California vs Vermont: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 3 categories

Vermont

High tax burden · COL index 111

Wins 12 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Vermont's 8.75%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 28% higher than Vermont (index 111). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Vermont averages 1.73% annually vs California's 0.71%. The median home in California costs $790K vs $380K in Vermont.

California

Vermont

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.73%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.22%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

111

$790K

Median Home Price

$380K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,600/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

167

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

1,390

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

196

475

Homeless / 100K

533

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#5 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.8 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

3.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#6 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,500/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$590/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#34 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

B-

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+31.0

Category wins

California

Vermont

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