Is $60,000 a good salary in Vermont?

$60,000 in Vermont provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,986 after taxes. Across major Vermont cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,424.

What is the cost of living on $60,000 in Vermont?

The average monthly living cost across major Vermont cities is approximately $2,562 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $60,000 take-home pay of $3,986/month, you would have roughly $1,424/month remaining.

Living in Vermont · 2026

Is $60,000 enough to live in Vermont?

Single adult · VT · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,986

Avg monthly expenses

$2,562

Avg monthly surplus

$1,424

Savings potential

~36%

After-tax take-home in Vermont

Gross salary$60,000

Federal income tax− $5,094

State income tax− $2,485

Social Security− $3,720

Medicare− $870

Annual take-home$47,831

Effective tax rate20.28%

How $60,000 feels in Vermont cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Burlington

COL index: 1.28× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,800

Food

$537

Transport

$224

Utilities

$211

Healthcare

$256

Total: $3,028/mo

Surplus: $958/mo

Rent burden: 45.2% — High (35–50%)

Full Burlington analysis →

South Burlington

COL index: 1.25× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,750

Food

$528

Transport

$219

Utilities

$206

Healthcare

$250

Total: $2,953/mo

Surplus: $1,033/mo

Rent burden: 43.9% — High (35–50%)

Full South Burlington analysis →

Rutland

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$462

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,192/mo

Surplus: $1,794/mo

Rent burden: 30.1% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Rutland analysis →

Barre

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$440

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,042/mo

Surplus: $1,944/mo

Rent burden: 27.6% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Barre analysis →

Montpelier

COL index: 1.05× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$484

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,401/mo

Surplus: $1,585/mo

Rent burden: 33.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Montpelier analysis →

Winooski

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,600

Food

$519

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,757/mo

Surplus: $1,229/mo

Rent burden: 40.1% — High (35–50%)

Full Winooski analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,986 ($47,832/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,993

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,196

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$797

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$23,916

Wants / year

$14,350

Savings / year

$9,566

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Burlington

Rent would consume 45% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.8/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $60,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Burlington, Vermont, with approximately $958/month (~24% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Burlington's above-average cost of living (index: 1.28) means $60,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $46,875 in an average-cost US city, or $55,312 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$60,000 is 35% above the Vermont individual median ($44,500) and 7% above the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$44,500

+35%

State household median

$76,643

-22%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$60,000 vs. Vermont income benchmarks

Individual median (Vermont)

$44,500

+35% vs. this salary

Household median (Vermont)

$76,643

-22% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Vermont

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.