County FMR · HUD FY2026
Franklin County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Franklin 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
Franklin is the 2nd 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)
- #2
- 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 Franklin County, VT. Verify with HUD →
Franklin County, Vermont carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,651 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,140/mo and a studio is $1,497/mo. That's 72% above the national benchmark 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: 1,155. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.8%, Census ACS). That's in line with Vermont's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Franklin 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, Franklin County's 2-bedroom of $2,140 ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Franklin County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 72% above the US average of $959, and 37% above the Vermont average of $1,203. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,476 → $1,651 (+11.9%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,651/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $66,040/year: still within reach of the county median income of $79,078, though a 2-bedroom at $2,140 raises the bar.
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%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Franklin 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.
Franklin County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Franklin 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 Franklin compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Vermont counties
- Franklin
Franklin County
$1,651 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Isle
Grand Isle 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
- Addison
Addison County
$1,124 1BR FMR / mo
- Caledonia
Caledonia County
$992 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Franklin is highlighted. Nearby Vermont counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Franklin County (this county) ($1,651), Grand Isle County ($1,651), Orange County ($1,167), Bennington County ($1,142), Washington County ($1,129), Addison County ($1,124), 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 Franklin County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Franklin (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
Franklin County is a outlying county of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Franklin 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), Chittenden County ($1,651), Franklin County (this county) ($1,651).
Nearby Counties in Vermont
Largest counties by population in Vermont
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Franklin County? ▼
How does Franklin County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Franklin County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Franklin County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Franklin County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Franklin County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Franklin County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Franklin County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Franklin County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Franklin'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 $1,651 implies about $66,040/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 Franklin 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.
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.