The $100,000 Salary Analysis for Winooski, VT

This analysis strips away the hype. A $100,000 salary in Winooski is a solid income, but it does not make you wealthy. We focus on "Purchasing Power"—what your money actually buys after the government takes its share and you pay the cost of living in Chittenden County.

1. The Verification Test

First, we determine what you actually take home. We assume you are a single filer taking the standard deduction with no dependents.

• Gross Income: $100,000
• Federal Income Tax: ~$14,076 (Marginal rate: 24%)
• FICA (Social Security & Medicare): $7,650
• Vermont State Income Tax: ~$4,800 (Est. Effective Rate: ~6.0%. VT has a progressive bracket; this is higher than IL, but lower than CA/NY).
• VT Paid Family & Medical Leave: ~$350 (Mandatory payroll tax).

Net Pay (Take-Home): ~$73,124 per year
Monthly Net Pay: ~$6,094

2. Smart Budget (50/30/20)

Using the "Net Pay" figure above, here is how a disciplined budget looks in Winooski.

50% Needs: $3,047 / month

• Rent (1BR Market Rate): $1,500 - $1,700. (Note: Inventory is tight. You will likely pay $1,600 for a decent unit).
• Utilities (Heat/Electric/Internet): $250 - $350. (VT winters drive heating costs significantly higher than the national average).
• Car Payment/Insurance: $500 (Winooski is walkable/bikeable, but you still need a car for Vermont life).
• Groceries: $400.

30% Wants: $1,828 / month

• Dining out, entertainment, hobbies.
• Reality Check: After paying $1,600 for rent and $300 for heat, this category gets tight quickly.

20% Savings: $1,219 / month

• Emergency fund, 401k, investments.

3. Winooski Tax Context

Vermont is not a low-tax state.

• Vs. Texas/Florida: You are paying roughly $8,000 - $10,000 more in total taxes annually compared to a no-income-tax state.
• Vs. California/NY: You are saving roughly $5,000 - $7,000 annually compared to high-tax coastal states, but the salary base is usually lower in VT.
• The "Vermont Tax Burden": You pay Federal tax, FICA, State Income Tax, State Sales Tax (~6%), and often high property taxes (which are passed down to renters via higher rent).

4. FAQ

"Is $100k good here?"
It is a "survivalist comfort." You will not struggle to pay bills, but you will not accumulate wealth aggressively. You are essentially trading the high nominal salaries of major metros for a lower quality of life but better access to nature. In Winooski specifically, $100k feels like $75k in a low-tax state.

"Local income tax?"
No. Winooski does not have a local municipal income tax. You only pay Federal and Vermont State taxes.

"Is $100k enough to buy a home in Winooski?"
Median home prices are hovering near $450,000. With a $100k salary, you likely qualify for a $350k - $375k mortgage (depending on your debt-to-income ratio). You will be priced out of the median home without a significant down payment or a dual-income household.