Vermont
Snapshot
Vermont retirement guide
Retiring in Vermont
Vermont gives you quiet mountains, real fall color, and a recent break that exempts Social Security for many retirees. You pay for it with long, snowy winters and a progressive income tax.
Could fit
You love four real seasons, small-town New England, and easy reach to hiking, lakes, and ski country.
Look closely at
You are on a tight budget. The cost of living runs high, the heating season is long, and the state taxes most retirement income above modest thresholds.
Cost of living
$4,900/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Vermont comes out near $4,900 a month.
#29 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.
Vermont runs about 2% below the national average on everyday prices.
Cost of recreation
108
Our index of how Vermont's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.
#27 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.
Vermont's modeled hobby costs run about 8% above the national average. The modeled average is about $1,057 a year across the activity basket.
Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.
How the plan models Vermont
The state lines the calculator actually changes.
Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what Vermont actually feels like.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Vermont income picture.
Estimate how Vermont treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Check thresholds
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Cost of living
$4,900/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Vermont prices translate to about $4,900 a month.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesState income tax
~5.0%
Vermont can tax some Social Security income and uses a 5% blended planning rate for taxable retirement-income context. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Vermont, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance.
Tax FoundationSocial Security
Taxed
Vermont is one of the states where Social Security can still need a state-tax check.
AARP / IRS Pub. 915Property tax
1.9%
Property tax is local, but the Vermont state-level planning rate used here is 1.9% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $6,700 a year before county detail.
Tax FoundationSales tax
6.4%
Tax Foundation puts Vermont's 2026 average combined state and local sales tax near 6.4%, ranked 32 among states in that table.
Tax FoundationVehicle costs
Registration line
Vehicle costs still belong in the budget, but the vehicle-tax source used here does not flag Vermont as a state where value-based vehicle property tax is the main planning issue.
FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guideLong-term care in Vermont
The care cliff, in Vermont dollars.
CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.
Assisted living
$8,597/mo
About $103,167 a year, 39% higher than the national median.
Nursing home (semi-private)
$14,113/mo
About $169,360 a year, 47% higher than the national median.
Home caregiver
$8,580/mo
About $102,960 a year, 29% higher than the national median.
Activities & recreation in Vermont
What there is to do, with the sources.
How the things people retire for actually look in Vermont. Each links to the full activity guide.
Vermont's 55 state parks include accessible trail options such as the 8/10-mile flat loop at Camel's Hump and trails at Mount Ascutney leading to overlooks. Vermont State Parks sells an individual season pass for $40, covering unlimited day-use entry to all parks for a full season.
Estimated annual hobby cost
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Published input
Vermont State Parks individual season pass; adult per-day admission $5; Green Mountain Passport (residents 62+ or veterans) available for a one-time $2 fee at town clerks for lifetime free day-use
Published range: $2 to $105.
Vermont State Parks - Fees and Passes · as of 2026Where to go
Vermont has 56 pickleball locations with about 197 public courts statewide, according to Pickleheads, with Twin Oaks in South Burlington offering nine indoor and eight outdoor courts, the largest facility in the state. The Vermont Senior Games includes a pickleball doubles event held at Twin Oaks each year.
Estimated annual hobby cost
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.
Where to go
Burlington City Arts runs public art programs and community exhibitions in downtown Burlington, and the Vermont Arts Council distributes grants to theaters, museums, and cultural organizations across all 14 counties. The Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning serves older adults in southern Vermont with courses and social programs.
Estimated annual hobby cost
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Published input
Shelburne Museum senior (65+) admission $25.50 at door; $23 purchased online; Vermont residents pay $15 with valid VT ID; tickets cover two consecutive days
Published range: $15 to $27.50.
Shelburne Museum - Visit · as of 2026-05Where to go
Vermont's five Area Agencies on Aging serve more than 15,500 older Vermonters annually through senior centers, nutrition programs, wellness activities, and case management at little or no cost. The Vermont Adult Services Division lists all senior centers and AAA contacts at asd.vermont.gov.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.
Published input
Vermont residents 66+ can obtain a permanent hunting and fishing license for a one-time $60 fee; senior centers widely free or low-cost; Burlington Parks and Recreation senior programs offered at no cost
Vermont Fish and Wildlife - Permanent Licenses for Vermont Seniors · as of 2026Where to go
Vermont Fish and Wildlife issues an annual resident fishing license for $28, with a free permanent license available to qualifying residents with disabilities. Lake Champlain, the Connecticut River, and the state's many cold-water streams offer trout, bass, walleye, and salmon fishing season after season.
Estimated annual hobby cost
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Published input
Vermont resident annual fishing license; residents 66+ pay one-time $60 for a permanent license (good for life); no separate senior annual discount published
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department - Fish VT · as of 2026Lake Champlain, stretching along Vermont's western border, is the centerpiece for boating in the state, with Vermont State Parks operating boat launch ramps at parks such as North Hero and Burton Island Marina's 100-slip facility in the lake's Inland Sea. Paddling access is also noted at several smaller parks and rivers around the state.
Estimated annual hobby cost
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Published input
Vermont motorboat annual registration fee: Class A (under 16 ft) $31/year; Class 1 (16 to under 26 ft) $49/year; 2-year registration also available
Published range: $31 to $153.
Vermont DMV - Registration Fees · as of 2026-03Vermont has a range of public and semi-private courses across the state, including Fox Run Golf Club in Ludlow, home to Vermont PGA and NEPGA Senior tournaments. Country Club of Barre lists a senior membership tier for members age 70 and older, and the Country Club of Vermont in Waterbury is another well-regarded public-access option near Montpelier.
Estimated annual hobby cost
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Published input
Weekday 18-hole greens fee with cart at The Links at Lang Farm (public, Essex Junction, near Burlington); rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $24 to $34.
The Links at Lang Farm - Rates · as of 2024-10Where to go
UVM Extension's Community Horticulture Program (Master Gardener) trains volunteers across Vermont using research-based information, and runs a free gardening helpline at 802-656-5421 during the season. Vermont's growing season in most of the state runs from late May to mid-September, with gardeners often relying on raised beds and season-extension methods.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
Published input
Shelburne Museum senior/over-65 admission $25.50 (or $23 online); Vermont resident admission $15 with VT ID; tickets valid for two consecutive days
Published range: $15 to $27.50.
Shelburne Museum - Visit · as of 2026-05Where to go
Things to do in Vermont
What a week can look like.
State parks for hiking, swimming, and boating
Vermont's state parks give you camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, and winter recreation across the state. Many run events and programs through the warm months.
Accessible outdoor options
The state's Forests, Parks and Recreation department lists accessible activities like fishing, geocaching, camping, and adaptive recreation. That makes it easier to plan around different mobility needs.
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and RecreationTrails and rail trails through forest country
Hiking ranges from steep mountain climbs to gentle paths through the woods, and cycling and rail trails give you flatter options. In fall, the same routes fill up for the foliage.
What to know about Vermont
What can change the month.
Social Security tax depends on income
Vermont exempts Social Security for filers below an income threshold, and a newer law widened that relief. Above the cutoff, part or all of your benefits can be taxed. Where your income lands decides it.
Vermont Department of TaxesPensions and account withdrawals are taxed
Vermont runs a progressive income tax and generally taxes pensions and retirement account withdrawals. Check how each of your income sources is treated so nothing catches you off guard.
Vermont Department of TaxesLong winters and snow loads
Winters are long, cold, and snowy across most of Vermont. That means real heating bills and steady snow removal. Rural roads and driveways can stay tough to manage for months.
Things to do in Vermont
What there is to do across Vermont.
2 tracked categories across Vermont. Each card opens the search filtered to that activity.
Weighing two states?
Put Vermont next to another state.
Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.
Common questions
Retiring in Vermont, answered.
Does Vermont tax retirement income?
Vermont is one of the states where Social Security can still need a state-tax check. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Vermont, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance. Vermont can tax some Social Security income and uses a 5% blended planning rate for taxable retirement-income context.
AARP: how states tax retirement incomeIs Vermont cheaper or more expensive than average?
BEA regional price parities put Vermont about 2.0% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a Vermont translation.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesWhat does long-term care cost in Vermont?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, Vermont assisted living runs about $103,167 a year (39% higher than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $169,360 a year (47% higher than the national median).
CareScout / Genworth Cost of CareDoes Vermont tax Social Security benefits?
Vermont does not tax Social Security for filers under set income thresholds, and a recent law expanded that exemption. Above those levels, some or all of your benefits can be taxed.
Vermont Department of TaxesSources
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