Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs Vermont
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Connecticut, Connecticut has higher incomes, Connecticut has lower state income tax, and Connecticut gets more sunshine.
Connecticut
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Vermont
17
/ 31
metrics won
VT wins Housing
VT wins Quality of Life
CT wins Climate
VT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
Vermont
winner
Vermont scores higher on quality of life — 0.62 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Connecticut is 4.5 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while Vermont is at 117.6.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.20 further in Connecticut
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $97.83 in Vermont.
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Income
Connecticut income is 21.9% higher
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $74,014 in Vermont.
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Jobs
Connecticut minimum wage is $2.34 higher
Connecticut has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.35/hr, compared with $14.01/hr in Vermont.
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Housing
Connecticut homes cost about 1.1x more
Vermont has the lower median home value at $295,900, versus $326,200 in Connecticut.
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Taxes
Connecticut has lower state income tax
Connecticut has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.99%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Connecticut
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 7.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Vermont
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 8.8%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (106.9 for Connecticut, 102.5 for Vermont). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Connecticut
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Connecticut
- Connecticut has a lower overall cost of living.
- Connecticut has a lower housing cost index.
- Connecticut shows higher median income.
- Connecticut has a lower violent crime rate.
- Connecticut health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Connecticut has more sunny days.
Cons
- Connecticut has higher median home values.
- Connecticut has higher property tax rates on average.
- Connecticut job growth trend is weaker.
- Connecticut health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Connecticut education proxy is lower.
Vermont
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Vermont
- Vermont has lower median home values.
- Vermont has lower property tax rates on average.
- Vermont job growth trend is stronger.
- Vermont health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Vermont education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Vermont has a higher overall cost of living.
- Vermont has a higher housing cost index.
- Vermont shows lower median income.
- Vermont has a higher violent crime rate.
- Vermont health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Vermont has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
VT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Montpelier |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
643,077
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$74,014
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
117.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$295,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.59%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
8.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$14.01/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$4.094/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
23.29 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
52.71
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
42.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
58 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
9,616 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
66.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
March 4, 1791 (#14)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
17
shown
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 117.6 in Vermont. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Connecticut is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.082/gal in Connecticut vs $4.094/gal in Vermont. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Connecticut has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.35/hr in Connecticut vs $14.01/hr in Vermont. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Vermont has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 23.29 c/kWh in Vermont vs 28.30 c/kWh in Connecticut. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Connecticut is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.62x in Connecticut vs 4.00x in Vermont. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Vermont is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.6% in Vermont vs 18.9% in Connecticut. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Connecticut has a larger population than Vermont by 2,962,867 people.
Population Density
Connecticut is more densely populated than Vermont.
Bachelor's Degree
Vermont has a higher college-educated share than Connecticut.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than Vermont.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs Vermont - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than Vermont?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 117.6 for Vermont - a gap of 4.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or Vermont?
$100 goes further in Connecticut. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $99.03 in Connecticut, compared with $97.83 in Vermont.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or Vermont?
Vermont is larger, covering 9,616 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 1.7x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or Vermont have more people?
Connecticut has the larger population at 3,605,944, compared with 643,077 in Vermont.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or Vermont?
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, versus $74,014 in Vermont.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or Vermont?
Connecticut has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.99%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or Vermont?
Homes are cheaper in Vermont, where the median home value is $295,900, versus $326,200 in Connecticut.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or Vermont?
Connecticut is more densely populated at 650.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Vermont is more spread out at 66.9 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.