Side-by-side comparison of mortgage costs, property taxes, closing costs, and homeowners insurance between Colorado and Vermont. Updated for 2026.
Colorado and Vermont are evenly matched across major housing cost categories. Your decision may come down to other factors like job market, climate, or lifestyle preferences. Use the calculators below to model your specific scenario.
Estimated PITI payments assuming 10% down, 6.5% rate, 30-year fixed mortgage with PMI.
Buying in Vermont saves you approximately $643/month ($7,716/year) compared to Colorado, based on median home prices with identical loan terms.
Vermont offers meaningfully lower home prices than Colorado, with median prices running 27% less ($140K difference). This gap translates to both a smaller loan and lower monthly payments. First-time buyers priced out of Colorado may find Vermont far more accessible, particularly when combined with local down payment assistance programs.
Property taxes are dramatically different: Colorado charges 0.51% while Vermont charges 1.9%, a gap of 1.39 percentage points. On the respective median homes, this means Vermont homeowners pay roughly $7,220 per year in property taxes versus $2,652 in Colorado. Over 30 years of homeownership, this difference alone can add up to six figures. Retirees on fixed incomes should weigh this heavily.
Homeowners insurance is significantly cheaper in Vermont ($1,100/year) compared to Colorado ($3,200/year). That's an extra $2,100 per year — or $175/month — eating into your budget in Colorado. Colorado's high insurance costs are often driven by severe weather risks (hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires), which also affect availability of coverage.
Both states offer down payment assistance for first-time buyers. Colorado's CHFA Down Payment Assistance provides Up to $25,000 second mortgage, while Vermont's VHFA MOVE Mortgage offers $5K–$15K DPA. These programs can significantly reduce your upfront costs and make homeownership accessible even if you haven't saved a full 20% down payment. Check eligibility requirements on each state's housing finance agency website — income limits and purchase price caps apply.
The bottom line: property taxes are the defining difference here. Vermont's 1.9% rate versus Colorado's 0.51% means Colorado homeowners save approximately $4,568 every year on taxes alone. Over a 30-year mortgage, that difference compounds into tens of thousands of dollars — making it the most important cost factor in this comparison.