State guide · VT
Transfer tax in Vermont
Vermont charges roughly 1.45% when a home changes hands — about $5,800 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by buyer.
Rate
1.45%
On a median home
$5,800
Customarily paid by
Buyer
Property transfer tax of 1.45% (0.5% on the first $100K for a principal residence; a clean-water surcharge applies).
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Vermont — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Vermont closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Vermont compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #4 | Maryland | 1.50% |
| #5 | New Hampshire | 1.50% |
| #6 | Vermont | 1.45% |
| #7 | Washington | 1.10% |
| #8 | Connecticut | 1.00% |
Common questions
Does Vermont have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Property transfer tax of 1.45% (0.5% on the first $100K for a principal residence; a clean-water surcharge applies). On a median-priced Vermont home (about $400,000), that's roughly $5,800.
Who pays the transfer tax in Vermont?
Buyer. Like every closing cost, this is custom rather than law — the purchase contract can assign it to either side, and in competitive negotiations it sometimes moves.
Selling in Vermont? See what you'd keep
Sale price minus commissions, payoff, and taxes like this one — the number that actually lands in your account.
Open the net proceeds calculatorRates are representative combined state and typical local figures compiled from public sources and rounded for readability; graduated schedules, exemptions, and city add-ons can change your number. Confirm with your closing agent or county recorder. Median home values are approximate.