vs 1.59% in Vermont. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.

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State Color

Vermont votes bluer

2024 presidential margin: Dem +31.51 in Vermont vs Dem +25.20 in Massachusetts.

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Government Control

Massachusetts has a trifecta

Massachusetts currently has democratic trifecta, while Vermont does not. That usually means state laws can move faster in Massachusetts.

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Alcohol Laws

Vermont uses a control-state system

Vermont uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Massachusetts uses a license-state system.

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Lower Taxes

Massachusetts has lower income taxes

Top state income tax rate: 5.00% in Massachusetts vs 8.75% in Vermont.

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More Space

Vermont feels less crowded

Population density: 66.9 per sq mi in Vermont vs 666.1 per sq mi in Massachusetts. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.

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Shorter Commute

Vermont has the shorter commute

Average commute: 22.2 min in Vermont vs 30.4 min in Massachusetts.

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Job Opportunities

Vermont looks better for job seekers

Unemployment rate: 2.6% in Vermont vs 4.8% in Massachusetts. Vermont also leads on job growth.

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Remote Workers

Massachusetts looks better for remote workers

Livability score: 60.23 in Massachusetts vs 52.71 in Vermont.

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Families

Massachusetts looks better for families

Massachusetts wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including uninsured rate, bachelor's degree compared with Vermont.

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Warmer Climate

Massachusetts is warmer overall

Average annual temperature: 47.9°F in Massachusetts vs 42.9°F in Vermont.

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More Sunshine

Massachusetts gets more sun

Sunny days per year: 98 days in Massachusetts vs 58 days in Vermont.

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Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population

Massachusetts has a larger population than Vermont by 6,386,840 people.

Population Density

Massachusetts is more densely populated than Vermont.

Bachelor's Degree

Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Vermont.

Advanced Degree

Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Vermont.

Massachusetts vs Vermont - Common Questions

Q Is Massachusetts cheaper to live in than Vermont?

Vermont has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Vermont scores 117.6 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 31.2 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Massachusetts or Vermont?

$100 goes further in Vermont. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $97.83 in Vermont, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.

Q Which state is bigger - Massachusetts or Vermont?

Massachusetts is larger, covering 10,554 sq mi compared with 9,616 sq mi for Vermont - roughly 1.1x the size.

Q Does Massachusetts or Vermont have more people?

Massachusetts has the larger population at 7,029,917, compared with 643,077 in Vermont.

Q Which state has higher household income - Massachusetts or Vermont?

Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $74,014 in Vermont.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Massachusetts or Vermont?

Massachusetts has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.

Q Is housing cheaper in Massachusetts or Vermont?

Homes are cheaper in Vermont, where the median home value is $295,900, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Massachusetts or Vermont?

Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Vermont is more spread out at 66.9 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Connecticut vs Vermont

Maine vs Vermont

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.