County FMR · HUD FY2026

Bennington County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bennington County, VT - 19% above the US average.

$1,142
1-bedroom FMR
$1,297
2-bedroom FMR
+6.8%
YoY change
+19%
vs US avg

The verdict

Bennington is the 4th cheapest of 14 counties in Vermont by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#755
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
cheapest of 14 in Vermont (2BR)
-5%
vs the state average
$45,680
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (39.7%); nearby Vermont counties range as much as 66% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Bennington County, VT. Verify with HUD →

Bennington County, Vermont carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,142 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,297/mo and a studio is $1,020/mo. That's 19% above the national benchmark of $959 and 5% below the Vermont average of $1,203.

Rent increased6.8% from FY 2025 ($1,069), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $45,680/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Vermont. Population: 2,773. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.9%, Census ACS). That's in line with Vermont's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Bennington County

HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.

According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Bennington County's 2-bedroom of $1,297 ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.

Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 19% higher than the US average of $959 (5% below Vermont's $1,203). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,069 → $1,142 (+6.8%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.

At $1,142/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $45,680/year: still within reach of the county median income of $71,494, though a 2-bedroom at $1,297 raises the bar.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,124 · US avg: $893
$1,020/mo
↑ 9.0% YoY -9% vs state +14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $959
$1,142/mo
↑ 6.8% YoY -5% vs state +19% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,487 · US avg: $1,175
$1,297/mo
↑ 5.9% YoY -13% vs state +10% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,922 · US avg: $1,525
$1,804/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY -6% vs state +18% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,111 · US avg: $1,756
$2,159/mo
↑ 8.7% YoY +2% vs state +23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $936
$1,020
+$84 (+9.0%)
1 Bedroom $1,069
$1,142
+$73 (+6.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,225
$1,297
+$72 (+5.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,709
$1,804
+$95 (+5.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,986
$2,159
+$173 (+8.7%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$45,680
$3,807/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$51,880
$4,323/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Bennington County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
17.1%
Affordable
Need $40,800/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.2%
Affordable
Need $45,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.8%
Affordable
Need $51,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.3%
Burdened
Need $72,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36.2%
Burdened
Need $86,360/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%21.8%
Bennington County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $71,494 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Vermont rent burden →

Where Bennington sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,297 Top 24% higher than 76% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Bennington compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Vermont counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Bennington is highlighted. Nearby Vermont counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Grand Isle County ($1,651), Franklin County ($1,651), Orange County ($1,167), Bennington County (this county) ($1,142), Washington County ($1,129), Addison County ($1,124), Caledonia County ($992).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,142/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Vermont BLS wages?

Occupation VT Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $130,720 10.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $93,290 14.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,150 16.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $76,990 17.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,690 21.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,000 21.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,270 22.4% Affordable
Electricians $59,670 23% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,360 24.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,190 29.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $46,050 29.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,630 35.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $37,120 36.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,810 37.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,540 39.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Vermont) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Bennington County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Bennington (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.1% overall, from $821 to $1,142. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.5% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,142
Bennington County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.8% $1,020 $1,142 $1,297
FY 2025 ↑6.3% $936 $1,069 $1,225
FY 2024 ↑13.5% $936 $1,006 $1,241
FY 2023 ↑7.8% $849 $886 $1,120
FY 2022 ↑0.4% $763 $822 $1,018
FY 2021 ↓0.2% $710 $819 $940
FY 2020 $753 $821 $935
Total change (6yr): +39.1%
Annualized: +5.7%/yr
1 BR: $821 → $1,142

Part of the Bennington, VT Micro Area

Bennington County is a central county of the Bennington, VT micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Vermont

Largest counties by population in Vermont

Washington County
1 BR: $1,129/mo Pop: 8,461
Orange County
1 BR: $1,167/mo Pop: 2,802
Grand Isle County
1 BR: $1,651/mo Pop: 1,802
Caledonia County
1 BR: $992/mo Pop: 1,671
Franklin County
1 BR: $1,651/mo Pop: 1,155
Addison County
1 BR: $1,124/mo Pop: 1,148
Chittenden County
1 BR: $1,651/mo Pop: 1,023
Orleans County
1 BR: $993/mo Pop: 987
View all counties in Vermont →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Bennington County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Bennington County is $1,142 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,297 and a studio is $1,020.
How does Bennington County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Bennington County is 19% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,142 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Bennington County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Bennington County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,297 ranks #755 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Bennington County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $45,680 ($3,807/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Bennington County.
Is rent going up or down in Bennington County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bennington County increased by 6.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,069 to $1,142.
Which jobs can afford rent in Bennington County? ▼
Based on Vermont BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,142/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Bennington County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bennington County went from $821 in FY 2020 to $1,142 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bennington County? ▼
In Bennington County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,142/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Bennington County? ▼
For Bennington County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,142/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Bennington's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,142 implies about $45,680/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Bennington can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.