Compare different loan terms using your home price of $350,000 with $70,000 down at 6.8%.
15-Year Fixed
$2,401/mo
Total interest: $152,141
Total cost: $432,141
Save $221,646 vs 30-year
20-Year Fixed
$2,088/mo
Total interest: $221,025
Total cost: $501,025
Save $152,762 vs 30-year
30-Year Fixed (Current)
$1,816/mo
Total interest: $373,787
Total cost: $653,787
Lowest monthly payment
Pro
Professional Simulator
Complete financial model: closing costs breakdown, rent vs buy, inflation-adjusted returns, true cost of ownership
years
%
%
%
%
10-Year Net Gain/Loss
-$173,685
After selling in year 10 at $493,710
Total Paid Over Hold Period
$398,929
Down + closing + all payments
Home Value at Sale
$493,710
3.5%/ yr appreciation
Selling Costs
$29,623
6% of sale price
Net Sale Proceeds
$225,244
After mortgage payoff + selling costs
Real Interest Rate
4.25%
Nominal 6.8% - inflation 2.5%
Real Monthly Payment
$1,254
Today's dollars (mid-loan)
State Property Tax
$5,600
TX rate: 1.6%
True Monthly Cost
$2,499
PITI + HOA + maintenance
Buying a Home in Vermont
Vermont is one of the most charming and distinctive states in New England, offering covered bridges, skiing, maple syrup, and a strong community character that has attracted buyers from across the country. With an average home price of $340,000, Vermont is expensive relative to its rural character but more affordable than Massachusetts and Connecticut. Burlington, the state's largest city on Lake Champlain, is Vermont's economic hub and home to the University of Vermont and a vibrant healthcare and technology sector.
Vermont's housing supply is chronically constrained by its mountainous terrain, strict land use regulations, and strong community opposition to overdevelopment. This means even modest increases in demand — like the remote worker influx during the pandemic — create outsized price movements. Chittenden County (Burlington area) has the tightest market, while rural communities in the Northeast Kingdom and southern Vermont offer significantly more affordable options.
Vermont's property tax of 1.73% is among the higher rates in New England, driven by the statewide education funding mechanism. Vermont also has a property transfer tax — though first-time primary residence buyers qualify for a reduced rate of 0.5%. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency's MOVE program with up to $10,000 in down payment assistance helps qualifying buyers navigate these upfront costs.
Key Housing Facts for Vermont
Average home price: $340,000
Average effective property tax rate: 1.73%
Average homeowners insurance: $1,000/year
Property transfer tax: 0.5% for first-time buyers (primary residence); 1.25% otherwise
Attorney closing state
Most active markets: Burlington, Shelburne, Williston, South Burlington
Resort markets: Stowe, Woodstock, Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
Vermont's average effective property tax rate is approximately 1.73%, one of the higher rates in New England. On a $340,000 home, you'd pay roughly $5,882 per year in property taxes. Vermont funds its public schools primarily through a statewide property tax, which creates a more uniform but higher base rate than states where education is funded locally.
Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) offers the MOVE program with competitive interest rates and the ASSIST program providing down payment and closing cost assistance up to $10,000 as a 0% interest, 30-year second mortgage. The ADVANTAGE program offers additional credits at closing. Income and purchase price limits apply by county and household size.
Vermont saw a significant surge in demand from remote workers, particularly from Boston and New York, during and after the pandemic. The state even offered a financial incentive program (Remote Worker Grants) to attract remote workers to relocate to Vermont. This in-migration pushed prices up considerably in communities near ski areas and in the Chittenden County (Burlington) area. Vermont's very limited housing supply amplified the price impact of even modest increases in demand.
Closing costs in Vermont typically range from 2–4% of the purchase price. Vermont has a property transfer tax of 1.25% of the purchase price for buyers (with a reduced rate of 0.5% for qualifying first-time buyers using the property as a primary residence). On a $340,000 home, a first-time buyer would pay approximately $1,700 in transfer taxes. Attorney closing fees are also standard in Vermont.