Quality of Life Score
60.23
State Comparison
Massachusetts vs Vermont
Vermont is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Vermont, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Massachusetts has lower state income tax, and Massachusetts gets more sunshine.
Massachusetts
15
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tie
Vermont
15
/ 30
metrics won
VT wins Housing
VT wins Quality of Life
MA wins Climate
MA wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Massachusetts
winner
vs
Vermont
Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 7.52 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
Vermont is 31.2 points cheaper overall
Vermont has the lower cost-of-living index. Vermont is at 117.6, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.28 further in Vermont
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $97.83 of local buying power in Vermont, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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Income
Massachusetts income is 30.4% higher
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $74,014 in Vermont.
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Jobs
Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage
Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $14.01/hr in Vermont.
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Housing
Massachusetts homes cost about 1.7x more
Vermont has the lower median home value at $295,900, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
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Taxes
Massachusetts has lower state income tax
Massachusetts has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Massachusetts
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Vermont
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 8.8%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
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 (110.4 for Massachusetts, 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.
Massachusetts
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Massachusetts
- Massachusetts shows higher median income.
- Massachusetts has lower property tax rates on average.
- Massachusetts health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Massachusetts education proxy is higher.
- Massachusetts has more sunny days.
Cons
- Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
- Massachusetts has a higher housing cost index.
- Massachusetts has higher median home values.
- Massachusetts has a higher violent crime rate.
- Massachusetts job growth trend is weaker.
Vermont
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Vermont
- Vermont has a lower overall cost of living.
- Vermont has a lower housing cost index.
- Vermont has lower median home values.
- Vermont has a lower violent crime rate.
- Vermont job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Vermont shows lower median income.
- Vermont has higher property tax rates on average.
- Vermont health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Vermont education 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 |
MA
|
VT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Boston | Montpelier |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
7,029,917
|
643,077
|
|
Median Income
|
$96,505
|
$74,014
|
|
Cost of Living
|
148.8
|
117.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$510,400
|
$295,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.07%
|
1.59%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
8.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$14.01/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.933/gal
|
$4.094/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
31.16 c/kWh
|
23.29 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
60.23
|
52.71
|
|
Average Temperature
|
47.9°F
|
42.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
98 days
|
58 days
|
|
Land Area
|
10,554 sq mi
|
9,616 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
666.1 per sq mi
|
66.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
February 6, 1788 (#6)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Vermont is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 117.6 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $4.094/gal in Vermont. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts 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 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Vermont is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.00x in Vermont vs 5.29x in Massachusetts. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Vermont is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.6% in Vermont vs 20.9% in Massachusetts. 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
Massachusetts has a larger population than Vermont by 6,386,840 people.
Population Density
Massachusetts is more densely populated than Vermont.
Bachelor's Degree
Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Vermont.
Advanced Degree
Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Vermont.
People Also Ask
Massachusetts vs Vermont - Common Questions
Q Is Massachusetts cheaper to live in than Vermont?
Vermont has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Vermont scores 117.6 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 31.2 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Massachusetts or Vermont?
$100 goes further in Vermont. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $97.83 in Vermont, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is bigger - Massachusetts or Vermont?
Massachusetts is larger, covering 10,554 sq mi compared with 9,616 sq mi for Vermont - roughly 1.1x the size.
Q Does Massachusetts or Vermont have more people?
Massachusetts has the larger population at 7,029,917, compared with 643,077 in Vermont.
Q Which state has higher household income - Massachusetts or Vermont?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $74,014 in Vermont.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Massachusetts or Vermont?
Massachusetts has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 8.75% in Vermont.
Q Is housing cheaper in Massachusetts or Vermont?
Homes are cheaper in Vermont, where the median home value is $295,900, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Massachusetts or Vermont?
Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 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.