South Carolina vs Vermont: taxes, cost of living, laws

South Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 93

Wins 10 categories

Vermont

High tax burden · COL index 111

Wins 7 categories

Vermont's top income tax rate is 8.75% vs South Carolina's 6.2%. Cost of living in Vermont (index 111) runs 19% higher than South Carolina (index 93). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Vermont averages 1.73% annually vs South Carolina's 0.43%. Politically, South Carolina voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Vermont went Democratic (D+31.0).

South Carolina

Vermont

Taxes

6.2%

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

0.43%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.73%/yr

7.43%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.22%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

4.7%

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

111

$310K

Median Home Price

$380K

$1,350/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,600/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

540

Violent Crime / 100K

167

2,730

Property Crime / 100K

1,390

342

Sex Offenders / 100K

196

Homeless / 100K

533

Healthcare

#38 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#5 of 50

75.5 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.8 yrs

13.1%

Uninsured Rate

3.8%

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#40 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#6 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$950/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,500/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$450/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$590/mo

#15 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#34 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

B-

R+13.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+31.0

Category wins

South Carolina

Vermont

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