Estimate your Vermont property tax based on the state's 1.75% average effective rate. Enter your home value for an instant, free calculation.
Enter any tax exemption amount you qualify for in Vermont
Vermont has among the highest effective property tax rates in the country — sixth-highest — largely because the state itself levies a statewide education property tax on top of local municipal taxes. Homeowners file an annual Homestead Declaration to get the lower homestead rate.
Vermont is one of the few states where the state itself levies a property tax (the statewide education tax) on top of local municipal taxes. Municipal assessors ('listers') set local values, and a reappraisal is required when a town's assessed values fall below 80% of market value. The education tax a homeowner pays depends on local per-pupil spending, homestead vs. non-homestead status, and the state-set Common Level of Appraisal that equalizes towns.
| Home Value | Estimated Annual Tax | Monthly (Escrow) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $4,375 | $365/mo |
| $305,000 (median) | $5,338 | $445/mo |
| $600,000 | $10,500 | $875/mo |
Vermont doesn't use a fixed-dollar homestead exemption; instead, homeowners file an annual Homestead Declaration so their primary residence is taxed at the (generally lower) homestead education rate rather than the non-homestead rate. Missing the deadline can trigger a town penalty of up to 3% or 8% of the education tax.
Income-eligible resident homeowners can claim the Property Tax Credit (income sensitivity), which reduces the homestead bill; households with income under roughly $136,900 may qualify, with larger credits at lower incomes. Veterans with a 50%+ service-connected disability qualify for an exemption of at least $10,000 of assessed value, which towns may raise up to $40,000, plus a separate refundable $250 veteran income-tax credit for lower incomes.
Property tax due dates are set by each municipality and vary widely, with many towns billing in quarterly or semiannual installments. The Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim are due with the Vermont income tax return, generally April 15; late homestead filing can result in town penalties.
A homeowner who disagrees with an assessment first files a written grievance with the town listers by the local grievance deadline. If unsatisfied, the taxpayer may appeal to the town Board of Civil Authority, and then to either a state district appraiser or Vermont Superior Court.
Vermont's average effective property tax rate is about 1.42% of home value, the sixth-highest in the country. This reflects both local municipal taxes and the statewide education property tax, which is the largest single source of property tax in the state.
It's an annual filing (due around April 15 with your income tax return) that identifies your primary residence so it's taxed at the homestead education rate instead of the higher non-homestead rate. Missing the deadline can result in a town penalty.
Yes. The income-sensitized Property Tax Credit reduces the homestead property tax bill for eligible resident homeowners, generally those with household income under about $136,900, with the largest credits going to lower-income households.