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.
Observed renter burden: 51.4% of the 25,672 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 1.6%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 2.3% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
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)
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.
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.
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
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
- Chittenden
Chittenden County
$1,651 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Isle
Grand Isle County
$1,651 1BR FMR / mo
- Franklin
Franklin County
$1,651 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,167 1BR FMR / mo
- Bennington
Bennington County
$1,142 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,129 1BR FMR / mo
- Caledonia
Caledonia County
$992 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).
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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).
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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VT).
Nearby Counties in Vermont
Largest counties by population in Vermont
Showing the 8 largest of 13 other 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).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Chittenden County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 1.6%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Chittenden County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 2.3% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Chittenden's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,651 implies about $66,040/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Vermont counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Washington
- See where Chittenden ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.