Loan balance over time
| Total of 360 payments | $835,384 |
| Principal | $282,400 |
| Interest | $365,544 |
| Taxes | $150,390 |
| Insurance | $37,050 |
| HOA fees | $0 |
What these numbers come from
- Median home value
- $352,800
- Median tax bill
- $5,026
- Effective tax rate
- 1.42%
- Rank of 51
- 7th highest
Vermont taxes property at about 1.42% of value against 0.89% nationally. On a $353,000 home that is $156 a month more than the same house would cost in taxes at the national rate. Rates are set by counties, cities and school districts, so your own bill will differ from the state median — put your actual figure in the property tax field and the payment updates.
Tax and home value figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Insurance is estimated at 0.35% of home value per year — there is no comparable public per-state dataset, so treat it as a placeholder and replace it with your own quote. The interest rate is the national Freddie Mac 30-year average of 6.58%; this site does not publish state-level rate quotes.
Monthly cost across Vermont home prices
20% down, 30-year fixed at 6.58%, with Vermont property tax of 1.42% and estimated insurance.
| Home price | Loan | P&I | Tax/mo | Full payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $212,000 | $169,600 | $1,081 | $251 | $1,394 |
| $282,000 | $225,600 | $1,438 | $334 | $1,854 |
| $353,000 median | $282,400 | $1,800 | $418 | $2,321 |
| $441,000 | $352,800 | $2,249 | $522 | $2,899 |
| $529,000 | $423,200 | $2,697 | $626 | $3,477 |
The gap between the P&I column and the last one is what a mortgage quote leaves out. In Vermont taxes alone add $418 a month on a median-priced home.
Amortization schedule
| Date | Principal | Interest | Tax, Ins. & HOA | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug | $251 | $1,548 | $521 | $282,149 |
| Sep | $253 | $1,547 | $521 | $281,896 |
| Oct | $254 | $1,546 | $521 | $281,642 |
| Nov | $256 | $1,544 | $521 | $281,386 |
| Dec | $257 | $1,543 | $521 | $281,129 |
| 2026 | $1,271 | $7,729 | $2,603 | $281,129 |
| Jan | $258 | $1,542 | $521 | $280,871 |
| Feb | $260 | $1,540 | $521 | $280,611 |
| Mar | $261 | $1,539 | $521 | $280,350 |
| Apr | $263 | $1,537 | $521 | $280,088 |
| May | $264 | $1,536 | $521 | $279,824 |
| Jun | $265 | $1,534 | $521 | $279,558 |
Refinancing in Vermont
The arithmetic is the same everywhere: refinancing pays off when the monthly saving clears the closing costs before you sell or refinance again. What differs by state is the cost of getting there — recording fees, transfer and mortgage taxes, and whether an existing tax assessment survives the new loan.
Work the break-even with the refinance calculator, or check this week’s national average rates.
Vermont home loans in detail
Vermont Mortgage Overview
Vermont has an average home value of around $440,000, close to the national average. It's a great place for first-time and subsequent homebuyers. Vermont has many programs that help first-time homebuyers who don't qualify for the traditional financing programs listed below.
Vermont conventional loans
Conventional loans are traditional loans. Borrowers need a 660 credit score to qualify. If you've never owned a home before you need a 3 percent down payment. If you've owned a home, you need a 5 percent down payment. Anyone who puts down less than 20 percent will pay Private Mortgage Insurance, but only for the time you owe over 80 percent of the home's value. You can ask the lender to cancel the insurance once you get to that point.
Vermont FHA loans
FHA loans are a conventional loan alternative. Borrowers need just a 580 credit score to qualify. With this score, you can put down 3.5 percent and some of the money can be down payment assistance or gift funds. You may even qualify with a 500 - 579 credit score but with a 10 percent down payment. 3.5 percent of the funds must be yours. FHA loans charge mortgage insurance for the life of the loan.
Vermont VA loans
VA loans are for veterans of the military or currently serving members if you have 181 days served in peacetime or 90 days during wartime. VA loans don't require a down payment and you can get approved with a credit score as low as 620 and a debt ratio of as high as 50 percent. VA loans don't charge mortgage insurance but there is an upfront funding fee.
Vermont USDA loans
USDA loans are for low-to-moderate income families who don't qualify for the above programs. USDA loans provide 100 percent financing, but you need a 640 credit score and 41 percent debt ratio to qualify. You must live within the USDA boundaries, which isn't as 'rural' as it sounds. There are many areas of Vermont that qualify.
First-Time Homebuyer
Programs in Vermont
ASSIST
This no-cost loan provides up to $5,000 for the down payment and closing costs on a home. The loan has no interest and is deferred until you sell the home or refinance your current loan.
Advantage
If you fall within the income limits, you may get approved for the ADVANTAGE program which provides low interest rates and low closing costs including waiving the Vermont Property Transfer Tax. There are low down payment options to make it easy for anyone to qualify.
Mortgage Credit Certificate
First-time homebuyers can qualify for a certificate to get up to a $2,000 tax credit on the interest you pay each year on your mortgage. The certificate lasts for the life of the loan. This puts more money in your pocket, making it easier to own your home.
MOVE MCC
The MOVE MCC program combines the Mortgage Credit Certificate program with a low down payment program with simple qualifications. Only first-time homebuyers qualify.
MOVE
The MOVE program is a low-cost first mortgage that has low down payment options and waves the Vermont Property Transfer Tax on the sale.
Vermont mortgage FAQ
- How much is property tax on a home in Vermont?
- Vermont homeowners pay an effective property tax rate of about 1.42 percent of home value — the 7th highest of the 50 states and DC. On the state's median home value of $352,800 that works out to roughly $5,013 a year, or $418 a month added to the mortgage payment. The figures come from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates; your own bill depends on the county and city rates where the home sits.
- What is the monthly payment on a median-priced Vermont home?
- At $353,000 with 20 percent down and the current 6.58 percent national 30-year fixed average, principal and interest come to about $1,800 a month. Adding Vermont property tax of roughly $418 a month and an estimated $103 of homeowner insurance brings the full payment to around $2,321.
- Which home loan programs can buyers use in Vermont?
- Vermont buyers can use conventional loans with a 660 credit score and 3 percent down for first-time buyers, FHA loans with a 580 score and 3.5 percent down, VA loans with no down payment for eligible service members with a 620 score, or USDA loans offering 100 percent financing with a 640 score for homes within USDA boundaries.
- What programs help first-time homebuyers in Vermont?
- Vermont offers ASSIST, a no-interest deferred loan for down payment and closing costs, the ADVANTAGE program with low rates and a waived Vermont Property Transfer Tax, a Mortgage Credit Certificate giving an annual tax credit on mortgage interest, MOVE, a low-cost first mortgage with low down payment options, and MOVE MCC, which combines the credit certificate with a low down payment loan.
- Can you buy a home in Vermont with no down payment?
- Yes. VA loans require no down payment for veterans and current service members with 181 days of peacetime or 90 days of wartime service, and USDA loans provide 100 percent financing to low-to-moderate income buyers with a 640 credit score who purchase within USDA boundaries. Many areas of Vermont qualify as rural under USDA rules.
Property tax in every state
Effective rate on owner-occupied value, highest bills first in each column.
- Alabama0.38%
- Alaska1.06%
- Arizona0.43%
- Arkansas0.52%
- California0.71%
- Colorado0.49%
- Connecticut1.66%
- Delaware0.47%
- District of Columbia0.63%
- Florida0.75%
- Georgia0.74%
- Hawaii0.27%
- Idaho0.43%
- Illinois1.92%
- Indiana0.74%
- Iowa1.29%
- Kansas1.25%
- Kentucky0.71%
- Louisiana0.53%
- Maine0.91%
- Maryland0.95%
- Massachusetts1.00%
- Michigan1.18%
- Minnesota1.02%
- Mississippi0.65%
- Missouri0.79%
- Montana0.69%
- Nebraska1.42%
- Nevada0.47%
- New Hampshire1.46%
- New Jersey1.89%
- New Mexico0.63%
- New York1.45%
- North Carolina0.61%
- North Dakota0.96%
- Ohio1.22%
- Oklahoma0.75%
- Oregon0.78%
- Pennsylvania1.16%
- Rhode Island1.07%
- South Carolina0.45%
- South Dakota1.02%
- Tennessee0.45%
- Texas1.31%
- Utah0.49%
- Virginia0.71%
- Washington0.79%
- West Virginia0.52%
- Wisconsin1.25%
- Wyoming0.57%