County FMR · HUD FY2026

Chittenden County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Chittenden County, VT - 72% above the US average.

$1,651
1-bedroom FMR
$2,140
2-bedroom FMR
+11.9%
YoY change
+72%
vs US avg

The verdict

Chittenden is the 3rd most expensive of 14 counties in Vermont by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#94
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#3
most expensive of 14 in Vermont (2BR)
+37%
vs the state average
$66,040
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (57.4%); only 4 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; 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 Chittenden County, VT. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Chittenden County, Vermont is $1,651 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,140/mo and a studio is $1,497/mo. This is 72% higher than the national average of $959 and 37% above the Vermont average of $1,203.

Rent increased11.9% from FY 2025 ($1,476), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $66,040/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Vermont. Population: 1,023. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Vermont's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CHITTENDEN·COUNTY·VT·VT

Chittenden County, VT: $1,651/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VT
  • 1BR-FMR $1,651
  • 2BR-FMR $2,140
  • RANK-UPPER #94
  • YOY-SURGE +11.9%
  • VSUS-HIGH +72%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +37% VT
  • INC-MID 21%
  • POP-SMALL 1K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Washington County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,486–$1,816
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Washington ($522 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,124 · US avg: $893
$1,497/mo
↑ 8.5% YoY +33% vs state +68% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $959
$1,651/mo
↑ 11.9% YoY +37% vs state +72% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,487 · US avg: $1,175
$2,140/mo
↑ 10.5% YoY +44% vs state +82% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,922 · US avg: $1,525
$2,745/mo
↑ 10.2% YoY +43% vs state +80% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,111 · US avg: $1,756
$2,833/mo
↑ 10.4% YoY +34% vs state +61% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,380
$1,497
+$117 (+8.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,476
$1,651
+$175 (+11.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,936
$2,140
+$204 (+10.5%)
3 Bedroom $2,491
$2,745
+$254 (+10.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,567
$2,833
+$266 (+10.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19%
Affordable
Need $59,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21%
Affordable
Need $66,040/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.2%
Affordable
Need $85,600/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
34.9%
Burdened
Need $109,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36%
Burdened
Need $113,320/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%27.2%
Chittenden County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $94,310 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Vermont rent burden →

Where Chittenden sits among every US county

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

$2,140 Top 3% higher than 97% 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%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Chittenden compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Vermont counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Chittenden is highlighted. Nearby Vermont counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Chittenden County (this county) ($1,651), Grand Isle County ($1,651), Franklin County ($1,651), Orange County ($1,167), Bennington County ($1,142), Washington County ($1,129), 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 $1,651/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 15.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $93,290 21.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,150 23.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $76,990 25.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,690 31.1% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,000 31.4% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $61,270 32.3% Stretched
Electricians $59,670 33.2% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,360 35.2% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $46,190 42.9% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $46,050 43% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,630 51.3% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $37,120 53.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $36,810 53.8% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,540 57.4% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Vermont) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Chittenden (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 35.0% overall, from $1,223 to $1,651. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,651
Chittenden County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑11.9% $1,497 $1,651 $2,140
FY 2025 ↑2.4% $1,380 $1,476 $1,936
FY 2024 ↑16.4% $1,341 $1,441 $1,887
FY 2023 ↑6.4% $1,139 $1,238 $1,615
FY 2022 ↓8.1% $1,033 $1,163 $1,500
FY 2021 ↑3.4% $1,091 $1,265 $1,628
FY 2020 $1,030 $1,223 $1,573
Total change (6yr): +35.0%
Annualized: +5.1%/yr
1 BR: $1,223 → $1,651

Part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metro Area

Chittenden County is a central county of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Chittenden County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Grand Isle County ($1,651), Franklin County ($1,651), Chittenden County (this county) ($1,651).

Grand Isle County
1 BR: $1,651/mo
Franklin County
1 BR: $1,651/mo
Chittenden County (this county)
1 BR: $1,651/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Chittenden County, both outside Vermont so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside VT (FY2026).

Dukes County
MA · 2 BR $2,143/mo
Hillsborough County
NH · 2 BR $2,127/mo
Gallatin County
MT · 2 BR $2,154/mo
Boulder County
CO · 2 BR $2,124/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VT).

Mathews County
VA · 27.2% of income · 2 BR $1,713/mo
Washington County
GA · 27.2% of income · 2 BR $999/mo
Dallas County
AL · 27.3% of income · 2 BR $836/mo
Horry County
SC · 27.2% of income · 2 BR $1,465/mo

Nearby Counties in Vermont

Largest counties by population in Vermont

Showing the 8 largest of 13 other counties in Vermont.

Washington County
1 BR: $1,129/mo Pop: 8,461
Orange County
1 BR: $1,167/mo Pop: 2,802
Bennington County
1 BR: $1,142/mo Pop: 2,773
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
Orleans County
1 BR: $993/mo Pop: 987
View all counties in Vermont →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Chittenden County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Chittenden County is $1,651 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,140 and a studio is $1,497.
How does Chittenden County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Chittenden County is 72% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,651 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Chittenden County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Chittenden County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,140 ranks #94 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Chittenden County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $66,040 ($5,503/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Chittenden County.
Is rent going up or down in Chittenden County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Chittenden County increased by 11.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,476 to $1,651.
Which jobs can afford rent in Chittenden 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 $1,651/mo. 4 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Chittenden County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Chittenden County went from $1,223 in FY 2020 to $1,651 in FY 2026, a total change of +35.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Chittenden County? ▼
In Chittenden County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,651/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 Chittenden County? ▼
For Chittenden County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,651/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.