Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Portland compared to Burlington? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Portland | Metric | Burlington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | Cost of Living Index | 118 | -0.8% |
| $480,000 | Median Home Price | $440,000 | -8.3% |
| $1,850 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,938 | +4.8% |
| $72,600 | Median Household Income | $65,800 | -9.4% |
| 1.1% | Property Tax Rate | 1.9% | +72.7% |
| 3.0% | Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | -10.0% |
| 22 min | Average Commute | 20 min | -9.1% |
| 40.4 | Median Age | 35.4 | -12.4% |
| 550,000 | Metro Population | 230,000 | -58.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Portland costs $3,007/month (PITI) compared to $3,050/month in Burlington — a difference of $43/month or $516/year. The price-to-income ratio is 6.6x in Portland versus 6.7x in Burlington, suggesting Portland is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 8.8 years to save a down payment in Portland compared to 8.9 years in Burlington.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Portland | Burlington |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $72,600 | $65,800 |
| State Income Tax | $3,286 | $1,961 |
| Federal Income Tax | $7,421 | $5,925 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,554 | $5,034 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $5,280/yr | $8,360/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.5% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $16,261 (22.4%) | $12,920 (19.6%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $56,339 | $52,880 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $16,261 in Portland (22.4% effective) versus $12,920 in Burlington (19.6% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $56,339 in Portland and $52,880 in Burlington. Property taxes add $5,280/year on the median Portland home versus $8,360/year in Burlington.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $72,600 in Portland (COL 119) and relocate to Burlington (COL 118), you would need $71,990 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $610 and still maintain your lifestyle in Burlington.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Portland is 22 minutes versus 20 minutes in Burlington, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Burlington's lower unemployment rate of 2.7% versus 3.0% suggests a stronger job market. Portland skews slightly older with a median age of 40.4 vs 35.4 in Burlington.
Portland and Burlington have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 119 and 118 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Portland is $480,000, which is $40,000 more than Burlington's median of $440,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,850/month in Portland vs $1,938/month in Burlington, a difference of $88/month or $1,056/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $72,600 salary in Portland is equivalent to $71,990 in Burlington. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Portland's COL index of 119 vs Burlington's 118. Conversely, $65,800 in Burlington equals $66,358 in Portland.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $16,261 (22.4% effective rate) in Portland vs $12,920 (19.6% effective rate) in Burlington. Property taxes on the median home are $5,280/year in Portland (1.1% rate) vs $8,360/year in Burlington (1.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.5% in Maine and 6.0% in Vermont.
Portland median household income: $72,600/yr. Burlington median household income: $65,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,850 in Portland vs $1,938 in Burlington. Annualized that is $22,200 vs $23,256.
Burlington offers a lower cost of living (index 118 vs 119), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Portland typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Portland and Burlington numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Portland vs Burlington cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .