Vermont residents are serious about home ownership and the aging generation has a preference to retire and remain here. Education is a top priority with spending per pupil nearly double the national average K-12 private school tuition of $12,3506. With property taxes ranking high and household income ranking on the lower half the national list, most Vermonters are not relatively high earners and Vermont homeowners have a burdensome tax-to-income ratio. With pay increasing on average 4% for Vermonters from the past year7, the tax-to-income ratio is likely to get worse.