How much does a nursing home cost in Vermont?
The median nursing home cost in Vermont is $15,528 per month for a private room and $14,113 per month for a semi-private room, based on the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey released March 2026. That's roughly $186,333 per year for a private room.
Vermont nursing home costs run 32% above the national median.
2026 Vermont senior care costs at a glance
| Care type | Vermont median/month | National median (CareScout 2025) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing home (private) | $15,528 | $10,798 | +44% |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $14,113 | $9,581 | +47% |
| Memory care (est) | $10,750 | $7,750 | +39% |
| Assisted living | $8,597 | $6,200 | +39% |
| Non-medical caregiver (hourly) | $45 | $35 | +29% |
See your exact spend-down timeline for Vermont
Enter your savings, income, and care type to see how long your money lasts before reaching Vermont Medicaid asset limits.
Open the Vermont calculator →Nursing home costs by Vermont city
Costs vary by metro area within the state. Urban markets typically run 10–25% above state medians, while rural areas can be 10–20% below.
City-level estimates are based on CareScout 2025 metro-area data. Individual facility costs vary 20–40% from these medians depending on amenities, staffing ratios, and room type.
Vermont Medicaid for nursing home care
Vermont Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet both medical eligibility (need for skilled nursing care) and financial eligibility (limited assets and income). Understanding the rules before you need them can save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Vermont Medicaid 2026 asset limits
Individual applicant: $2,000 in countable assets (2026)
Married couple, one spouse applying: Community spouse may keep up to $162,660 under the federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (2026 maximum), plus the home, one vehicle, and personal belongings
The 5-year look-back period in Vermont
Vermont Medicaid reviews all asset transfers made within 60 months (5 years) of your application date. Gifts to family, property transfers below market value, or large unexplained withdrawals trigger a penalty period that delays Medicaid eligibility — during which you must private-pay.
Vermont's 2026 penalty divisor is approximately $15,528 per month (~$511 per day). A $50,000 transfer that violates the look-back rule would create roughly a 97-day penalty period during which Vermont Medicaid will not cover care costs.
This is why elder law attorneys consistently advise families to begin Medicaid planning at least 5 years before nursing home care is needed.
Find a Vermont elder law attorney
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys maintains a state-by-state directory of certified elder law attorneys.
Find a Vermont attorney →What makes Vermont different
Vermont operates its entire Medicaid program (Green Mountain Care) under a single 1115 Demonstration Waiver called Global Commitment to Health, with senior LTSS delivered through the Choices for Care (CFC) program. CFC sorts applicants into three need tiers: Highest Needs (an entitlement — no waitlist), High Needs (capped by available state funds), and Moderate Needs (for seniors with lower functional limitations). Vermont separately licenses two residential categories — Level III Residential Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences (ALRs) — both eligible for Assistive Community Care Services payments under CFC. Vermont uses the higher federal home equity limit of $1,130,000. The Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) handles clinical eligibility, while DVHA handles financial eligibility.
Sources: state Medicaid agency program documentation and CMS spousal-impoverishment standards. See our methodology page for the broader data sources used across this site.
How Vermont compares to neighboring states
Cost differences across state lines can be substantial. Some families consider relocating for care, particularly if adult children live across a border.