Tennessee vs Vermont: taxes, cost of living, laws

Tennessee

Low tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 10 categories

Vermont

High tax burden · COL index 111

Wins 7 categories

Tennessee has no state income tax. Vermont's top rate is 8.75%. Cost of living in Vermont (index 111) runs 21% higher than Tennessee (index 92). Property taxes are meaningfully different: Vermont averages 1.73% annually vs Tennessee's 0.45%. Politically, Tennessee voted Republican in 2024 (R+24.0) while Vermont went Democratic (D+31.0).

Tennessee

Vermont

Taxes

None

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

0.45%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.73%/yr

9.55%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.22%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

None

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

111

$350K

Median Home Price

$380K

$1,400/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,600/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

668

Violent Crime / 100K

167

2,752

Property Crime / 100K

1,390

389

Sex Offenders / 100K

196

115

Homeless / 100K

533

Healthcare

#39 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#5 of 50

74.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.8 yrs

10.4%

Uninsured Rate

3.8%

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#41 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#6 of 50

Yes

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,000/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,500/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$175/mo

$420/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$590/mo

#10 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#34 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

B-

R+24.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+31.0

Category wins

Tennessee

Vermont

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