California vs Vermont
Head-to-head homesteading comparison across taxes, land, climate, laws, safety & more
Overall Score
Category Wins
7/10
Overall Score
Category Wins
3/10
Quick Comparison
Winner highlighted per category
Vermont Edges Out California Overall
With an overall homesteading score of 62.9 vs 61.3, Vermont comes out ahead in our balanced analysis — winning 7 out of 10 key categories. But the best state for you depends on what matters most.
Key differences: California offers cheaper farmland at $5,800/acre vs $7,500/acre. California has a longer growing season (365 vs 130 days). California has lower property taxes (0.76% vs 2.1%).
Scroll down to the full comparison table for a deep dive into every metric, or use our ranking tool to weight these factors by what matters most to you.
Full Data Comparison
| Data Point | California CA | Vermont VT |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes & Cost | ||
| Yes | Yes | |
| 13.3% | 8.75% | |
| 8.625% | 6% | |
| 0.76% | 2.1% | |
| 138 | 117 | |
| Land & Building | ||
| $5,800 | $7,500 | |
| Yes (Statewide) | Yes (Statewide) | |
| Varies | Permitted with local approval; ADU-friendly policies | |
| Climate & Growing | ||
| 8a-10b | 2b-4b | |
| 365 | 130 | |
| 100" | 56" | |
| 7 | 6 | |
| 8 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| Water & Energy | ||
| Allowed with Limits | Permitted | |
| 5.5 | 3.7 | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Laws & Freedom | ||
| Low | High | |
| 2 | 7 | |
| Moderate | Very strong | |
| Yes (Retail Sales) | Permitted for raw milk operations with licensing | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Safety & Healthcare | ||
| 447 | 155 | |
| 35% | 28% | |
| Demographics & Community | ||
| 253.61 | 68 | |
| 5% | 68% | |
| 91% | 82% | |
| Business | ||
| #48 | #44 | |
| $70/yr | $125/yr | |
| 3.7% | 3.1% | |
Not sure which state is right for you?
Use our free ranking tool to score all 50 states based on your personal priorities — from land prices and taxes to climate and community.
Rank States by Your Priorities
Your brand here — Reach our audience of professional directory owners and boost your sales.