New Hampshire vs Vermont:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between New Hampshire (no income tax) 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: New Hampshire vs Vermont
New Hampshire has no state income tax, while Vermont uses a graduated system with rates of 3.35-8.75%. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $5,688/year that New Hampshire residents simply don’t pay.
Vermont’s graduated brackets mean the gap between these two states widens at higher salaries. At $200K, the state tax difference grows to $11,375/year, while at $50K it’s only $2,844.
Take-Home at Every Salary Level
New Hampshire wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage is consistent and significant across the income spectrum.
| Salary | New Hampshire | Vermont | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $34,320 | $32,045 | −$2,275 | New Hampshire |
| $50K | $42,355 | $39,511 | −$2,844 | New Hampshire |
| $60K | $50,390 | $46,978 | −$3,413 | New Hampshire |
| $75K | $61,538 | $57,272 | −$4,266 | New Hampshire |
| $100K | $79,125 | $73,438 | −$5,688 | New Hampshire |
| $120K | $93,195 | $86,370 | −$6,825 | New Hampshire |
| $150K | $113,751 | $105,220 | −$8,531 | New Hampshire |
| $200K | $148,887 | $137,512 | −$11,375 | New Hampshire |
| $250K | $183,264 | $169,045 | −$14,219 | New Hampshire |
| $300K | $215,329 | $198,266 | −$17,063 | New Hampshire |
Cost of Living: New Hampshire (108) vs Vermont (105)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. New Hampshire has a cost of living index of 108 while Vermont is at 105 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (108 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: $73,264 in New Hampshire vs $69,940 in Vermont.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in New Hampshire and $79,898 in Vermont \u2014 a difference of $4,813. The gap narrows under married filing, as the wider brackets reduce the tax bite in both states.
Should You Move from Vermont to New Hampshire?
On paper, moving from Vermont to New Hampshire would save $5,688/year on a $100K salary, or $28,438 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
With an annual savings of $5,688, the tax difference alone is significant enough to justify a move for many people — especially if career opportunities are comparable. At higher salaries, the savings grow even larger: a $200K earner would save $11,375/year.