Family Median Adjusted Gross Income
Vermont has long had a progressive income tax. On the principle that those who benefit most from society should pay more to support it and also that those with greater means can afford to pay more, Vermont taxes higher levels of income at progressively higher rates.
The U.S. Census estimates incomes by surveying small samples of the population periodically and extrapolating figures for the nation, states, and towns. One benefit of the Census figures is that they can be compared across states. The Census estimates income per person, per household and per family.
The Vermont Tax Department also reports income by town from the data it collects on annual income tax returns. The department calculates median income from all the returns filed from a town. It also calculates a median family income for each town based just on the returns filed by married couples, civil union couples, and single parents with children. Family income does not include the returns filed by single taxpayers with no dependents. Median income is the middle value when the returns are arranged from lowest to highest.
The map shows the Vermont Tax Department’s calculation of median family income for each town for 2008. These figures and other income statistics can be found here at the department’s website.
