With mortgage
$1,893
ACS monthly median
All states
ACS 2024High-to-low rank #23
ACS 2024High-to-low rank #23Vermont Homeownership Cost
ACS with-mortgage owner cost $1,893/mo ($22,716/yr). Median home value $352,800; effective property tax 1.51%.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Vermont homeownership cost snapshot
Vermont's ACS median selected monthly owner cost for homes with a mortgage is $1,893, ranking #23 among the 50 states and DC where #1 is the highest cost.
No mortgage
$827
Taxes, insurance, utilities
Median home value
$352,800
ACS 2024
Insurance average
$1,109
NAIC/III 2022 HO-3
Compare Vermont with another state
Compare any two states
ACS owner costs, same-price buyer estimates, and home-value context.
What's included
How property ownership costs work in Vermont
The ACS selected monthly owner cost already combines several shelter expenses. Use it as a statewide benchmark, then verify local taxes, insurance, and HOA dues for a specific address.
Mortgage debt
First mortgages, second mortgages, home-equity loans, and similar secured housing debt payments.
Property taxes
Statewide effective rate used here: 1.51%. Local millage and exemptions still change bills.
Insurance & utilities
Average HO-3 premium about $1,109/yr ($92.42/mo), plus utilities/fuels in ACS.
Current-buyer estimates for Vermont
Illustrative monthly totals with 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan at 6.66% (Freddie Mac PMMS as of 2026-07-30), Vermont property tax, and scaled HO-3 insurance. These are not lender or insurer quotes.
| Home price | P&I | Tax | Insurance | Total /mo | Closing illus. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $1,542 | $378 | $79 | $1,998 | $10,500 |
| $500,000 | $2,571 | $629 | $131 | $3,331 | $17,500 |
| $352,800 (median) | $1,814 | $444 | $92 | $2,350 | $12,348 |
$300,000 purchase
$1,998/mo
P&I $1,542 · Tax $378 · Ins $79
$500,000 purchase
$3,331/mo
P&I $2,571 · Tax $629 · Ins $131
$352,800 median home
$2,350/mo
P&I $1,814 · Tax $444 · Ins $92
Closing-cost illustration uses 3.5% of price. HOA defaults to $0; add local dues when relevant.
Is Vermont an expensive state for homeowners?
At $1,893/mo with a mortgage ($22,716/yr), Vermont ranks #23 nationally. That benchmark reflects existing owners' combined shelter costs, not only purchase prices. Compare it with local wages, after-tax income, insurance availability, and the $352,800 median home value before judging affordability.
Planning benchmarks
Useful homeownership planning numbers for Vermont
These figures turn the statewide benchmarks into practical savings targets. They are planning ranges—not predictions for a specific property.
Five years of ACS owner costs
$113,580
Recurring shelter-cost context; not equity-adjusted
Three-month owner reserve
$5,679
Based on the ACS with-mortgage median
Maintenance planning range
$3,528–$7,056
1%–2% of median home value per year
Median-home cash illustration
$82,908
20% down + estimated closing costs
Long-term homeownership cost examples in Vermont
Multiplying the ACS monthly median shows the scale of recurring shelter costs over time. These totals include costs that do not build equity—such as taxes, insurance, utilities, and fees—alongside mortgage payments. They do not predict appreciation, refinancing, inflation, repairs, or the loan balance.
| Time period | With mortgage | Without mortgage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $22,716 | $9,924 | $12,792 |
| 5 years | $113,580 | $49,620 | $63,960 |
| 10 years | $227,160 | $99,240 | $127,920 |
The $1,066/mo gap between the two ACS medians is not a mortgage principal-and-interest amount. Owners with and without mortgages can differ in home value, age, location, utilities, insurance, and association fees.
What homebuyers should budget for in Vermont
Recurring monthly costs
Principal and interest, property tax escrow, homeowners insurance, utilities, HOA/condo fees, and a maintenance reserve.
Cash at closing
Down payment, lender fees, title/escrow, prepaid taxes and insurance, and often 2–5% of price. This guide illustrates 3.5%.
Insurance risk checks
Ask about wind, hail, wildfire, flood, and deductible options. Statewide averages can understate catastrophe-prone ZIP codes.
Local verification
Pull the parcel tax record, confirm post-sale assessment rules, and get a written insurance quote before locking a budget.
Address-level research
How to estimate the real cost of a specific Vermont home
Replace each statewide benchmark with information tied to the property before making an offer. The following process catches costs that listing prices and mortgage calculators often miss.
- 1
Confirm the post-sale property-tax bill
Find the parcel record, assessed value, taxing districts, current exemptions, special assessments, and reassessment rules. Ask what the bill would be at your purchase price—not only what the seller paid.
- 2
Get insurance quotes before the contingency deadline
Give insurers the address, replacement-cost details, roof age, prior claims when available, and desired deductibles. Ask separately about flood, wind, earthquake, wildfire, or other exclusions.
- 3
Read HOA or condo financial documents
Review dues, reserves, recent meeting minutes, insurance coverage, pending litigation, rental restrictions, and current or proposed special assessments.
- 4
Estimate utilities from the property—not the state
Request 12 months of electric, gas, water, sewer, fuel, trash, and internet bills. Property size, insulation, climate zone, equipment, and household behavior drive the result.
- 5
Turn the inspection into a replacement schedule
Record the age and expected life of the roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical, plumbing, appliances, foundation, septic, and well. Fund near-term replacements separately from routine maintenance.
Why homeownership costs vary within Vermont
Taxes and assessments are local
County, city, school, and special-district levies can differ even between nearby addresses. A purchase may also trigger reassessment, while the seller's exemptions may not transfer. Ask the assessor for an estimate based on your expected purchase price and eligibility.
Insurance follows the property's risk
Replacement cost, roof age, claims history, distance from fire protection, flood zone, wind or hail exposure, wildfire risk, deductible, and coverage limits affect the premium. Compare written quotes for the exact address rather than applying the state average directly.
Planning for the first year of owning a home in Vermont
Before the offer
Set a comfortable all-in monthly limit and a minimum cash balance that must remain after closing.
During due diligence
Verify taxes, insurance eligibility, inspection findings, HOA finances, utilities, and near-term replacements.
At closing
Review the final loan estimate, escrow deposits, prepaid items, title charges, rate terms, and cash-to-close.
After move-in
Rebuild reserves, schedule preventive maintenance, monitor escrow changes, and shop insurance before renewal.
Homeownership cost is not the same as affordability
Vermont's rank compares dollar costs, but it does not account for household income, existing debt, childcare, transportation, or savings goals. Evaluate the full monthly housing cost against stable after-tax income, keep cash available after closing, and avoid treating a lender's maximum approval as a comfortable personal budget.
When renting may be better than buying in Vermont
Buying can be a poor fit when you expect to move soon, closing and selling costs would consume likely equity gains, the purchase would drain emergency savings, or rent is materially below the unrecoverable costs of ownership. Compare rent with mortgage interest, property tax, insurance, HOA dues, maintenance, and transaction costs—not with the full mortgage payment alone, because principal builds equity. Also consider flexibility, repair responsibility, investment alternatives for the down payment, and the risk that home values may not rise during your ownership period.
Definitions and meaning
How to read the Vermont homeownership numbers
The figures on this page come from different datasets and answer different questions. Understanding their meaning helps prevent an observed statewide median from being mistaken for a current mortgage, tax, or insurance quote.
What $1,893/mo means
This is the ACS median selected monthly owner cost reported by Vermont owner-occupied households with a mortgage. It combines mortgage debt, taxes, insurance, utilities, fuels, and applicable association or mobile-home fees. It is not the payment on today's median-priced home.
What $827/mo means
This is the ACS median for owner-occupied homes without mortgage debt. It shows why a paid-off home is not cost-free: property tax, insurance, utilities, fuels, and applicable fees continue after the loan ends.
What the $352,800 value means
This is the midpoint of values reported for Vermont's existing owner-occupied housing stock. It is not a median sale price, current asking price, appraisal, construction cost, or estimate of what a buyer must spend in a particular city.
What the 1.51% rate means
This is a statewide effective property-tax benchmark: taxes paid divided by owner-occupied home value. It is not the statutory tax rate for every Vermont parcel, and it does not account for your exact assessment, taxing districts, exemptions, or post-sale reassessment.
- Selected monthly owner costs
A Census ACS measure that combines mortgage debt payments, real estate taxes, fire/hazard/flood insurance, utilities and fuels, and applicable condominium, HOA, or mobile-home fees.
Why it matters in Vermont: It is broader than a mortgage payment and provides a consistent way to compare the recurring shelter costs reported by homeowners.
- Median
The midpoint of a distribution: half of observations are below it and half are above it. A median is not the same as an average.
Why it matters in Vermont: Very expensive homes have less influence on a median, but the median still may not describe the price or cost of the home you want.
- Median owner-occupied home value
The Census ACS midpoint of values reported for homes occupied by their owners. It covers the existing owner-occupied housing stock, not only homes currently listed or recently sold.
Why it matters in Vermont: It supplies useful statewide context but should not be treated as a current listing price, appraisal, or forecast.
- Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI)
A common shorthand for the core monthly mortgage-related housing payment: principal, interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.
Why it matters in Vermont: Lenders often use PITI when measuring debt-to-income ratios, but HOA dues, utilities, maintenance, and specialty insurance can sit outside it.
- Escrow account
An account managed by a mortgage servicer that collects part of expected property taxes and insurance with each payment and pays those bills when due.
Why it matters in Vermont: The required monthly payment can rise after an escrow analysis if taxes or premiums increase, even when the mortgage rate is fixed.
- Effective property tax rate
Property taxes paid divided by owner-occupied home value. It is a comparable statewide benchmark rather than a statutory millage rate for every parcel.
Why it matters in Vermont: Assessment ratios, exemptions, local levies, and reassessment timing make nominal tax rates difficult to compare across states.
- Reassessment
A tax authority's update to a property's assessed value. Reassessment may occur periodically, after improvements, or when ownership changes, depending on local law.
Why it matters in Vermont: A seller's current tax bill can understate what a buyer will owe after the purchase.
- HO-3 homeowners policy (HO-3)
A common owner-occupied homeowners policy form that generally covers the dwelling against covered risks except listed exclusions and covers personal property against named perils.
Why it matters in Vermont: The state insurance figures use average HO-3 premiums, but coverage amount, exclusions, deductibles, and property risk can make an individual quote very different.
- Closing costs
One-time transaction expenses such as lender charges, appraisal, title and settlement services, recording, transfer charges, prepaid tax and insurance, and discount points.
Why it matters in Vermont: Closing costs are paid in addition to the down payment and are not included in the recurring ACS monthly owner-cost measure.
- Cash to close
The final amount a buyer must bring to settlement after accounting for the down payment, closing costs, deposits, seller or lender credits, and other adjustments.
Why it matters in Vermont: It is different from both the down payment and total closing costs, so buyers should rely on the final closing disclosure rather than a simple percentage estimate.
- Homeowners association dues (HOA dues)
Recurring charges paid to an association for shared property, services, administration, reserves, and community obligations.
Why it matters in Vermont: Dues can increase and may not cover special assessments. The current-buyer examples default HOA dues to $0 because no comparable official statewide amount exists.
- Maintenance reserve
Savings set aside for routine upkeep and irregular repairs or replacements. It is not a fee and may not be spent evenly each year.
Why it matters in Vermont: The ACS owner-cost measure does not fully capture repairs. A 1%–2% of home value annual range can be a starting point, adjusted for age and condition.
See the complete homeownership glossary for additional mortgage, insurance, and property terms.
Questions to ask before buying in Vermont
Ask the lender
- What rate, APR, points, and fees are included?
- How much can the escrow payment change?
- Is mortgage insurance required, and when can it end?
Ask the insurer
- Which hazards and water losses are excluded?
- Are deductibles flat dollars or a percentage?
- Could roof age or claims history affect renewal?
Ask the assessor or tax office
- Will the sale trigger reassessment?
- Which exemptions can the buyer claim?
- Are special assessments or tax increases pending?
Ask the HOA or condo association
- Are reserves adequately funded?
- Are special assessments, litigation, or major projects pending?
- What does the master insurance policy leave to owners?
States with similar ownership costs
Related tools for Vermont
Property tax profile
Effective rate for this state
Cost of living profile
Statewide affordability index
Property tax calculator
Home value + rate + exemption dollars
Rent vs buy calculator
Personalize rent, price, and break-even
Mortgage affordability calculator
Estimate a purchase price from income
Relocation salary calculator
City moves with tax and COL context
Vermont homeownership FAQs
The ACS 2024 median selected monthly owner cost for Vermont homes with a mortgage is $1,893, or about $22,716 per year.
Vermont ranks #23 among the 50 states and DC, where #1 is the highest ACS with-mortgage monthly owner cost.
Owners without a mortgage still report about $827/mo in selected owner costs for taxes, insurance, utilities, and related fees.
The ACS 2024 median owner-occupied home value in Vermont is $352,800.
The NAIC/III 2022 average HO-3 premium for Vermont is about $1,109 per year, or $92.42/mo. Local risk and coverage change the quote.
This guide uses Vermont's 1.51% effective property-tax rate from the Tax Foundation benchmark synchronized with our property-tax-by-state pages.
Under the current-buyer assumptions (20% down, 6.66% 30-year fixed), the estimated monthly total is about $3,331 including principal and interest, property tax, and insurance.
On the $352,800 median home value, the current-buyer model estimates about $2,350/mo with shared mortgage-rate assumptions.
Yes. Selected monthly owner costs include electric, gas, water, sewer, and fuels, in addition to mortgage, taxes, insurance, and applicable association fees.
No. ACS owner costs are recurring monthly shelter costs. Closing costs are one-time purchase expenses; this guide illustrates about 3.5% of price as a national assumption.
Yes. Specialty coverage and catastrophe risk can push total insurance well above the statewide HO-3 average. Get address-specific quotes before budgeting.
Start with the ACS ownership benchmark and median home value, then verify local list prices, property-tax estimates, insurance quotes, HOA dues, and after-tax income for the destination city.
Vermont's #23 ranking is near the middle of the 50-state and DC comparison for ACS with-mortgage owner costs.
Observed ACS owner costs and home values use 2024 1-year estimates. Insurance averages use NAIC 2022 HO-3 premiums. Mortgage-rate examples use the dated Freddie Mac PMMS release.
A common planning range is 1%–2% of home value per year. On Vermont's $352,800 median value, that is roughly $3,528–$7,056 annually, but an older or deferred-maintenance property may require more.
With 20% down on the $352,800 median value, the down payment is about $70,560. Adding this guide's 3.5% closing-cost illustration produces roughly $82,908 before moving, repairs, and reserves.
Home prices, school and special-district taxes, utility providers, HOA prevalence, insurance hazards, construction costs, and commuting patterns vary locally. Statewide medians are best used to narrow choices, followed by city, county, and address-level research.
Confirm the post-purchase property-tax estimate, obtain written insurance quotes for the address, review flood and catastrophe exposure, inspect the roof and major systems, read HOA financials and special assessments, compare utilities, and retain cash after closing for repairs and emergencies.
No. PITI usually means principal, interest, taxes, and insurance for a mortgage. ACS selected monthly owner costs are broader because they also include utilities, fuels, second or junior mortgage debt, and applicable association or mobile-home fees.
Cash to close is the final amount the buyer must bring to settlement after the down payment, closing costs, deposits, lender or seller credits, prepaid items, and other adjustments. Use the final closing disclosure because a simple down-payment-plus-fees estimate may differ.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026