County FMR · HUD FY2026
Orange County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Orange County, VT - 22% above the US average.
- $1,167
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,362
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +12.9%
- YoY change
- +22%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Orange is the 7th cheapest of 14 counties in Vermont by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #629 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #629
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #7
- cheapest of 14 in Vermont (2BR)
- -3%
- vs the state average
- $46,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.5%); 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 Orange County, VT. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Orange County, Vermont at $1,167 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,362/mo and a studio is $1,040/mo. This is 22% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% below the Vermont average of $1,203.
Rent increased12.9% from FY 2025 ($1,034), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $46,680/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 45.0% of the 2,369 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 3.3%, 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 2.7% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Vermont. Population: 2,802. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Vermont's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area ORANGE·COUNTY·VT·VT
Orange County, VT: $1,167/mo 1BR · #629 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA VT
- 1BR-FMR $1,167
- 2BR-FMR $1,362
- RANK-MID #629
- YOY-SURGE +12.9%
- VSUS-ABOVE +22%
- VS-ST-NEAR -3% VT
- INC-ROOM 18%
- POP-SMALL 3K
- PHOTO-NEAR Washington County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,050–$1,284
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Washington ($38 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,013 | $1,040 | +$27 (+2.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,034 | $1,167 | +$133 (+12.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,259 | $1,362 | +$103 (+8.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,647 | $1,757 | +$110 (+6.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,727 | $1,878 | +$151 (+8.7%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Orange 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 Orange sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,362 Top 20% higher than 80% 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 Orange compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Vermont counties
- 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
- Addison
Addison County
$1,124 1BR FMR / mo
- Caledonia
Caledonia County
$992 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Orange is highlighted. Nearby Vermont counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Grand Isle County ($1,651), Franklin County ($1,651), Orange County (this 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 $1,167/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 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 15% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,150 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $76,990 | 18.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $63,690 | 22% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,000 | 22.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,270 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,670 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,360 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,190 | 30.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,050 | 30.4% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,630 | 36.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,120 | 37.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,810 | 38% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,540 | 40.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Orange County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Orange (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 55.4% overall, from $751 to $1,167. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑12.9% | $1,040 | $1,167 | $1,362 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.1% | $1,013 | $1,034 | $1,259 |
| FY 2024 ↑17.0% | $976 | $1,003 | $1,244 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.1% | $852 | $857 | $1,125 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.4% | $787 | $793 | $1,043 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.8% | $740 | $745 | $982 |
| FY 2020 | $746 | $751 | $989 |
Part of the Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT Micro Area
Orange County is a outlying county of the Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT micropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other micro-area counties.
Orange County ranks #4 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Grafton County ($1,455), Sullivan County ($1,332), Windsor County ($1,168), Orange County (this county) ($1,167).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Orange 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 Orange County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Orange County is $1,167 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,362 and a studio is $1,040.
How does Orange County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Orange County is 22% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,167 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Orange County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Orange County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,362 ranks #629 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 Orange County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $46,680 ($3,890/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Orange County.
Is rent going up or down in Orange County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Orange County increased by 12.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,034 to $1,167.
Which jobs can afford rent in Orange 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 $1,167/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Orange County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Orange County went from $751 in FY 2020 to $1,167 in FY 2026, a total change of +55.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Orange County?
In Orange County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,167/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 Orange County?
For Orange County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,167/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Orange County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 3.3%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Orange County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 2.7% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Orange'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 $1,167 implies about $46,680/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 Orange 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.