Vermont vs 
Colorado
Take-home pay after federal tax, state income tax, and FICA — calculated with the same engine as our paycheck calculator.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Winner at $100k
Vermont
Extra take-home / year
$559
Per month
$47
Over 10 years
$5,590
Moving from Colorado → Vermont at $100,000
Metric vs metric
Lower tax and cost figures generally favor the highlighted cell. Rate structure notes sit under each state's calculator link.
| Metric | Vermont | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 8.75% · Progressive (top 8.75%) | 4.40% · Flat 4.40% |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.43% | ~7.89% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.51% | ~0.5% |
| Cost of living index | 113 | 101.8 |
| Median household income | $74,800 | $89,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 3.4% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Vermont rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 8.75%.
Colorado rate structure
Flat 4.40% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
Vermont (Progressive (top 8.75%)) vs Colorado (Flat 4.40%). At $100,000 gross (single), Vermont typically leaves you with about $559 more take-home than Colorado after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~6.43% vs ~7.89%; property tax ~1.51% vs ~0.5%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $74,800 vs $89,800.
Take-home by income
Net pay after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA — single filer, standard deduction, no dependents (2026). Advantage is take-home in Colorado minus Vermont.
| Gross | Vermont take-home | Colorado take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,332 | $40,155 | −$1,177 |
| $75,000 | $59,402 | $58,293 | −$1,109 |
| $100,000Headline | $75,339 | $74,780 | −$559 |
| $150,000 | $106,445 | $107,191 | +$746 |
| $200,000 | $137,781 | $140,127 | +$2,346 |
| $500,000 | $303,644 | $318,477 | +$14,833 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 24.7% in Vermont vs 25.2% in Colorado. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Vermont vs Colorado
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Vermont | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,841 | $4,400 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $75,339 | $74,780 |
| Effective total tax rate | 24.7% | 25.2% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,278 | $6,232 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.43% (Vermont) vs ~7.89% (Colorado); effective property tax ~1.51% vs ~0.5%.
Pros & cons: Vermont vs Colorado
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Vermont
Pros
- About $559/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Colorado
- Lower combined sales tax (~6.43% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
- Lower unemployment rate (2.8% vs 3.4%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 8.75%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.51% vs ~0.5% in Colorado)
- −Higher cost of living index (113 vs 101.8; 100 = US average)
- −Lower median household income ($74,800 ACS 2024 vs $89,800)
Colorado
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Vermont (Progressive (top 8.75%))
- Lower effective property tax (~0.5% vs ~1.51% in Vermont)
- Lower cost of living index (101.8 vs 113; 100 = US average)
- Higher median household income ($89,800 ACS 2024 vs $74,800)
Cons
- −Roughly $559/year less take-home at $100k vs Vermont
- −Higher combined sales tax (~7.89% vs ~6.43% in Vermont)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.4% vs 2.8%)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Vermont wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Vermont: About $559/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Colorado
- Vermont: Lower combined sales tax (~6.43% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
- Colorado: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Vermont (Progressive (top 8.75%))
- Colorado: Lower effective property tax (~0.5% vs ~1.51% in Vermont)
How we calculate Vermont vs Colorado
Tax engine. Federal income tax uses 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction for a single filer. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare employee shares. State income tax applies Vermont's and Colorado's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Progressive (top 8.75%) vs Flat 4.40%).
What's included. Wage income only — no capital gains, self-employment tax, itemized deductions, credits, or local city wage taxes (e.g. NYC) unless noted. Sales tax (~6.43% vs ~7.89%) and property tax (~1.51% vs ~0.5%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (113 vs 101.8, 100 = US average) and median household income ($74,800 vs $89,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Vermont → Colorado relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Vermont vs Colorado taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Vermont → Colorado?
Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.
Related tools
Estimates only for tax year 2026. Not tax advice — verify with your state tax agency or a CPA before relocating. Figures assume a single filer with the standard deduction and no dependents.