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.

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)

Studio
State avg: $1,124 · US avg: $893
$1,040/mo
↑ 2.7% YoY -7% vs state +16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $959
$1,167/mo
↑ 12.9% YoY -3% vs state +22% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,487 · US avg: $1,175
$1,362/mo
↑ 8.2% YoY -8% vs state +16% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,922 · US avg: $1,525
$1,757/mo
↑ 6.7% YoY -9% vs state +15% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,111 · US avg: $1,756
$1,878/mo
↑ 8.7% YoY -11% vs state +7% vs US

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.

Studio
16.1%
Affordable
Need $41,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.1%
Affordable
Need $46,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.1%
Affordable
Need $54,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
27.3%
Affordable
Need $70,280/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.1%
Affordable
Need $75,120/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%21.1%
Orange County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,328 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Vermont rent burden →

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

$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 Orange compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Vermont counties

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).

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 $1,167/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
Salaries: BLS OES (Vermont) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,167
Orange County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
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
Total change (6yr): +55.4%
Annualized: +7.6%/yr
1 BR: $751 → $1,167

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).

Grafton County
1 BR: $1,455/mo
Sullivan County
1 BR: $1,332/mo
Windsor County
1 BR: $1,168/mo
Orange County (this county)
1 BR: $1,167/mo

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).

Imperial County
CA · 2 BR $1,362/mo
Houston County
GA · 2 BR $1,362/mo
Tehama County
CA · 2 BR $1,362/mo
Glenn County
CA · 2 BR $1,362/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Benton County
WA · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $1,538/mo
Glascock County
GA · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Monroe County
MI · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $1,326/mo
Dare County
NC · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $1,430/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
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
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 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).

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.