Immigrants in
Vermont

Vermont has a small but vital community of immigrants. About 3.9 percent of the state’s residents are foreign-born, and 1.8 percent of its U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants make up 3.9 percent of Vermont's labor force and support the state’s economy in many ways. Nearly 90 percent say they are proficient in English and almost 68 percent are naturalized citizens. As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of Vermont’s diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit all.

3.9% Immigrant share of population
Immigrant residents

$619.9M

Immigrant spending power

$226.3M

Immigrant taxes paid

2022

Data year

In the United States, immigrants are more likely to be working-age than their U.S.-born counterparts. This means they are more likely to be active in the labor force, allowing them to contribute to the economy not only as consumers but also as taxpayers, helping fund social services and programs like Medicare and Social Security.

Age Group Foreign-Born Population U.S.-Born Population
0-15 2.3% 15.9%
16-64 69.7% 62.9%
65+ 28.0% 21.2%
1.8% Share of total population who are U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent

51.5%

Share of immigrant women

48.5%

Share of immigrant men

11,000

Number of U.S.-born residents living with at least one immigrant parent

89.3%

Share of Foreign-Born that are proficient in English

TAXES & SPENDING POWER

Immigrant households contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes and hold a tremendous amount of spending power. This gives them significant economic clout, helping support local communities as consumers and taxpayers. Like all residents of the United States, regardless of where they were born, immigrants make use of public services like education, healthcare, and public safety. Even with these costs, however, immigrants’ economic contributions far outweigh the cost of additional public services they incur.

Immigrant household income
Total spending power
State & Local Taxes Paid $83.8M
Federal Taxes Paid $142.6M
Total Taxes Paid $226.3M
Immigrants’ contributions to Social Security
Immigrants’ contributions to Medicare

The growth in the immigrant population has helped to strengthen America’s labor force. As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling crucial gaps in the labor market. Nationally, immigrants are more likely to hold an advanced degree than the U.S.-born. They are also more likely to have less than a high school education. As such, they are able to fill critical shortages at both ends of the skill spectrum, from high-tech positions to agriculture, hospitality, and service jobs.

3.9% Share of workers in the labor force who are immigrants

13,900

Number of immigrant workers in the labor force

Educational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+

Education Level Foreign-Born Population U.S.-Born Population
Less Than High School - 4.8%
High School & Some College 34.6% 51.2%
Bachelor’s Degree - 23.7%
Graduate Degree - 20.3%

Immigrant families have long played an important role in helping to build housing wealth in the United States. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants in the U.S. collectively increased U.S. housing wealth by trillions of dollars. Much of this was possible because immigrants moved into neighborhoods once in decline, thus helping to revitalize communities and make neighborhoods more attractive to U.S.-born residents.

6,500

Immigrant homeowners

$2.1B

Housing wealth held by immigrant households

International Students

International students in the United States contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year and support a significant number of U.S. jobs through their tuition payments and day-to-day spending. Research has also found that increases in the number of international students at American universities boost innovation and patent creation.

1,334

Students at Vermont colleges and universities who are international students

$63.3M

Economic contribution of international students

367

Jobs supported by international students

Naturalization & Voting Power

As more immigrants naturalize and become eligible to vote, they continue to gain political power. The number of immigrant voters is only projected to rise in the next decade, and in some states foreign-born voters are already capable of deciding elections.

67.9% Share of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens

15,500

Number of immigrants who are eligible to vote

17,000

Number of immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens

THE DACA-ELIGIBLE POPULATION

DACA-eligible people contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Removing the protections afforded to DACA recipients would likely upset local economies, communities, and schools, hurting employers and businesses that depend on these young immigrants as workers and customers.

30

Number of active DACA recipients

9

Number of people with DACA granted