Estimate your monthly mortgage payment in Vermont — principal & interest plus Vermont property tax and homeowner’s insurance.
Buying a home in Vermont: what to know
Vermont’s typical home value is about $399,100 as of August 2026 (Zillow ZHVI), with Burlington-area prices running well above the statewide figure. Vermont has the highest median effective property tax rate in this group at 1.51% — about $6,026 a year on a median-priced home — so filing the annual homestead declaration matters. Homeowner’s insurance is modest at $1,109 a year on average (NAIC 2022 via III). The Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s MOVE mortgage offers below-market 30-year rates, and its ASSIST program adds up to $10,000 in 0%-interest help toward down payment and closing costs — stackable with the $15,000 First Generation Homebuyer grant.
Vermont mortgage facts
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| 2026 conforming loan limit (1-unit) | $832,750 ($832,750 baseline in every county; Vermont has no high-cost counties in 2026) |
| Median home price | $399,053 |
| Median effective property tax rate | 1.51% |
| Average homeowner’s insurance | $1,109/year |
Data as of October 2026. Sources: FHFA 2026 conforming limits; Zillow ZHVI Aug 2026; Tax Foundation Property Taxes by State and County 2026; NAIC 2022 HO-3 avg premium via III; VHFA program pages; rate: 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026)
Vermont first-time buyer programs
- VHFA MOVE — Below-market 30-year fixed-rate first mortgages for first-time buyers (640 score, income and purchase price limits, homebuyer education); can pair with ASSIST, the First Generation grant, and an MCC. Official site
- VHFA ASSIST Down Payment Assistance — Up to $10,000 toward down payment and closing costs as a 0%-interest deferred second loan, repaid at sale, refinance, or payoff; only with a VHFA MOVE loan, for buyers with under $20,000 in liquid assets. Official site
How to use this calculator
The calculator comes pre-filled with Vermont’s $399,053 median home price, the state’s 1.51% effective property tax rate — the highest in this group — and the $1,109/year average insurance premium. At 1.51%, taxes add about $502 a month on a median-priced home, so the escrow portion of your payment deserves as much attention as the rate. The 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 statewide; VHFA’s own MOVE program carries purchase price limits around $450,000–$500,000, which the median home fits comfortably. Adjust the rate to your actual lender quote (2026 rates are running in the mid-6s).
Worked example: a median Vermont home
Take a median-priced Vermont home at $399,053. With 20% down ($79,810.60), the loan amount is $319,242.40. At 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026) on a 30-year fixed term, principal and interest come to $2,210.37/month. Add property tax of about $502.14/month (1.51% of $399,053, divided by 12) and insurance of about $92.42/month ($1,109 a year), for a total estimated payment of $2,804.93/month. Over 30 years, total interest would be about $476,490.76. Your rate, down payment, and county tax bill will move these numbers — use the calculator above with your own figures.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Vermont?
The 2026 FHFA baseline of $832,750 applies in every Vermont county — there are no high-cost counties in the state. Loans above $832,750 are jumbo.
What is Vermont’s homestead declaration?
Vermont taxes owner-occupied homes at the lower homestead (residential) education rate only if you file a homestead declaration with your town each year — miss the filing and the property is taxed at the higher nonhomestead rate. With the state’s 1.51% median effective rate (Tax Foundation 2026), roughly $6,026 a year on a median-priced home, the filing is worth real money.
How do VHFA’s MOVE and ASSIST programs work?
MOVE is VHFA’s flagship first mortgage: below-market 30-year fixed rates for first-time buyers (640 score, income and purchase price limits, homebuyer education). ASSIST adds up to $10,000 toward down payment and closing costs as a 0%-interest deferred second loan — repaid at sale, refinance, or payoff — available only with a MOVE loan for buyers with under $20,000 in liquid assets.
Is there a grant I don’t have to repay?
Yes — Vermont’s First Generation Homebuyer grant provides $15,000 that is never repaid, for buyers whose parents never owned a home (or lost one to foreclosure), who were in foster care, and who have never owned. It stacks with ASSIST, so qualifying buyers can combine up to $25,000 in help.
What is the VHFA Mortgage Credit Certificate?
The MOVE MCC gives eligible buyers a federal income tax credit of up to $2,000 per year (up to 50% of mortgage interest paid, capped) for as long as they live in the home with the original first mortgage — effectively lowering the after-tax cost of the loan.