Side-by-side comparison of mortgage costs, property taxes, closing costs, and homeowners insurance between Utah and Vermont. Updated for 2026.
Utah 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 $245/month ($2,940/year) compared to Utah, based on median home prices with identical loan terms.
Vermont offers meaningfully lower home prices than Utah, with median prices running 21% less ($100K difference). This gap translates to both a smaller loan and lower monthly payments. First-time buyers priced out of Utah may find Vermont far more accessible, particularly when combined with local down payment assistance programs.
Property taxes are dramatically different: Utah charges 0.58% while Vermont charges 1.9%, a gap of 1.32 percentage points. On the respective median homes, this means Vermont homeowners pay roughly $7,220 per year in property taxes versus $2,784 in Utah. Over 30 years of homeownership, this difference alone can add up to six figures. Retirees on fixed incomes should weigh this heavily.
Both states offer down payment assistance for first-time buyers. Utah's UHC FirstHome Loan provides Up to 6% DPA second, 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 Utah's 0.58% means Utah homeowners save approximately $4,436 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.