Delaware vs Vermont:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between Delaware (6.6% top rate, graduated) and Vermont (8.75% top rate, graduated). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Tax Structure: Delaware vs Vermont
Delaware uses a graduated income tax (2.2-6.6%) while Vermont has a graduated system (3.35-8.75%). On a $100K salary, Delaware takes $4,290 in state and local taxes compared to Vermont’s $5,688 \u2014 a difference of $1,398.
Both states use graduated brackets, but Vermont’s top rate of 8.75% is higher than Delaware’s 6.6%.
Delaware also has local income taxes (estimated at $0/year on $100K), which Vermont does not. This widens the gap beyond just state rates.
Take-Home at Every Salary Level
Delaware wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage exists but is modest across the income spectrum.
| Salary | Delaware | Vermont | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $32,604 | $32,045 | −$559 | Delaware |
| $50K | $40,210 | $39,511 | −$699 | Delaware |
| $60K | $47,816 | $46,978 | −$839 | Delaware |
| $75K | $58,320 | $57,272 | −$1,048 | Delaware |
| $100K | $74,835 | $73,438 | −$1,398 | Delaware |
| $120K | $88,047 | $86,370 | −$1,677 | Delaware |
| $150K | $107,316 | $105,220 | −$2,096 | Delaware |
| $200K | $140,307 | $137,512 | −$2,795 | Delaware |
| $250K | $172,539 | $169,045 | −$3,494 | Delaware |
| $300K | $202,459 | $198,266 | −$4,193 | Delaware |
Cost of Living: Delaware (102) vs Vermont (105)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Delaware has a cost of living index of 102 while Vermont is at 105 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (102 vs 105), the tax difference is the primary factor. What you see in raw take-home pay is essentially what you get in purchasing power: $73,368 in Delaware vs $69,940 in Vermont.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $81,080 in Delaware and $79,898 in Vermont \u2014 a difference of $1,183. The gap narrows under married filing, as the wider brackets reduce the tax bite in both states.
Should You Move from Vermont to Delaware?
On paper, moving from Vermont to Delaware would save $1,398/year on a $100K salary, or $6,988 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
At $1,398/year, the tax difference alone likely isn’t worth relocating for. Other factors — job market, lifestyle, family — should drive the decision. The tax savings are a nice bonus if you’re already considering the move for other reasons.